What Jesus Did at the Cross

Matt. 27:32-40

Intro.

1. Each time I read these accounts, I am once again reminded of the dramatic events of that day

a. the ugliness of sin

b. the matchless love of Jesus

2. The cross has always been the centerpiece of Christianity

a. 1 Cor. 2:2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

b. Gal. 6:14 But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

3. It is not so much the cross (tree—the wood) that is important; it was what was done there that is so very important!

a. Jesus insisted on going to the cross. “He resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51)

b. Jesus regarded it as necessary to die. Matt. 16:21-23 From that time Jesus Christ began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.

c. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You."

d. But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."

4. If Jesus thought it so important to die on the cross, then we ought to keep at heart what happened there.

I. HE DIED THERE PAINFULLY AND SHAMEFULLY

1. The cross is an instrument whose sole purpose is to kill a person in the most agonizing way possible.

2. It was the death reserved for the most despicable slave and criminal. Roman citizens were never crucified, and in polite company the cross was never mentioned.

3. We fear the hangman’s noose, the electric chair, the gas chamber and the guillotine, but these are swift and easy compared to the hours of agony on a cross

4. Unlike Coe’s death in the presence of family and painless, Jesus was brutally beaten and displayed in shame (nearly naked).

5. While such a death was fit for the two thieves, it was not for Jesus.

a. Three times Pilate told the Jews, “I find no guilt in Him” (John 18:38; 19:4, 6)

b. Matt. 27:24 And when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of this Man's blood; see to that yourselves."

c. Luke 23:39-41 And one of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? "And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."

d. Luke 23:47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent."

6. Like Peter, I wonder how this could happen to an innocent man, the Son of God, so good and so loving. I want to say, “NO, this shall never happen to you!”

a. I became angry at Pilate for compromising, till I remembered I have compromised

b. I became angry at the Sanhedrin for their jealousy and hatred, till I remember my own jealousies and ill-will

c. I became angry at those who hit Him and scourged Him, till I remembered how hurtful my sins must be.

d. I became angry at the passersby who mocked him and wagged their heads, till I remembered my own pride.

e. “When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gains I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride.”

II. HE DIED FOR MY SINS

1. Heb. 2:9 But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

a. it wasn’t just death he tasted; it was condemnation

b. he died for every one of us here today

2. 1 Pet. 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

3. Isaiah 53:5,6 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. 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.

4. 2 Cor. 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

III. He Died To Show His Love for Me

1. I cannot fully comprehend fully the Love of Jesus

a. Paul prayed in Eph. 3:18,19 that they “may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

b. Do your worst to me, and I will do my best for you!

If you wound me, my wounds will heal you.

If you kill me, I will die for you.

If you hate me, I’ll love you anyway!

c. Rom. 5:6-10 helpless, ungodly, sinners, enemies

2. It wasn’t nails that kept Jesus on the cross; He could have called twelve legions of angels. It was love—personal, infinite, sacrificial love.

Conclusion:

1. Surely no one can come face to face with Jesus at the foot of the Cross and not see its value and importance.

2. If we are to be saved at all, it will be through the cross and the blood of Jesus—Rom. 6:3-7

3. If the cross matters at all, then we must respond to that love with love of our own—deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him.