The Narrow Way Leads to the Cross

The Big Idea

The narrow way leads through suffering, but God uses that suffering to bring about redemption.

Billy Graham once stated that “Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion; it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.”

That statement speaks to the heart of this lesson. This suffering, this pain, this amount of woes, the crying, it is a process. Today we will discuss that the process that God uses to about “Redemption”

Learning Objectives (Three R’s)

Recognize Jesus’s suffering

Redemptive Work of Christ

Ready and Willing to Follow Christ Regardless of Hardship

I would like to share something with you. I remember not to long ago, approximately 7 years ago I was living with my mom. Yep, a grown man and his wife and children. Crowded in a little 3 bedroom home. I had no job. I was just trying to make ends meet. However, I could not. I could barely walk without a cane or pushing cart thing similar to a wheel chair. I was attempting to go to school and try to get an degree, but my lack of sleep due to night terrors, reliving things that I experienced, couple with sleep apnea made concentrating extremely difficult. Nevertheless, I pressed on. I felt less than a man because I could not provide, could not go like wanted. It bled through my music, my pain was evident. My struggle was real. It was not until I was in class and my professor stated, “Some of you are struggling now, not because of sin, but because you are being molded, but the process is taking some time because of your stubbornness.” I hobbled to the restroom and cried out to God that day.I was stubborn. I needed to rely on Him, then I started to grow.

Let’s go to our text.

Isaiah 53:3–6 ESV

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Verse three is quite alarming, and in some form and way, it is happening today. Jesus Christ, the man who went around healing and preaching the good news of the kingdom of God. The one who said in Matthew 5:1–3 “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Teaching them, feeding them and having compassion for them, this same Jesus Christ, would be later on:

Despised

Rejected

Considered Him as Insignificant

You may ask how do we do this today? We do this in:

Arrogance

Lack of Caring for Others

Have a cavalier attitude concerning the cross

Reread verses 3 through 6. Even though, they did this, Jesus lifted up our illnesses, carried our pain.

Jesus on the Cross

Luke 23:33–35 ESV

And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”

You can see here that they are mocking Christ. Placing Jesus among the same status as a criminal.

This criminal language, what the Jews believed is happening here is found in Deuteronomy 21:23 “his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.” This pronouncement emerges from legislation governing the treatment of executed criminals in ancient Israel.

Several New Testament passages echo this sentiment by applying it to Jesus’s crucifixion. Paul writes in Galatians 3:13 that “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.’” This represents Paul’s deliberate connection between the Deuteronomic law and Christ’s death, transforming the curse into an instrument of redemption. Through his death on the cross Jesus experienced the curse that both Jew and gentile deserved for their disobedience to God, with Paul citing Deuteronomy 21:23 as proof that Christ became a curse for his people.

Jesus says forgive them Father

This echoes Isaiah 53:12 and Matthew 5:44. This allows shows that Jesus is very aware that if the people knew that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, “the Promised One,” then they would have never attempted such a travesty.

Why: Consider your biblical training.

Genesis 3 Man fell and sin entered the world.

Genesis 6 We see that the wickedness of man was exceedingly great without end.

To the ANE writers and readers, they were aware

Man and death were dancing closely together.

The gods of this world were against Yahweh.

Corruption of this world was evident geographically.

When Israel and Judah was exiled and taken over by the other nations they knew God must intervene and take over.

The promised Messiah was to come and wage war on death, the other gods, and (their thoughts the nations) but actuality reconcile the nations back to God.

Therefore, you see Jesus’ mission in certain regions and these demon infested areas are trembling. They know Who is there. They know they have no authority over Him.

The people state: If you be the Christ, If you be the chosen one of God then do what we think is the most natural thing to do. Save. Yourself.

Why The Cross Matters

I remember asking you all a question a few Sundays ago. I asked if God were to give you what you deserved will you be able to withstand and come out unscathed? There were many who said yes Mr. Banks I would be ok. I believe that you truly did not consider the implications of what I asked. Therefore, I revisit that same question, but from a differing angle.

The cross reveals God’s love and justice

Remembering that man, humanity itself is full of sin.

If the wages (payment) of sin is death, true justice means that sin, the sinner must be held accountable to the payment.

Therefore, without the cross, without Jesus paying the cost, God giving us what we deserve is to for us to be crushed like Jesus was crushed.

However, Jesus was bruised, crushed, beaten, stabbed, wounded, sacrificed so we would have the opportunity to repent to be reconciled to God.

The cross shows God’s love and justice.

Secondly, the cross shows that death has no authority over God.

Key Lesson: The narrow way passes through the cross—but not to defeat even when it does not appear natural.

In what context does the sermon discuss Jesus being despised and rejected?

In what ways can we show compassion to those who are suffering, like Jesus did?

Reflect on a time when you felt like you were suffering. How did that shape your faith or relationship with God?

How can we be more willing to follow Christ in times of hardship, as mentioned in the sermon?

Who did Jesus help when he was on Earth according to the sermon?

What does the cross represent in terms of God's love for us?

What does it mean if someone says Jesus was 'despised and rejected'?