What if Jesus stopped?

Intro

Luke 23:34–39 “34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.”

In this passage Jesus is already on the cross…

He has already been betrayed, beaten and belittled…

Now He hangs on a cross by his hands and feet in between two thieves…

Here were the questions posed by those at the cross site:

1. The People and Rulers who were deriding him

Derided: laughed at in contempt, mocked, ridiculed

Luke 23:35 “35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.”

“He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.”

2. The Soldiers who also mocked Him and offered Him vinegar

Luke 23:36–37 KJV 1900

36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

“If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.”

3. The Thief on the Cross

Luke 23:39 KJV 1900

39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

“If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.”

BODY (transition) - QUESTION

The question posed by all 4 groups was: “If you really are God… if you really are the Messiah that was prophesied that we’ve all been waiting for, you will come down from the cross and save yourself.”

They were looking for a physical display of His power to prove who He really is…

But what if Jesus stopped?

What if He did come down from the cross and forego dying for our sins?

BODY (transition) - ANSWER

1. Scripture Ignored

a.) He must suffer for our sins, not His own

Isaiah 53:5–6 KJV 1900

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

b.) He would suffer for our sins willingly

Isaiah 53:7–9 KJV 1900

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth.

Had they consulted and adhered to the scriptures they had, they would’ve seen that this is something Jesus MUST do…

From Acts 8, Philip taught the Ethiopian Eunuch how this passage in Isaiah is speaking of Jesus who would one day die for our sins…

This passage taught that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 8:37) and how He must suffer for our sins…

Had they consulted the scriptures, they would have known that Jesus could not come down from the cross because this was something He needed to do for us…

2. Mercy Shown

a.) We would still be in our sins

1 Corinthians 15:17 KJV 1900

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

b.) There would be no forgiveness

Hebrews 9:22 KJV 1900

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

c.) There would be no peace with God

Romans 5:1 KJV 1900

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

d.) There would be no hope of eternal life

John 3:16 KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

e.) We would still be under the curse of the law

Galatians 3:13 KJV 1900

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

f.) We would be doomed to eternal separation from God

Revelation 20:15 KJV 1900

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

g.) The old testament would remain unfulfilled which would make God a liar

Luke 24:25–26 KJV 1900

25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

3. Salvation Secured

a.) The Cross is why we have forgiveness

Ephesians 1:7 KJV 1900

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

b.) The Cross is why we can be justified

Romans 5:8–9 KJV 1900

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

c.) The Cross is why we can be brought to God

1 Peter 3:18 KJV 1900

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

d.) The Cross is why we can have eternal life

John 10:28 KJV 1900

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Scripture Ignored

Mercy Shown

Salvation Secured

IF TIME:

Look at the determination of Jesus at the cross::

Luke 9:51 KJV 1900

51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

John 4:34 KJV 1900

34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

John 10:17–18 KJV 1900

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

John 12:27 KJV 1900

27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

John 17:4 KJV 1900

4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

John 19:30 KJV 1900

30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.