The Road To The Cross Series

I. Introduction

A. The outline for this message came from “The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible’” by Leadership Ministries Worldwide

B. Lets begin by turning to Matthew 26:1 - 5

Matthew 26:1-5 (NKJV)

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, {2} "You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified." {3} Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, {4} and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. {5} But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people."

1. What we have been going through in the past 8 weeks we have been going through what is commonly called the Olivet Discourse, Matthew chapters 24 and 25

a. All of this happened on Tuesday and Jesus is not yet finished teaching His disciples

2. It was apparently still Tuesday of Jesus' last week before His crucifixion

a. He would be murdered on Friday, just a couple of days away.

b. In these few verses Matthew gives a glimpse into the drama that was going to end this phase of His life

c. Two scenes are pictured

(1) Jesus was intensely preparing His disciples for His death

(2) And the religious elite were behind closed doors demonically plotting His death

C. What Jesus explained about His death is explicit

1. He was to be betrayed and crucified

2. What the religious elite plotted was explicit: they were going to kill Jesus

a. We have talked about this before

b. This is not the first time Jesus predicted His death

c. This is not the first time Jesus let His disciples know precisely the who, what, where, and when of His execution

(1) Turn to Matthew 26:1 - 2

II. Body

A. Jesus' death was explained to His disciples

Matthew 26:1-2 (NKJV)

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, {2} "You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."

1. He was to be arrested quietly after the pilgrims had left the feast

a. Jesus Christ. Death: Jesus' death was explained to His disciples

b. In just two days He was to be crucified

c. The disciples had to be strengthened for the hour of trial lest their dreams become dashed upon the rocks of despair and they loose faith

(1) Remember, their thoughts were focused on the Messiah restoring the kingdom of David to Israel

(2) They were thinking that He, the Messiah, was going to deliver Israel from Roman bondage

(3) The Messiah would free the nation and establish it as the greatest nation on earth under the rule of God Himself

d. There was the very live possibility that the apostles could lose faith when they saw Him being put to death by the hands of mere men

(1) It could appear as though He was being forsaken by God

(2) Christ had to do everything He could to prepare them

2. Christ’s death was tied to the Passover

a. He was foretelling the disciples the exact day He was to be killed, and it was to be the very same day the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed

(1) Turn to John 1:29

b. We should understand that Jesus was telling His disciples that His death was tied to the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb And note, He was tying His death to the sacrifice of the lamb.

John 1:29 (NKJV)

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

c. Go down just a few verses here is John to verse 35 & 36

John 1:35-36 (NKJV)

Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. {36} And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"

(1) Turn to 1 Peter 1:18 & 19

d. Here the Apostle declares Jesus as the Lamb of God

1 Peter 1:18-19 (NKJV)

knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, {19} but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

(1) Turn to 1 John 2:1 - 2

e. The Apostle John also declares Jesus as the Redeemer

1 John 2:1-2 (NKJV)

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. {2} And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.