The Cross: The Ultimate Expression of Love

Bible Passage: Isaiah 53, John 19:16-30, Romans 5:6-8

Summary: The theme of Good Friday focuses on the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, fulfilling prophecies and showcasing the depth of God’s love for humanity through the cross.

Application: This sermon helps Christians understand the weight of sin, the incredible sacrifice of Christ, and invites us to reflect on our own lives, leading to repentance and renewed commitment to live for Him.

Teaching: The teaching centers on the significance of Christ’s suffering and death, exploring how His sacrifice atones for our sins and brings us closer to God.

How this passage could point to Christ: The cross is the pivotal event of salvation history, pointing to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world—a theme woven throughout both Old and New Testaments.

Big Idea: God’s love is demonstrated through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, offering redemption and hope to all who believe.

Intro:

The Cross a symbol to our Christian faith

Historically

2137 One thing at least can be said with certainty about the crucifixion of Christ; it was manifestly the most famous death in history. No other death has aroused one hundredth part of the interest, or been remembered with one hundredth part of the intensity and concern.

Malcolm Muggeridge

The cross is the centre of the world’s history. The incarnation of Christ and the crucifixion of our Lord are the pivot round which all the events of the ages revolve.

Alexander Maclaren (Preacher and Expositor)

Personally

Life offers only two alternatives: crucifixion with Christ or self-destruction without him.

Anonymous

Tonight we will be given four truths from the Bible detailing the cross as the ultimate expression of God’s love

1. Prophecy of Pain and Purpose

Isaiah 53:1–5 “1 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. 3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.”

illustrate how Isaiah's prophecy describes the suffering servant

Suffering Servant- Who was Christ serving… God His will

Vs 1-2

Jesus was a servant to the fathers will

Jesus did not look like one of majesty- but one who blended in

(Judas kiss)

A suffering servant in his appearance

Isaiah 52:14 “14 Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men.”

A suffering servant despised by those He loves; submitted to the father

Vs 3

Despised- definition

Psalm 22:6 “6 But I am a worm and not a man, A reproach of men and despised by the people.”

Handed over- Christ went willingly

Luke 18:31–33 “31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, 33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.””

The will of the father

Isaiah 53:10 “10 But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.”

Why was the Lord pleased?

God plan

Obedience

What was there about the crucifixion of Jesus which, in spite of its horror, shame and pain, makes it so important that God planned it in advance and Christ came to endure it?

John Robert Walmsley Stott (English Preacher)

This wasn't a martyr this was a savior

2155 The cross of Jesus Christ is not the cross of a martyr, but the door whereby God keeps open house for the universe.

Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)

Man has rejected him

John 1:10 “10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.”

The Pain of Christ- the rejection

Self and the Savior can never live in one heart. He will have all, or none. So, where self is on the throne, it cannot be expected that Christ should meekly come and sit upon the footstool. Why Christ Is Not Esteemed, Volume 53, Sermon #3033 - Isaiah 53:3

Charles Spurgeon

Emphasize how the details of this prophecy highlight the physical and emotional pain Jesus endured as a demonstration of God's immense love for us.

The purpose of Christ- the servanthood to the father

By understanding the foretelling of these events, perhaps congregants might realize how intrinsic the cross is to the salvation narrative.

This realization can lead to deeper gratitude and a personal commitment to follow Christ more faithfully, reflecting on the extent of His sacrifice.

2. Proclamation at the Cross

John 19:16-22

King of the Jews Jesus true kingship

Not the king they wanted- Proclamation of surrender - what is more important (what is life giving)

Surrendered to the Father- vs 17

Handing over- Jesus was surrendered

Setting the standard a surrendered life

Luke 14:27 “27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

Perhaps, explore the moment Jesus is sentenced to crucifixion. This passage marks the pivotal event of the cross, a symbol of shame transformed into a beacon of hope.

Proclamation of His kingship - vs 18-22

Highlight Pilate's inscription declaring Jesus as King of the Jews, which unknowingly proclaimed His true kingship.

Why is Christ kingship important to this story of love

Such as will not have Christ to be their King to rule over them shall never have his blood to save them.

Thomas Watson

Invite the audience to see the irony and providence in this title,

challenging them to recognize Jesus as their King and align their lives under His reign.

Will you accept this proclamation from the cross

3. Pronouncement of Completion

John 19:23-30

the final moments of Jesus’ life

emphasizing the completion of His mission. With His words, "

It is finished,"

What has been finished.

Jesus declares victory over sin

Jesus has won the decisive victory over the oldest and darkest enemy of all, and if we are ‘in him’, ‘in the king’, ‘in Christ’, we shall discover step by step what that means.

N. T. Wright

. Encourage the congregation to find assurance in these words, knowing that the work of salvation is complete, inviting them to rest in this finished work and trust in the redemption offered at the cross.

4. Proof of Divine Love

Romans 5:6–8 “6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Divine Love- while we were still sinners-

vs 6 Helpless- I love this word here!

For the ungodly

Ephesians 5:2 “2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

There is no cure for the love of sin like the blood of Christ! A Dire Disease Strangely Cured, Volume 50, Sermon #2887 - Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24

Charles Spurgeon

Discuss how the cross stands as the ultimate expression of love and our assurance of reconciliation with God.

Challenge the audience to respond not just with words but with transformed lives,

What is a transformed life?

motivated by Christ's sacrificial love and the reconciliation it achieved for humankind.

Application:

The cross is the ultimate expression of God’s love

Will you accept that the finished work of Christ on the cross