Face the Cross

Theme: Face the Cross and consider Him Who hung thereon.

Introduction:

The God/man

He is the Creator, therefore man is responsible to Him. (Colossians 1:16)

He is the Upholder, therefore man is dependent upon Him. (Colossians 1:17)

He is the King, therefore man is subject to Him. (I Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, 19:16)

Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony (Daniel 2:47)

Man’s ultimate reality (Philippians 2:10-11)

He is the Redeemer of man, therefore man must glorify Him.

The Work

A work of suffering, through which man is healed of his sin disease. (Isaiah 53:5)

Consider the house of the High Priest Caiaphas (Matthew 26:67-68)

Beaten (hit with fists)

Mocked

Consider the Praetorium (Matthew 27:27-30, Mark 15:15, 19)

Beaten (scourged)

Preliminary to Roman execution

Whip

Single or braided leather strips of variable length

Small iron balls or pieces of bone attached

Victim tied to a pole (naked with the backside exposed)

One or two lictors (soldiers with a whip)

Much blood-loss

Much torn flesh

Mocked

Crown of thorns

“Royal” robe

Kneeling

Consider the Cross (Matthew 27:32-50, Mark 15:20-37, Luke 23:26-46, John 19:16-30)

Prior scourging and sleeplessness left Him very weak

The Walk

125 lb. patibulum (or crossbar) tied to victim and carried from scourging site

Naked unless custom didn’t permit

Not carried the entire way, apparently Christ too weak to carry the whole way

The Method

Pierced

Iron spike 5-7in. in length, 3/8in in width

Hand and foot

Upright

Position

Time

A work of propitiation, because man cannot save himself. (Galatians 3:13, I John 4:10, Romans 3:23)

A work of separation, because God cannot allow sin. (Matthew 27:46, Ezekiel 18:4)

A work of redemption, therefore man must glorify Him. (I Corinthians 6:20)

A work finished, therefore man need not search for salvation anywhere else. (Hebrews 1:2, Acts 4:12)

The Cost

The Cost of humility, therefore man must humble himself before God.

Consider what He set aside (Philippians 2:5-8)

Consider His shame

Consider Herod’s men of war (Luke 23:9)

Consider the Roman cohort (Matthew 27:29)

Consider the Cross (Matthew 27:39, 44)

tradition to hang naked

railed on

by passersby

by those crucified with

The Cost of life, therefore man must die to sin. (Hebrews 9:22, Romans 6:2)

Conclusion: What you must do

The Believer

responsible to Him

dependent upon Him

subject to Him (I John 5:3)

must glorify Him

humble before Him

must die to sin

The Unbeliever (Mark 1:15)

If going to bow before Him anyway why not now rather then when you would be judged for your sin?

Why would you live in sin and incur God’s judgment rather then receive Christ, die to sin, and live in God’s righteousness?