Introduction

Good morning, church family. We're here today to delve deep into the heart of the Gospel, to examine the cross -- Jesus' cross, our own crosses, and the intersection of majesty and sacrifice.

As Martin Luther once said, "Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime." We see in the changing of the seasons a reminder of Jesus' death and resurrection, the very heart of our faith.

Our passage today is from the book of Mark, chapters 8:31-9:1. It reads:

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Now, let's bow our heads in prayer.

Gracious God, we thank You for Your Word today. As we delve into this difficult passage, open our hearts and minds to understand Your truth. Help us to grasp why Jesus had to go to the cross, to comprehend the weight of our own crosses, and to marvel at the magnificent paradox of a King on a Cross. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Why Jesus Must Go to the Cross

The necessity of Jesus' journey to the cross is a topic that requires not only intellectual understanding but also a deep, personal acceptance of its implications for our lives.

A divine plan: We must understand that Jesus' journey to the cross was not an accident or a tragic turn of events, but a divine plan orchestrated by God Himself. In the Old Testament, we see a clear foreshadowing of Jesus' sacrifice. The sacrificial system, where animals were offered as a means to atone for sins, was a precursor to the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus would make. In Isaiah 53, the prophet Isaiah speaks of a suffering servant who would be "pierced for our transgressions" and "crushed for our iniquities." This prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus, who willingly went to the cross to bear the weight of our sins.

Necessary for Jesus to fully identify with our human condition: In Hebrews 4:15, we read that we have a high priest who is able to empathize with our weaknesses because He was "tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." Jesus' journey to the cross was a journey into the depths of human suffering and pain. He experienced betrayal, rejection, physical agony, and the weight of sin. This allows us to approach Him with confidence, knowing that He understands our struggles and can provide the grace we need.

Necessary for our salvation: In Romans 6:23, Paul writes that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Jesus took our place on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins so that we could be reconciled to God. His death was the ultimate demonstration of God's love for us, as stated in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Necessary to demonstrate the power of God: The cross, a symbol of shame and defeat, became a symbol of victory and power through Jesus' resurrection. His victory over death gives us hope and assurance that we too can overcome sin and death through faith in Him.

Our Cross

In this passage, Jesus calls us to take up our own cross and follow Him ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO