The Psalm of the Cross Part 3

A major shift…prayers of deliverance, pain of dying, to praising God for being faithful. Christ has been raised from the dead, sin and death have been defeated. God’s answer to the work of the Cross was answering with power to redeem and resurrect; Christ is risen.

Psalm 22:21 “21 You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!”

“Rescued,” “to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout; to sing, utter tunefully.”

By a splendid display of glory God in Christ dying in order to propitiate, redeem, justify, reconciling the sinner to Himself, and to achieve the ultimate conquest of evil. In raising Christ from the dead, God gave his divine endorsement to the work accomplished on the cross of satisfying His own justice.

Question to be answered: How does the death of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus belong together?

I. The Crucifixion of Jesus, Psalm 22:1-21a.

Jesus has accomplished salvation for sinners by the self-substitution of God. But Christ accomplished a second great undertaking, namely revelation or self-disclosure of God; Jesus revealed God to the world!

John 14:9 “9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

Self-disclosure of glory, Galatians 6:14 “14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Great paradox is glory comes by the way of suffering.

1 Peter 4:13 “13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

1 Peter 5:1 “1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:”

Romans 8:17-18 “17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Glory being the essence of God, His glory is seen in God holding nothing back for Himself, the self-giving of Jesus. The Cross is all about GLORY!

John 12:23 “23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”

John 13:31-32 “31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.”

John 17:1 “1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,”

The essence of God is that there is nothing in God for God. It is all for us.

Self-disclosure of justice, Psalm 22:1-3; Romans 3:23-26 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Sin is rebellion against God which does violence to holiness, righteousness, and glory.

Death, the punishment for sin, is God being consistent with His holiness.

Christ dying on the cross is the right thing to do, God agreeable with Himself.

Self disclosure of love, Romans 5:8 “8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The cross of Jesus is not an emotional appeal of divine love that fails to take God’s holy character into consideration, where there is no retribution for sin.

Unless the death of Christ really does something, it is not a demonstration of love.

Self-disclosure of wisdom and power, Psalm 22:24-26; Romans 11:33-36 “33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

Only God knows what to do with the failure of Israel; He turned it into salvation for the world.

Romans 11:11-12 “11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!”

God is so beyond us! God’s methods of operation do not conform to man’s preconceptions.

1 Corinthians 1:18-21 “18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”

So much about being saved I don’t know, but I do know that I’m saved and God deserves all the glory and honor for that!

Romans 11:36 “36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

II. The Resurrection of Jesus, Psalm 22:21b-31.

Jesus’ accomplishment consisted of salvation for sinners, self-disclosure of God, but a third accomplishment, namely conquest. God in Christ rescued us, disclosed himself, and overcame evil. This conquest is achieved in six sequential stages.

The conquest promised, Genesis 3:15 “15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.””

The first gospel message every preached.

The good news that the woman’s seen (Jesus) would defeat Satan and his seed.

The stream divides; Satan and his family opposing God and his family. God put the hostility between the two which ultimately will climax when Satan is cast into hell.

Revelation 20:10 “10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Revelation 20:14 “14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.”

The conquest Proceeds, 1 Timothy 1:15 “15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

Every attempt by Satan to prevent Jesus from doing what He came to do.

Jesus determined, He set His face, he is resolute to remain unswayed by whatever hardship or obstacle stood in His way.

Isaiah 50:7 “7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.”

Luke 9:51 “51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”

Christ’s kingdom advancing by small battles leading up to the ultimate battle that would win the war. The kingdom of darkness retreating, small victories over death, disease, demons, and disordered nature calmed in recognition of it’s Lord.

The conquest Procured, Luke 11:21-22 “21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.” Mark 3:23-27.

Someone stronger had invaded the kingdom of darkness to plunder it’s property; to liberate lives enslaved to sin.

The cross would be the final contest. Death would be the fatal wound of the powers of darkness, Christ would destroy him who had the power of death.

John 14:30 “30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,”

“no claim on me” The Heb. idiom means that Satan had nothing on Jesus, could make no claim on Him, nor charge Him with any sin.

Satan could not hold Him in death. Christ would triumph and destroy Satan.

His death was no sign that Satan won, but that God’s will was being done, John 14:31 “31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.”

John 12:31 “31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.”

Hebrews 2:14-15 “14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

Two aspects of the saving work of Christ; forgiveness of sin and the cosmic overthrow of evil; disarming, discrediting, and defeating.

Colossians 2:13-15 “13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

Jesus took my sins to the cross, 1 Peter 2:24 “24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

Jesus too the law to the cross, Colossians 2:14.

Jesus too Satan to the cross, Colossians 2:15.

The conquest Proven.

The cross is not defeat and resurrection victory. The cross is victory won, and the resurrection is victory affirmed, validated, and vindicated.

Seated as Savior, but seated as Sovereign.

Acts 2:24 “24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

1 Peter 3:22 “22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.”

No power, human or spirit, is greater than Jesus, subjected to His authority, under His feet.

The conquest Proclaimed, Psalm 22:22 “22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:”

The church goes forth preaching the “Good News” Christ’s conquest and validation of victory declared.

1 Corinthians 1:23 “23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,”

Compelling people to turn from self and sin, and turn to the Savior. Trusting Him, calling to Him, believing in Him.

Every ethnic group, nation, social class, from every generation they will hear the good news, turn to the Lord, serve Him, Psalm 22:23-31.

The conquest Perfected.

Christ already on the enthroned, yet awaiting the finality, the end, when all his enemies become his footstool.

Every knee will bow, Satan thrown into the lake of fire, death and hell join him.

When death has ultimately been destroyed, the kingdom will be handed to the Father by the Son.

Psalm 110:1 “1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.””

Philippians 2:9-11 “9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

How does the death of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus go together?

The resurrection is the only validation, vindication and affirmation to the fact of Christ bearing our sins, and satisfying the justice of God.

The cross means nothing, and becomes just another death if there is no resurrection.

There are a number of basic truths which are undergirded by the resurrection.

God’s word is reliable and true. Jesus death and resurrection was precisely when and in the way He predicted.

Matthew 12:40 “40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Matthew 16:21 “21 From that time Jesus 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 on the third day be raised.”

Jesus is the Son of God and has power over life and death.

John 10:18 “18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.””

Salvation is complete, Christ defeated sin on the cross, and rose victorious from the grave.

The certainty of the churches construction, a dead Savior cannot build His church, death could not stop the church from existing. Satan did not prevail!!!

Matthew 16:18 “18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Christ raising from the dead guarantees that judgment is coming.

John 5:22 “22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,”

A living Christ will make good on His promise of heaven awaiting believers.

John 14:1-3 “1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Appropriating the victory of Jesus!

Life for the Christian spells both conflict and victory. Two truths must be realized in the life of conflict and victory; 1.) We are no match for Satan. We lack skill and strength. 2.) It is unnecessary to even try since Christ has already defeated Satan.

The victory of the Christian is to live and enter the victory of Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57 “57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 1:20-23 “20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”

Ephesians 2:4-6 “4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,”

1 John 3:8 “8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”

Christians are no longer under the condemnation of the law and cursed due to disobedience

Galatians 3:23 “23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.”

Galatians 3:10 “10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.””

Galatians 3:13 “13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—”

Romans 6:14 “14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

Christians have been freed from our “self” or “self-centeredness.” Everything we were by birth, inherited by nature, unredeemed.

Galatians 5:19-21 “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Titus 3:3 “3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.”

John 8:34 “34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

Romans 6:6 “6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.”

The devil gets a foothold in our flesh through the pressures the culture and society exert on the believer. Christians have overcome the world!

1 John 2:15-16 “15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”

John 16:33 “33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””

1 John 5:4-5 “4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Christians no longer fear death! Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:55-57.