Whats God doing on a cross?

Matthew 27:45–54 ESV

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 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?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Prayer

Matthew 27:54 “54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!””

Introduction….

HERE IS A MAN WHO WITNESSED THE DEATH OF JESUS. THE CENTURION “SAW ….WHAT HAD TAKEN PLACE”. HE SAW. HE WITNESSED.

what did he see’?

an innocent man crucified?

a perfect life be ended in the most brutal, cruel and punishing way… a punishment reserved for the worst of the worst - thugs, criminals… opposers of the empire. All for a public spectacle to be witnessed by man….

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Think about it from the centurions perspective. He got to see The whole thing end to end.

which would mean that envariably that man, if i am to take come creative licence here by saying, probably would’ve at the same time as realizing that this indeed was an innocent man, and then the sky went dark,,, the temple nearby the curtain fell… and the earth quakes.., and the remark was this truly is the son of God”

the question of “for what purpose did He die?”….

that is the question that anyone seriously considering good friday must arrive at and re-arrive at, which is why would God be on a cross?

Whats God doing on a cross?

He is there….

1.So He Could Redeem us:

Why would God willingly endure the crucifixion, being nailed to a cross and subjected to public humiliation? Because it was an act that transcended human capability. If humans were unable to achieve this, it would require God, in the form of a man, to step in and take on the role of humanity.

In this moment, redemption was secured within the framework of eternity, resulting in the enduring and eternal redemption of the entire world.

Redemption is the point of the cross. Why would God willingly get up on a cross and be nailed and be crucified in front of the whole world?

Because it would take God, to do what man cannot.

So if man can’t

It’s going to take God, as a man

To stand in man’s place.

Enter Jesus Birth, Life, Death…. and as we will celebrate again on sunday - His ressurection.

The cross is the great rescue of Humanity - Why else would He be there?

i have always loved this quote:

“it wasnt Roman nailes that Held Jesus to the cross, it was His perfect Love”.

God loves us, He wants to redeem us, He sent His son for us

Redemption in the framework of eternity was purchased in this very moment. 

This was the lasting, eternal redemption of the world.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The cross was not an accident—it was an assignment.

What Jesus cried on the cross at the final moment was something that was a cry of the soul written by David in

Psalm 31:3–5 ESV

3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; 4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

The reason that God is on a cross, is because it HAD to be God - to make it possible for all of us to do whhat comes next

2.So We can Reflect:

Not reflect on ourselves - thats part of it - so that we can see our own reflection in the cross of Christ.

not a reflection of his sadness, sorrow or suffering - no!

But we need see our own reflection… see our face, our lives, our

Have you ever thought of the Cross of Christ as like a mirror?

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEEING SOMETHING & EXPERIENCING SOMETHING.

The Cross of Christ was a public spectacle - so everyone would see - But only those that would come close would be changed

I believe this centurion had this experience

why else would he have the revelation: surely this is the son of GOD.

“The cross is not a thing we can understand by reason; it is a thing we must experience.” - Oswald Chambers.

The invitation for all of us today is not to stand back and watch, but to come up and take a real look

all of us need to see the cross as like a mirror - we have to see ourselves in the cross….because without that, its impossible for us to get to sunday, if we dont first arrive at friday

WHEN I COME CLOSE, I SEE CLEARLY - What the cross is about. Its for everyone, but its especially for me. When i come close, i see

My Sin. My Shame, My Guilt, My Brokenness….. but covering all of that - is His blood

Romans 6:4 ESV

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:5 ESV

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Romans 6:6 ESV

6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

To Join the resurection celebration thats coming on sunday…. - we have to first come to friday

friday is about what it cost him, sunday is what it now means for us in HIM

But First, Everyone must go via the cross.

I wonder if you

yes you

have walked up to the cross, and seen yourself in it?

seen your sin

seen your mistakes

Seen your failures…. all the mess…

and seen HIM

And the blood, that was poured out on that cross, that the sprinkling of that blood covers every sin that mankind commits.

but we all have to come to the crosse

Its one thing to be apart of the crowd, its an entirely different thing to come for yourself.

called ouut from the crowd

to become a disciple.

From a participant, to a contributoir

from helpless, to being helped… to finally helping others

for us it is to see his redemption

for us it is to be able to see our own reflection…

and finally, the Christ on the cross, is for us

3.For us to be able to Respond:

Luke 9:23 ESV

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Romans 6:5 ESV

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

In the old testament, this was foreshadowed when Moses was told by God to take the golden serpent - and raise it up - so that when anyone would be bitten by the snakes, would look to the golden serpent raised up by moses… they would be healed

Jesus - said, just like moses lifted up the serpent in the wildnerness, so must the son of man also be lifted up

why?

so that anyone who looks upon the cross

would get the healing that ONLY the BLOOD of the cross poured out - would be able to heal.

Thats the opportunity today, Good friday, and any day

To look upon Jesus.

and decide.

What do i see?

SUNDAYS COMING

A prayer for silent saturday