Dying Alone

If I asked you to share the gospel message in a few sentences could you do it? If you were asked why Jesus died on the cross could you give a well thought out and biblical answer?

Intro

We sure can complicate anything can’t we?

Many of us have a fear of dying alone.

How does Jesus death help us in our own death?

One day I was working as a chaplain in Quantico VA

The gospel message is a message about Jesus not a message about us.

Marine Corps OCS. Every Wednesday we would hold a service.

A young man came up to me afterward with tears in his eyes.

He told me he was ready, ready to become a follower of Jesus, and asked what he needed to do to be saved.

I froze. A million things went through my head. Does he know this or that, where do I start, what do I say?

We have a tendency to complicate things don’t we.

Well, not John. Let’s look.

Drama

The simplicity of the gospel:

Jesus is crucified

John seems to leave out the details

He gives us location/History (all accounts agree to this location)

John 19:17 ESV

and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.

The place - Golgatha the place of a skull (17)

With 2 others, one on each side

Matthew 27:38 ESV

Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.

Matthew

He died a criminals death yet undeservedly

Jesus was without sin.

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 2:17 ESV

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

God’s truth is there whether men see it or not:

His role is confirmed

Pilate wrote:

John 19:19 ESV

Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

The Jews rebuked and denied it

John 19:21 ESV

So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ”

John 19:21

The truth, God’s truth, is truth whether a man accepts it or not

Doctrine

Effectual Call

The truth, God’s truth, is truth whether a man accepts it or not

God is the one who has made it possible for man to see

Submission of Jesus to God’s will

Warning: not subordination

John 19:17 ESV

and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.

“Bearing his own cross”

In the context of the covenant

This is the fulfilment of both the covenant of works and grace

To fulfill the covenant command Jesus had to be perfectly obedient - sinless

To fulfill the covenant of grace he had to be the spotless lamb, perfect sacrifice

Jesus did this by coming to earth

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Phil 2:5

Christ died alone as our mediator

Matthew 27:46 ESV

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?”

Matt 27

WCF Chapter 8

The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition Chapter VIII. Of Christ the Mediator

IT pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man; the Prophet,b Priest, and King; the Head and Saviour of his Church;e the Heir of all things; and Judge of the world:g unto whom he did from all eternity give a people to be his seed, and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.i

Jesus fulfilled this role as Mediator because no one else could

The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition Chapter VIII. Of Christ the Mediator

IV. This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake; which that he might discharge, he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfil it;a endured most grievous torments immediately in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body;c was crucified, and died; was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption.

Jesus Baptism: Response to John

Matthew 3:15 ESV

But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

The Church:

Jesus is the head to whom we submit.

The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition Chapter VIII. Of Christ the Mediator

V. The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of his Father; and purchased not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto him.m

Jesus came to earth to do what no man could do. And, when John gives little detail its because he wants is to focus not on the details of his death, but the reason and purpose of his death.

Illus: Passion of the Christ

played on emotions and was shocking to watch. But, the message of Jesus is a message, not a movie.

App: How do we respond when we are confronted by God’s truth? Are we willing to submit?

God’s Word is truth

The truth, God’s truth, is truth whether a man accepts it or not

Pilate laid out the truth even if he did not believe it or understand it.

God’s world is full of his truth. The world operates as He has designed it and sees fit to allow it to operate.

App: How do we respond when we are confronted by God’s truth? Are we willing to submit?

Doxology

Praise God that he has not left all decision making concerning his church to us.

His Church:

Jesus is Lord and King of His Church - Head

Elders under the watchful eye of Jesus

We have the ability to submit to God’s truth because the one who is truth dwells within us.

BJ Hyatt

Session and the voting process

When one elder is not in agreement they agree to submit to the will of the others in love and obedience.

Praise God that the gospel message is simple enough that anyone can understand it.

Here you can start with a simple discussion around the crucifixion of Jesus

It is the message that Jesus came to reconcile men to God and restore a damaged relationship

This is ultimately what all men are looking for, yet only those called effectually will find

You have heard this simple message and responded because God opened your ears and eyes.

Illus:

Being united to Christ, no matter who is around us when we die we are not alone

None of us will ever say: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Quantico and the young man who was ready to receive Jesus.

After the initial shock I went over with him and sat on one of the logs used to line the running trail we used every day.

Why? because Jesus accomplished that for us.

I asked him one question. I said “What do you know about Jesus Christ?”

After a few moments of hearing this man being converted before me, conveying to me a simple message, a powerful message, this man got it.

It was that simple.

App:

Let us begin to talk to people in a very plain and simple way about Jesus Christ.

Let us refrain from making it too complicated by ensuring they understand all of the doctrines

Let us begin to make disciples and start telling people about such a beautiful message

Start with these simple words.

English Standard Version Chapter 19

So they took Jesus, 17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.

“So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross . . . and they crucified him

This is our response to the gospel message we have heard, take it and share it so people aren’t dying alone, without knowing Jesus Christ.