The Cross of Christ

Intro

This morning we will take a look at the one moment in history that everything else pivots around. The Cross of Christ. This is no overstatement, exaggeration or flourish of hyperbole. The Cross and what happened are the center piece of History. Not just for believers but non believers alike. In terms of scripture the entirety of the Old Testament was pointed toward this moment and the New Testament is looking back towards it. It is the Pinnacle and doubly so for those who have been saved by it.

So let us read as Mark captures a brisk account of the Cross.

English Standard Version Chapter 15

21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25 And it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

The Death of Jesus

33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

Mark takes this major moment and in his typical style, essentially gives us the highlights of what happened.

Simon carries the cross.

What would he tell his sons?

The offer of wine to deaden the sense/ Jesus’ refusal.

Jesus wanted to have all of his wits about him, as he headed to the Cross.

The dividing of garments and fulfilling of prophecy.

The inscription of charges.

The Pharisees and scribes hated this. It demonstrates God’s sovereignty in ways they couldn’t expect.

Jesus being mocked. Excludes one of the men confessing Christ as the Savior.

Luke 23:40-43

40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The supernatural event of darkness covering the land.

The Paradox of Darkness during the brightest time of the day/brightest moment in all of history.

John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Jesus experiencing the weight of his father turning his face away.

Perfect union had been the only thing Jesus knew and here it is broken.

More mocking. Essentially offering the savior our used toilet paper.

Jesus’ death

Willingly given John 10:18

18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.

John 19:30

30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The temple curtain torn from Top to Bottom.

30 ft high, 4 inches thick.

The confession of the Guard.

The watching of the onlookers. What did they think?

There is much to be gleamed from these 20 verses. Deep treasures that I would commend you to go and find this next week. Don’t let these passages be something you come to only during Easter or times like today. Make marveling at the Cross a regular habit.

This morning I want us to walk away today knowing or being reminded of a few of these truths that the Cross brings into sharp focus.

The Cross demonstrates Gods wisdom. Mark 15:15-32

English Standard Version Chapter 15

29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

Those who are calling for Jesus to save himself don’t realize what they are actually asking.

Should Jesus come down he can not save them.

Conventional wisdom says that if you want to save someone you need to be around in order to do the saving. God centered wisdom says things like:

what Jesus says in Matt 16 “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?“

Or Paul in Phil “15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.”

The Cross demonstrates God’s wisdom by showing where we have got it wrong. The Cross fundamental reorders or priorities and places’ God’s will in front of our own.

The Cross makes access to God possible Mark 15:37-39

English Standard Version Chapter 15

37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Christ death stands in stark contrast to the Old Testament sacrificial system.

The work of the Cross is perfect, permanent and priceless. (1st Corinthians 1:18-31)

Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians does a great Job of giving us the insight we need on this point.

For everyone else the Cross makes very little sense.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

If we can understand this point we will be better able to move through our life, living a life worthy of the Gospel, worthy of the Cross.

It’s when we marvel at the Cross that we see true transformation come about.

Do you desire for social justice, you must first marvel at the Cross.

Do you want to be a better husband, wife, or parent; you must first marvel at the Cross.

Do you want others to value the life of those who are poor, defenseless, marginalized, the least of all, marvel at the Cross.

Do you want to see your campus, digital or in person experience a personal encounter with God, you must first marvel at the Cross.

Do you want to restore former relationships, marvel at the Cross.

There is not one thing in life that this is not the answer.

When we Marvel at the Cross you will see change, and it will start with you first and foremost, because as you marvel at the Cross and you ponder at its perfection and permanence and pricelessness you will find that you can not help but begin to live in accordance to the call upon your life. You can not marvel at the Cross of Christ without being transformed. When you marvel at the Cross you will walk with greater boldness. When you know what your Savior was willing to give up on your behalf in order that you might know him, anything he ask of you or me can be confidently meet with yes and Amen.

You want me to make the first step.

You want me to admit my fault in the current relationship trouble.

You want me to stand on the side of Justice.

You want me to possibly look foolish for you.

You want me to risk a job promotion.

You want me to sit through this trial.

You want.... whatever the cost here, when you marvel at the Cross you know that it is but a momentary matter and that God will will use it to do immeasurably more then we can think or imagine.

We must let these truths soak into our bones, we must wake each morning and preach these truths into our lives. Lest we empty the Cross of it’s power in our own lives.

As we prepare to go this morning let us sing of God’s great love for us.