Why the Cross 1 Peter 3:18

Why the Cross?

So many people cringe when the cross and crucifixion is brought up

Some even argue that it is cruel and unloving

I would argue that it is the most loving act

God sent his only begotten son to be our substitute so that we may have eternal life

So why did Jesus go to the cross

The answer is simple

Sin

1 Peter 3:18 (ESV)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

Look at the headlines

You don’t see sin mentioned much

There is murder, sexual abuse, and thievery, but no sin

Someone once said:

Life is short, death is sure, sin the curse, Christ the cure

How does he cure? through the Cross

Only God can forgive sin

Sin is a rebellion against God

Adrian Rogers said that, “Sin is the clenched fist in the face of God.”

Suffered

Jesus had to suffer for our sins

There is a punishment that goes with sin

We deserve the punishment for our sin, but Jesus took our place and took the punishment

The cross was so brutal and the Romans did it so well that it would scare away anyone who even looked at the cross

The person would be scourged, which is 39 lashes with whip that had 7 tails

Jesus was put on the cross on the third hour, which was 9 am

Mark 15:25 ESV

And it was the third hour when they crucified him.

He hung there until 3pm

For three hours it was completely dark

The Sun went dark at noon, when it is at its brightest

Luke 23:45 ESV

while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

A person would then have to hang on the cross until they were too weak to push themselves up to get air and they would die of lack of oxygen

That wasn’t even the worst of the suffering

The worst was when God turned away from Christ and for the first time Jesus experienced being separated from God

Matthew 27:46 ESV

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Jesus was crying out in anguish because of the separation He now experienced from His heavenly Father for the first and only time in all of eternity.

It is the only time of which we have record that Jesus did not address God as Father.

Because the Son had taken sin upon Himself, the Father turned His back

This is what Jesus shed drops of blood over in the garden while he prayed

Jesus was separated for a brief time as the furious wrath of the Father was poured out on the sinless son

Jesus willingly suffered and went to the cross

He suffered for our sins so that he could bring us to God

Bring us to God

1 Peter 3:18 (ESV)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

There had to be an appeasal of God’s wrath and Jesus accomplished that on the cross

It also opened access to God

Matthew 27:51 ESV

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

The veil was torn from top to bottom

That curtain was 20 feet high

Someone didn’t run in the and slice the curtain

God tore it

We now have unfettered access to God

We don’t need a go between

The relationship has been repaired

Just for Unjust

Jesus became our substitute, the just for the unjust

Christ was the perfect sacrifice because never sinned

The sacrificial lamb was without blemish

While we were still sinners Jesus died for us

He didn’t wait for us to get our act cleaned up

He just beckons us to come as we are

Jesus did not die as a martyr to a righteous cause or simply as an innocent man wrongly accused and condemned.

Jesus died as a substitute sacrifice for the sins of the world, the righteous heavenly Father had to judge Him fully according to that sin.

Jesus became sin on man’s behalf in order that those who believe in Him might be saved from the penalty of their sin

Once for all

Jesus died once for everyone

Hebrews 7:27 ESV

He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

Jesus doesn’t repeatedly suffer every time you sin

He did it once

Made Alive by the Spirit

Jesus did die in His body but was raised from the dead by the Holy Spirit.

Here, the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead.

It was actually an act of the Trinity in Raising Jesus

If God can raise Jesus from the dead and make him alive by the spirit he can rescue from death and make you alive