Introduction

Welcome, beloved, welcome. Pull up a chair and settle in. Here in this sacred space, we gather to engage with the Word of God, to lean in and listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit. We are here to wrestle with the text, to grapple with its truth, and to allow it to shape us, mold us, and transform us.

Today, we are turning our gaze to a familiar passage, a passage that is central to our faith. We find ourselves standing at the foot of the cross, on that hill far away, where our Savior hung, crucified. We stand on holy ground, in the shadow of the cross. We stand in the presence of unparalleled love, of unfathomable sacrifice.

The great Charles Spurgeon once said, "By Christ's wounds, we are healed. The cross is the healing tree for man's deadly hurt." And indeed, as we look upon the cross, we find healing, we find hope, we find grace.

Crucifixion Context

As we stand at the foot of the cross, we find ourselves immersed in a scene of profound significance. Here, on a hill outside Jerusalem, the Savior of the world is being executed. Crucifixion was a brutal, humiliating form of punishment, reserved for the worst criminals. It was a public spectacle, designed to deter others from committing similar crimes. But in this moment, the man being crucified is not a criminal. He is innocent. He is the Son of God.

The place where this is happening is known as the Skull. It's a stark, barren place. A place of death. And yet, in this place of death, we find the promise of life. For it is here, on this cross, that Jesus is making the ultimate sacrifice. He is giving up his life, so that we might have life. He is taking on our sins, so that we might be forgiven.

Amid this scene, we hear Jesus speak. His words are not of anger or bitterness. They are words of forgiveness. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Even as he is being mocked and ridiculed, even as he is suffering unimaginable pain, Jesus is thinking of others. He is thinking of us. His concern is not for his own well-being, but for ours. His desire is not for vengeance, but for forgiveness.

The people who are present at the crucifixion are a diverse group. There are the soldiers, who are just doing their job. There are the religious leaders, who believe they are upholding the law. There are the criminals, who are being punished for their crimes. And there are the onlookers, who are there to watch the spectacle. Each of them plays a role in this scene. Each of them is a part of the story. And each of them is a reflection of us. For we, too, have played a role in the crucifixion. We, too, have sinned. We, too, are in need of forgiveness.

The sign above Jesus' head reads, "This is the King of the Jews." It's meant to be a mockery, a final insult. But in reality, it's a statement of truth. Jesus is the King. Not just of the Jews, but of all people. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He is the ruler of all creation. And he is the one who, in his great love for us, chose to lay down his life for us.

Crosses Comparison

As we stand at the foot of the cross, we find ourselves in the company of two other crosses ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO