The Power of the Cross
Selected Passages
April 20, 2003
Introduction
Max Lucado – “No Wonder They Call Him The Savior”
“The cross. It rests on the time line of history like a compelling diamond. Its tragedy summons all sufferers. Its absurdity attracts all cynics. It’s hope lures all searchers… History has idolized it and despised it, gold-plated it and burned it, worn and trashed it. History has done everything to it but ignore it. That’s the one option that the cross does not offer. No one can ignore it! You can’t ignore a piece of lumber that suspends the greatest claim in history. It’s bottom line is sobering: …if the account is true, it is history’s hinge. Period. … If not, it is history’s hoax. That’s why the cross is what matters.”
What is Easter all about? What part really matters?
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures
Jesus Christ was known by many titles: Wonderful counselor, King of Kings, Prince of Peace, Lamb of God and the Rose of Sharon
This morning I want to look at the death of Jesus through the title Rose of Sharon.
Body
I. We must realize the point His suffering
A. The flogging of Jesus
1. The scourge
a.) The scourge was a whip designed with nine straps of leather with weights at the end of each strap. This allowed each of the nine straps to wrap themselves around the body of the victim.
b.) On each strap were knots about an inch apart that held a sharp piece of metal, wood or even bone. These pieces were designed to cut and tear the flesh of the victim.
c.) Each strap was dipped in sheep’s blood and then rolled in broken pottery, this process bonded the pottery to the leather. This would cause every strap to scratch and cut at the skin. Needless to say, the scourge was designed to inflict damage on a massive scale.
2. The scourging
a.) The Romans used a scourging post for their floggings. The post was driven into the ground and stood between 10 to 15 feet high with a bronze ring around the top of the post.
b.) The victim would have their hands tied with a long rope that would be threaded through the brass ring at the top of the post. The rope would then be pulled to stretch the arms of the victim above the head to make the skin on the victims back tight. This allowed for even greater effectiveness of the scourge.
B. The humiliation of Jesus
1. Jesus took a beating
a.) The Roman soldiers decided that they were going to vent some of their frustrations about the Jews on Jesus because He was being proclaimed their king.
b.) The soldiers circled around Jesus and took turns stepping in and punching Him. To add further insult and pain they grabbed His beard and pulled it out by the fistfuls.
2. Jesus was mocked
a.) The soldiers placed a purple robe around Jesus to signify His “royal” status as king of the Jews.
b.) The soldiers took Judean thorns and weaved them into a crown for His head. Judean thorns were between three to six inches long and hard as nails. They then placed the crown on His head and drove it into His scalp with rods.
3. The crowds rejected Jesus
a.) Jesus was brought before the crowds in Jerusalem because Pilate wanted to set Jesus free by giving the crowds a choice. He offered them Jesus or Barabas.
b.) The same crowds that hailed Jesus as He entered Jerusalem were now condemning Him.
Jesus suffered to an extreme scale and He did so willingly, so that you would not have to suffer.
II. We must recognize the purpose His death
A. The process of crucifixion
1. The path
a.) The Romans forced each person being crucified to carry their cross from the place of trial to the place of execution. This made Jesus and the two criminals walk through at least one marketplace and crowds lined the street to watch the condemned, spit on them and try to trip them as they walked.
b.) The cross would have been dropped onto Jesus causing the rough wood to dig deep into His back and shoulder. Jesus was so exhausted from the beatings and the loss of blood that He collapsed on the way to Golgotha. Simon of Cyrene was then forced to carry the croos the rest of the way.
2. The place
a.) The place where Jesus was crucified was called Golgotha, which literally means place of the skull. This place was appropriately named.
b.) Golgotha served three key purposes from the city of Jerusalem. The first was a garbage dump for all of the refuse from the city. The second purpose was that of an open grave. Poverty was so great in Jerusalem that beggars literally died in the streets. With no money for a proper burial the Romans used Golgotha as the place to take the bodies. Literally, this place would have been filled with skulls. The third purpose was a place for Roman executions.
B. The pain of crucifixion
1. Being nailed to the cross
a.) Jesus was nailed to the cross with nine inch spikes that would have been driven through each of His wrists and a twelve inch spike driven through His feet.
b.) The cross would then be raised, dropped into a hole in the ground and set into place with braces. This would have caused a severe jolting of the body and intense pain.
2. The torment of being on the cross
a.) Scorching heat
Crucifixions were held through the hottest part of the day so that the victims would have to endure not only extreme pain but also the harsh heat of the day. This created a severe and unquenchable thirst.
b.) Difficult breathing
During crucifixion the nerves sent signals into the chest that would cause the diaphram to go into massive spasms. In order, to take a breath the person being crucified would have to stand on the nail in their feet to relieve the spasms in their chest.
3. The final thrust
a.) The Roman soldier wanted to be sure that Jesus was indeed dead and so he drove the head of his spear into the side of Jesus.
b.) The wound produced both blood and water. This was caused by the spear piercing the chest cavity where water would have been gathering around His heart due to the great stress and fluid loss.
Jesus died a miserable and painful death. The fact cannot be ignored and if we claim to be followers of Jesus we cannot ignore the fact that Jesus died for us.
III. We must receive the power His resurrection
A. Jesus died a horrible death
1. Jesus took the punishment you deserved
a.) Jesus died so that you might have the opportunity for life.
b.) Jesus took the punishment that you rightfully deserved
2. Jesus was broken for you
a.) Jesus took the suffering of a Roman flogging, bore the beating a Roman platoon and endured the rejection of those He came to save.
b.) Jesus came and took on human to die in your place. He died after extreme torment. He died after extreme pain.
B. God raised Him from the dead
“… If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10
1. God restored Jesus to wholeness and life
a.) God raised Jesus back to an everlasting life on the third day.
b.) The resurrection of Jesus should be in the place of priority in your life
2. God’s desire is to restore you to wholeness and life
The fact is that we must receive the power of Christ’s resurrection.
How can you receive this wholeness?
a.) A – Admit that you’ve blown it
b.) B – Believe that Jesus died and rose again
c.) C – Commit to follow God
