His Cross, My RESCUE

Matt McCloghry

Colonial Church Messages

GOOD FRIDAY • Sermon • Submitted 2 months ago • Presented 2 months ago

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Matthew 27:28–44 (ESV)

28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

32 As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

& one more

1 Corinthians 1:17–18 (NIV)

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

“Prayer of Faith” / FATHER, today, we remember the cross. May it affect us again Lord with a deepening we have never experienced. We say thank you Father, for it was your WILL to reach down to us in this way. Amen.

Welcome to Good friday @ the Amp….My name is Matt - Together with my Wife Jill - We lead with an incredible team, Colonial Church.

I didnt grow up in a Christian Home. In fact, it was Worlds away from faith - the foundation of my life was all about success, achievement, money and independence. It wasn’t until my life came crashing down at the age of 17 did i begin a journey which at 19 would have me in a community of faith - much like this - and i heard for the very first time what the true gospel is… and i learned that through the Gospel - there was a way that i could have a personal relationship with GOD.

It was the first time i had ever heard that. And upon learning of this opportunity - I did not delay & i surrender up my will to Jesus and asked him for new life.

….It was all foreign to me

and.. i will admit… It all seemed a bit strange

I knew this was my moment. It was my moment at the cross of Christ.

But in a moment, i realized that my life had been built on the shifting sands of this world… and not the secure doundation of JESUS.

…..

I realized that this CROSS that i had heard about - was in fact - what it WAS ALL ABOUT. That no one may approach God, unless he first goes VIA the CROSS, and through the blood

*******

Today is GOOD friday and we are all here, some of because we saw a sign on a billboard, some because this is your church you go to , some because you were dragged here by a friend…some of you maybe lost a bet and thats why you here - I dont know all the whys and hthe hows

But i know enough about God to say this: Its not an accient you are here. God meant for you to make the journey however long, however hard so that you would sit in that exact seat: God is not a random GOD. He is precise and soverign, and he has an intricately detailed plan for you - So rest easy TONITE. You are where you are supposed to be.

But the REAL TRUTH IS THIS: w e are here to commemorate and remember this incredible thing that JESUS did. Which was submit himself to the fathers will.. and with the joy set before him (Hebrews says) endured the most agonizing of deaths

But if you take a step back for a minute - and you think about it - to someone who maybe doesn't know anything about this Jesus or this FAITH - the idea of it all must seem a bit crazy right?

that a man, a single man, beaten bloody and bruised …..nailed up on a cross of wood is now the central figure can stop billions around the world and mean a pausing and reflection and many

WHY IS THIS CROSS>. and THIS EVENT SO SIGNFICANT?

4 Things i think are worth remembering…. and gathering around this evening:

1.This Cross is History

This actually happened.

Historical fact.

Recorded in history.

Eye witness accounts in the Gospels.

IT WAS PROPHESIED THAT IT WOULD TAKE PLACE…. AND IT HAS BEEN GLORIOUSLY FULFILLED> WE LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT EVENT NOW

What we are here today remembering is not a mythological story or some nice folklore narrative that someone conjoured up. This is REAL HISTORICAL FACT

This was PROPHESIED LONG BEFORE it happened!

But it has happened

some 600 years before the CROSS of Christ, David the King of Israel wrote this in Psalm 22

Psalm 22:7–8 “7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!””

Psalm 22:16–18 “16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— 17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”

The Cross of Calvary is REAL. And it should be considered on thos terms!

2.This Cross is Confronting

THIS ISNT EXACTLY A HEART-WARMING SCENE… ITS - Bloody, Brutal, Gruesome. Awful. and its MEANT TO BE - What they did to our Lord. would have been extremely difficult to witness & to have to watch. hard tp understand. Confronting in every way.

**the crucifixion was the worst way to die, because of they way they did it

This is important to note: this was a roman crucifixion after a scourging (Recoreded in John) which if we even had any kind of actual idea of how bad it was it would make even the strongest stomach very weak.

This was a graphic, confronting awful display of the WORST WAY POSSIBLE FOR A HUMAN…. TO DIE

So why was this METHOD USED? …Why would GOD do this to his own son?

—-This was the BRAZEN ALTAR

this was a BOLD DISPLAY…A STRIPPING, A STINGING, A STRIPING… A VERY PUBLIC KILLING of JESUS

Brutal and bloody in every sense.

THIS WAS DONE IN SUCH A WAY THAT NO ONE COULD MISS THE MAGNITUDE OF THE ORDEAL - THE HORRIFIC TORTURE OF IT ALL

THE PENALTY SHOWN, on FULL DISPLAY - THE Method has meaning

Pivot; Why do we not read much about Christs suffering on the cross?

If you read the Gospels, The Acts of the Apostles.. and the EPISTLES (the letters)… you will not find an EXTENDED DESCRIPTION of the SUFFERING OF JESUS

Its Definietly quoted

Its definietly noted

Its certainly apparent…

… But its not talked about - by any of them (Peter, James, John…. and Paul)

Why?

Because if all you get out of GOOD FRIDAY IS SYMPATHY FOR A MAN = YOU HAVE MISSED THE GREAT MOVEMENTS OF OUR GOD

if its just about feeling BAD ENOUGH for JESUS, so that you CAN FEEL BETTER about yourslef

3.This Cross is Purposeful

BECAUSE OF WHAT IT ACHIEVES…..There is meaning in the method chosen….It was necessary because of what the CROSS ACHIEVES

REMEMBER what Paul said?…..

Its the “power of God” / Miracle working POWER

1 Corinthians 1:18 “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.”

This is the great achievement of the cross - what we call —— “Substitutionary atonement” / The SIN MOVING FROM US to JESUS.

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.”

The WORLD Pities the cross - But to us… to us.. no

WE KNOW WHAT IT ACHIEVED

the world thinks “surely this was just a mistake! a terrible & unfortunate thing that happened to this guy from Nazareth…. But no!”

THE BAD ENDING… TO WHAT WAS AT ONE POINT A GOOD STORY!

This was the greatest altar of all alrtars Where we see in HUMAN HISTRY THE MOST DIVINE OF EXCHANGES: the great exchange - the greatest of all trades in our favor.

One for another. The sins of the WORLD exchanged for sacrifice of the Lamb of God.

This is why John the baptist cried out when he saw JESUS coming:

John 1:29 ESV

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

If HE COMES TO TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD - THAT IMPLIES THERES SIN THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN AWAY.

This is… it: the depravity of the human heart - a heart of stone

exchanged for the heart of flesh, in Christ & empowered by the SPIRIT.

This is what Ezekiel was talking about:

Ezekiel 11:19 “19 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,”

The great exchange. at the great altar

This is what GOD has DONE

this is what HE HAS DONE FOR YOU

So that you might be…..

‌Back in right standing, right relationship… …and have Peace with God.

One for another

Jesus went to the cross so that the great exhange could happen in your life:

He was….“Despised and rejected” - so you would eternally be accepted and loved

He was “Shamed and Falsely Condemned….took our guilt on himself” -so you can lift your head and smile and live free

“Beaten and worse…..unjustly killed: —- so that you could be Justified…..experience healing and in HIM - never HAVE TO taste death

(SO why does this matter? Its History, Its confronting, Its the purpose and power of God.. and its

4.This Cross is our Rescue.

Its definitive. Its a DONE DEAL. Its finished

and its for YOU.

The Magnitude of the sacrifice….. and the Compassion it draws out of you is meant to wreck your perspective completly that you can do this on your own.

because you cant.

THIS CROSS WAS MEANT FOR YOU, FOR ME

This is the song thats been resounding in my heart & my mind all week......

… Oh, the power of my Savior's blood Oh, it was Jesus blood, Jesus blood

… Was the cross meant for me That my Savior carried? Now I've been made free By the mercy of God Was the grave meant for me Where my sin lay buried? Now I stand redeemed By the mercy of God

Stand redeemed, free of Judgement, Free of penalty - Now with an ALL ACCESS PASS into HIS PRESENCE

…and To approach God - there is only one way. Via the Bold, Brazen….Bloody Altar - You must pass via the cross, THE BLOOD WHICH WASHES US CLEAN…. to enter into his prescence HEALED and WHOLE

Why is GOOD FRIDAY SO GOOD? Because The Cross is our RESCUE…..

LETS ALL STAND.

In 1987 three people started a medical technology company called life alert. They developed a small pendant that anyone can wear that enables with the push of a button the ability to notify the company who in turn notify 9-1-1 disptach. In october of 2002 the company filed a trademark for the phrase that would be the catch-call for the companies marketing from then on.

this was the phrase: “Help, i’ve fallen…. and i cant get up”

The classic commercial featuring this slogan was ranked number one by USA Today in its 2007 list of the most memorable TV commercials from the past 25 years

——-

This is the human condition…. This earthly life is just a pre-cursor to the life eternal, to come. The thing that goes on forever and doesnt end…. This is a powerful thing to behold - All of the worlds allures wear right away when this life ends.

Thats a massive thing to behold on a friday evening at an ampitheater in St Augustine FLORIDA. but its a reality we all face here tonite. Weve all FALLEN. and we cannot GET UP.

What the cross represents is our RESCUE

Our opportunity to accept our savior and not have to taste death, and eternity seperated from God and die in unbelief.

His Cross, is MY RESCUE

Our opportunity to accept our savior and not have to taste death, and eternity seperated from God and die in unbelief.

Romans 3:23 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Jeremiah 17:9 NLT

9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

deep down on the inside of us, we know we have a PROBLEM. the Problem is when SIN ENTERED the WORLD there became a CASM betwen us and the one who created us.

And the

SO what will you do?

Will you allow the cross to pierce your heart beyond just sympathy>? or will you accept today that it was you and i who caused it, but that its you and i who are invited today to be REDEEMED BY IT.,

Like i said as i began - It wasnt until i was 19 years of age did i find out i could have a personal relationship with GOD.

ALTAR CALL - INVITATION TO RAISE A HAND TO GOD WHICH REPRESENTS A HEART THATS WILLING

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, Thank you that you LOVE ME

Thank you that you DIED on the CROSS FOR ME

Thank you that you ROSE AGAIN

I give you my life

forgive me of all the things i’ve done wrong

I want to be a Christian

a Child of God

Help me to LIVE FOR YOU

For all of My Days

and For all of ETERNITY

in Jesus NAME.

Amen.

NOTES:

There will never be another moment in history where the son of God will hang on a cross. The next time this world see’s JESUS he will be coming differently

revelation says there will be a white horse & the one sitting on it called faithful and true is JESUS.

And when he comes back He will make all things new

Revelation 19:11–16 ESV

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

So how does this apply to me? to you? you might be saying: …..

To approach God - there is only one way. Via the Bold, Bloody Altar - You must pass via the cross, to enter into his prescence HEALED and WHOLE

LETS ALL STAND.

this was the phrase: “Help, i’ve fallen…. and i cant get up”

The classic commercial featuring this slogan was ranked number one by USA Today in its 2007 list of the most memorable TV commercials from the past 25 years

——-

Thats a massive thing to behold on a friday evening at an ampitheater in St Augustine FLORIDA. but its a reality we all face here tonite. Weve all FALLEN. and we cannot GET UP.