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Road to the Cross Part 4: The Cross

Week 1:

In the life of Jesus, we see a God who walks with us no matter where we are and what we are going through. Jesus was the fulfillment of the most important promise you’ve ever been given.

Matthew 27:45-54
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

-Here on the cross, Jesus was forsaken. God the Father turns his back on His own Son, forsaking Him for our sake.
-Jesus gave up his Spirit. He came to lay down His life. No one had to take it from Him. He laid it down willingly.

The profound truth of the cross:
History’s darkest moment became its greatest.

1. Victory over sin

–“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16
 

2. Victory over death

-“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep”. 1 Corinthians 15:20
 

3. Victory over doubt

-Here at the foot of the cross, the doubters believe, the enemies find faith, and the unbelievers draw near.

Road to the Cross Part 3: The Fulfillment

Week 1:

On the road to the cross, we see God as a promise keeper, first with His covenant throughout the Old Testament, and then with the arrival of Jesus establishing a new covenant.

Luke 4:14-21
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

-As Jesus picked up the scroll, you have the Old Testament being read by the One who would fulfill its promise and introduce the new covenant.
-Isaiah speaks of the Spirit of the Lord, and now Jesus is walking in the power of that same Spirit.

The question we often ask is “why did Jesus die?” But today I want us to ask the question “why did Jesus live?”

-What was the purpose of Jesus’ life and ministry on earth?

Why did Jesus live? Why did he minister here on earth?

-Because you’ve seen Jesus walk this life, you know exactly what it’s like for him to be walking with you right now.