The Cross At Calvary

THE CROSS AT CALVARY

About 2000 years ago some people say one of the worst atrocities possible in history of humanity took place. Some say that it was the most wonderful and sacrificial act of love in the history of humanity. How could the same event possibly be mentioned in the same breath? How is this possible?

The worst atrocity possible was a man that was fully God and fully man would be persecuted, beaten beyond human description, and put to death on a cross at Golgotha. Yet it was the most wonderful and sacrificial acts of love in the history of humanity. Without the sacrifice of the perfect spotless lamb that the only son of God Jesus Christ humanity was doomed to eternal death. I want to look today at a description of this loving act that was predicted almost 1000 years before crucifixion was ever invented. Let’s turn to the book of Isaiah the 53rd chapter.

Let us pray

I. I want to take a look at this chapter and break it down. Vs. 1-2

A. 1 and 2 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.

1. No where in the Old Testament is this prophecy more clear

2. Christ was to suffer, and then to enter his glory.

3. This is the most important act for salvation of sinners, through the Son of God.

4. The low condition God submitted Himself to a human form and his appearance in the world, not agreeable to the ideas the Jews had formed of the Messiah.

5. It was expected that he should come in pomp; instead of that, he grew up as a plant, silently, and insensible and came on a small colt

6. His whole life was not only humble as to outward condition, but also sorrowful

7. Being made sin for us, he underwent the sentence sin had exposed us to.

a. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

B. 4 through 9 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? 9 His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.

1. In these verses it is an account of the sufferings of Christ; also of the design of his sufferings.

2. It was for all our sins, and in our stead, that our Lord Jesus suffered.

a. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

3. Sinners have their beloved sin, their own evil way, of which they are fond

4. Our sins deserve all griefs and sorrows, even the most severe.

5. We are saved from sin when we believe we are forgiven sin by giving them Christ.

6. This atonement was to be made for our sins.

a. He paid the price for a bill he didn’t owe that we could not afford to pay.

7. And this is the only way of salvation.

a. John 14:7 Way truth life no one comes to the Father but by me

8. Our sins were the thorns in Christ’s head, the nails in his hands and feet, the spear in his side, and every stripe on His back

9. By his sufferings he purchased for us the Spirit and grace of God

a. John 1:17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

C. 10 through 12 But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. 11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.