The Cost Of The Cross

“The Cross and the Cost”

Matthew 27:32–50

* credit Jeff Strite sermon and Chatgpt

One person commented:

“Cut the Bible anywhere and it will bleed.”

Our old hymns echo this truth, as they sing lovingly of the blood of Jesus:

­ “There is a fountain filled with blood”

­ “Nothing but the blood”

­ “Are you washed in the blood”

­ “Would you be free from the burden of sin?

­ “Power in the blood”

(speak reflectively)

What can wash away my sin?

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

What are those hymns declare is that Jesus’ death isn’t just about:

­ Jesus’ bleeding and suffering and death.

­ Oh no.

The story is about:

- WHY Jesus suffered.

­ WHY He bled.

­ WHY He died.

And WHY did Jesus bleed and suffer, and die?

The Bible answers clearly that:

­ without the blood of Jesus

­ There is no forgiveness for our sins.

Revelation 1:5 declares: that Jesus…

“…loves us and has freed us from our sins BY HIS BLOOD.”

Ephesians 1:7 teaches that:

“In him we have redemption THROUGH HIS BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”

And 1 Peter 1:18-19 tells us:

“… it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

1. His PHYSICAL Suffering (X2)

Jesus shed His blood multiple times.

• In Gethsemane, as He prayed in agony, His sweat became like drops of blood.

• Before Pilate, He was flogged with whips laced with bone and glass.

• Mocked by soldiers, they crowned Him with thorns and struck His head.

• At Calvary, nails pierced His hands and feet.

• Upon His death, a spear was thrust into His side—blood and water flowed.

None of this was accidental.

This was God’s plan to save us

Again, and again and again, Jesus shed His blood FOR US.

Jesus' suffering reveals:

• The depth of God’s love

• The cost of our salvation

Matthew 27:32–35:

“As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene… They came to a place called Golgotha… When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”

Jesus' suffering on the cross:

­ demonstrates the depth of God’s love and

­ the cost of our SALVATION.

Please remember….

Crucifixion was:

­ slow, humiliating, and excruciating.

­ Jesus took our place,

­ We deserved the punishment, but

­ Jesus took our punishment.

We remember how Jesus suffered and…

• His betrayal by Judas

• His abandonment by His friends

• The scourging that killed many

• The nails driven into His flesh

• His slow, painful, humiliating, suffocating death

We recall Spiritual Suffering:

1. He bore the weight of our sin

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us...” — 2 Corinthians 5:21

2. He was separated from the Father

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” — Matthew 27:46

3. He drank the cup of wrath

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me...” — Luke 22:42

Jesus took the full judgment of sin upon Himself:

- Why would anyone do that for us?

- why would anyone see our debt and pay it

Why would anyone endure that?

Why would anyone pay our debt?

There’s only one answer: LOVE.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

- Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

A firefighter once:

­ rushed into a burning house to save a child.

­ He saved the child and

­ He was severely burned, but the child lived.

That is what Jesus did for us:

­ Jesus ran into the fire of judgment for us.

­ His scars are proof of His love.

When there comes a time in your life:

- where life is difficult and

- it seems like all hope is gone, and

- you are tempted to think no one can understand your suffering….

Jesus knows and understands your pain suffering

Remember that…

2. Jesus was MOCKED and REJECTED X2

“Sitting down, they kept watch over him there... Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads...‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but he can’t save himself!’...In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”

— Matthew 27:36–44 (NIV)

"The only sin Jesus ever had was ours, and

the only righteousness we ever have is His."

Jesus was:

falsely accused – Mark 14:56

Beaten and spit upon – Matthew 27:30