Jesus Christ Our Salvation

Introduction

My Mom once won a horse in a raffle. It was a little Shetland Pony. There was only one problem. She was afraid of the horse, and the horse knew it. Because she was afraid of it, it hated her. Eventually, the horse ran away and mom was actually relieved. Now, let me tell you another story. When I was probably 5 or 6 my family got a little Cocker Spaniel. Her name was Daisy. Daisy had been abused by a little boy. He would run into her with his electric tractor, scoop her up, and drop her in the pool. This made Daisy very skittish around kids. Especially if they held onto her and got in her face. I was little. I love dogs. I got in her face. She nipped at me. I kept at it. It took me a year or more, but I won her over through feeding her and petting her and playing with her. These two scenarios demonstrate the difference between our natural human response and a response of love. When someone or something hates us, our natural reaction is to reject that relationship and be relieved when it ends. However, if we love the person, we will keep working and striving until the relationship we want to have is achieved.

Romans 5 described us as without strength, ungodly, sinners, and enemies. Yet it is in that state Christ died for us, justified us, delivered us from wrath, reconciled us to God, and saved us by His life! This morning it is my desire that we understand something about our sin.

Our sin is offensive to God.

Because our sin is offensive to a righteous and holy God, it must be punished. Rom. 66:23 penalty is death. Loving God wouldn’t. True. If only love, wouldn’t punish. But a God who is loving & just and holy must punish sin! He has no choice! Substitute.

Jesus suffered unimaginable pain to pay the penalty for sin.

Once the penalty is paid God is freed to woo us, pursue us, and lovingly draw us to Himself! Like I did with our dog.

We are going to examine some of what Jesus endured this morning.

As we look at what Christ suffered for us, my desire is that we would ask ourselves a question.

What does God want to accomplish through this life He has purchased?

When He has His way in us, we  become  like Christ.

First thing Jesus endured was…

1. The  Scourging 

All but Luke record this. Luke 23:16 Pilate wanted lighter whipping (chastise). But prophesied by Isaiah. Isaiah 53:4-6 (S).

Sanhedrin spit, beat. Scourging came first. Mark 15:6-15.

Scourge = Heavy whipping or flogging that could lead to death.

2 Roman soldiers (S). 39 lashes = Jewish custom, not Roman. Romans had no limit. Jesus whipped by Roman soldiers. Eusabious of Ceasare was a 3rd century historian and he said that those scourged in this way had “their bodies frightfully lacerated. Christian martyrs in Smyrna were so torn by the scourges that their veins were laid bare, and the inner muscles, sinews, even entrails, were exposed.” If not careful Roman soldier could disembowel or sever arteries bringing premature death.

Sift through information left w/... The whips had bone, glass, and nails at the tip embedded in lead. The whips had anywhere from 3-12 straps. Roman Empire was world power for around 600 years so quite a bit of variation.

Replica of whip used on Jesus (S). Whip has to be able to do kind of damage history tells us was done! Whip has a circular, horizontal strap connecting the vertical straps. If not in place whip would destroy itself after only a few lashes. Fresh blood is slick, no Roman soldier would have a whip that he has to stop and untangle after every swing. The Romans were professional killers! They used the most effective, cruel, and painful torture known to man! I am going to demonstrate the whip on this box and as I do I want all of us to think about what Jesus suffered for us. Some of you have seen this before. Don’t become desensitized. This was the price of your freedom!

Jesus paid the  price  for your sin and mine!

By His stripes we are healed! Why would someone endure this? Why would He suffer this cruelty and pain? It wasn’t because of our worth! It wasn’t b/c we are good people! 1 John 4:9-10 (S).

We didn’t love Him! Yet He allowed Himself to suffer this for our sake. Jesus could have called 12 legions of angels! He loved you and me and that is what kept Him there!

We live in a society that has no idea what love is! Love is not an emotion or an event. Love is volitional. Love is a choice that we demonstrate through actions as well as words. True love tied to Cross! Greatest act of love ever took place 2K years ago on battered wooden cross where infamous carpenter put to death b/c religious leaders were jealous of popularity. As read of this carpenter in historical accounts of His life, come to realize Jesus was more than a man. The Bible reveals that Jesus is God in the flesh! God Himself came to earth to pay the penalty for sin. That is love! This is what a loving, righteous, holy, just God does. Sing with me “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us”.

2. The  Crown 

John 19:1-7.

Want you understand We have no idea what Jesus’ crown of thorns looked like. This one imported from Israel (S). Might be similar to what forced on Jesus’ head. 3 layers to the crown with the bottom being wider and the top is narrower. Thorns of varying length; longest over 3 ½ inches, shortest less than a ½ in. Man wore one of these crowns for only ½ hour before hair matted w/ blood & trickling down face.

Mark 15:16-20. They didn’t just set the crown on His head. They smashed it down (S).

Artists & wimpy Jesus; 2 thin streams of blood running down forehead. Anyone who has had head injury knows how ridiculous that is. With this abusive treatment Jesus’ head would be pouring blood. Scripture indicates Pilate was more convinced of Jesus' innocence after Jesus was scourged. Why? Jesus didn’t change His story even after torture. They put purple robe on Him while mocked. Then ripped it off. Cloth starts to stick. Ripping it off would reopen wounds. Man named William MacDonald said the following “If they had only known! It was God the Son they clothed with purple. It was their own Creator they crowned with thorns. It was the Sustainer of the universe they mocked as King of the Jews. It was the Lord of life and glory they smote on the head. They spat upon the Prince of Peace. They mockingly bowed their knees to the King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Tortured, broken, beaten, Isaiah says His beard was torn out. Not the image of Jesus see today.

This reminds us just how  awful  sin is, and the horrible  price  that had to be paid.

The King of kings was crowned with thorns. Red blood ran down His face and matted His hair. Yet this blood was poured out for my sin, for yours. The list of our offenses was blotted out as this river of red poured from the veins of the Savior. Because of His agony, His payment, His suffering, I am free! Sing with me # 175 “Hallelujah, What A Savior!” Vv. 1-3.

3. The  Crucifixion 

No wonder Jesus couldn’t carry His Cross. Blood loss alone sometimes killed victims before crucifixion. Matthew 27:32-44.

Gall & vinegar = painkiller that Jesus refused. Jesus went through all this for sake of sinners, of enemies. Gospels state simple fact. Most familiar w/ crucifixion.

Paintings 13ft Cross. Romans used 7-9 ft crosses. Jesus on Cross wouldn’t have been very high off ground. Gambled for clothing right under His feet! Crosses not heavy, after beatings, whipping, etc. Jesus couldn’t carry. Top of hill, laid Jesus on Cross, pounded nails into hands & feet. Found remains of crucified man, know method fairly well. Nails (S). Extra ridge so could be easily pulled out. Heel bone found w/ nail still in it (S). Had placement down to result in maximum pain. Foot nail severed 3 nerves. Wrist nail pierced nerve & tendon causing hand to stay flexed.

All bones/arteries avoided to allow victim to be conscious/alive as long as possible. Nails placed while on ground. When stood Cross up, dropped into hole, weight hit nails.

NAIL BEAM!

What kind of language do you think they normally heard from the cross? Jesus says Father forgive them! Allow to suffer, unable to breathe, could take days to die. To speed up process legs broken below knee. Jesus only on Cross 6 hours b/f death. John 10:17-18 (S).

Jesus  willingly  laid down His life for you and me.

Could have called 12 legions of angels, chose to suffer and die. Isaiah = Wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquity. By His stripes, we are healed. Sing with me the last two verses of # 175 “Hallelujah, What A Savior!” Vv. 4-5

4. The  Spear 

John = only gospel writer who records medically significant fact, Jesus pierced with spear, John 19:30-37.

Research discovered spear usually picture isn’t kind used. Throwing.

Looks something like this (S). The stress that John places on this event has lead to much discussion on the blood and water that flowed out. From a medical perspective it seems most likely that Jesus’ heart ruptured which is what caused His death. This “was followed by an effusion of blood into the pericardium (the area around the heart). This blood, separated into its thicker and more liquid parts, flowed forth when the pericardium was pierced by the spear.”

This unexpected result proved beyond a doubt that Jesus was dead. Some belief in John’s day that Jesus hadn’t died, wasn’t real human body, other beliefs. John makes this assertion to prove that Christ had a real physical body that really died for sin.

Not a poke but a jab. After death; Thomas after resurrection; Jesus said “put hand in His side”. As John point out here Scripture prophesies that they will look on Him who they have pierced.

Jesus endured all this to  redeem  lost, broken, sinners like you and me.

That is love. Sing with me “Blessed Redeemer”

Have you heard of the sermon “Sinners in the hands of an angry God”? This famous sermon was preached by Jonathan Edwards on July 8, 1741. It has been studied and discussed over the years. It has been championed by many. But, it may surprise you to hear, that it has also been hated. There are people who don’t want to believe that God is angered by our sin. They don’t want to believe in the wrath of God. This attitude demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of sin. Our sin is repulsive to God! It is repugnant! It is a filthy stench in His nostrils! My sin is so offensive to God that He did the unthinkable to be rid of it! He sacrificed His one and only Son to pay the penalty for my sin! That is how offensive my sin is! My sin is so vile that the only perfect being to ever walk this earth had the flesh of his back shredded for it! My sin is so rotten that a crown of thorns was driven into a head that never held a cruel or wicked thought! My sin is so corrupt that hands that had only brought healing and comfort were mutilated by iron nails as they were pounded through the wrists into a rough wooden cross! Because of my sin, feet that walked to bring peace to the nations were punctured with a cruel iron nail. My sin is so despicable that the side of God in the flesh was pierced for it. The enormity of the sacrifice brilliantly illuminates the insidious degradation of my wicked heart! SIN IS OFFENSIVE TO GOD! It is the opposite of Him in every way. And because sin is offensive to God He sent His one and only Son to pay the penalty for it!

My sin does not bring dishonor to Christ only if it is found out. My sin dishonors Christ by its very existence. This is why we fight sin. This is why we develop a hatred of sin! Sin took Christ to the Cross! On that Cross Christ shed His blood and paid the penalty for sin. That is what we celebrate at communion.

Turn with me to 1Corinthians 11:23-32. This is a time for believers to remember the price that was paid. To be reminded of the penalty of sin. Taking part of communion does not save you. This is simply a way for us to be reminded of what Christ has done. If you know the Lord as savior this morning, please join us in bread and juice as we remember Jesus Christ. These are only symbols, they represent the body and blood of our Savior. Examination – verses 26-32

OBSERVANCE OF COMMUNION

The Bread (His Body) vv. 23, 24 #364 “My Jesus I Love Thee” (Verse 1)

My Jesus I love Thee I know Thou art mine For Thee all the follies of sin I resign My gracious Redeemer my Savior art Thou If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now

The Cup (His Blood) v. 25 #364 “My Jesus I Love Thee” (Verse 2)

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now

Conclusion

Why have we looked at all of this? Why does it matter? Ephesians 2:8-10 (S).

We have been created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works. We have been redeemed for a purpose! We are to bring others to Christ, we are to live for Christ, all to the praise of the glory of His grace!

Today we have looked at His death. Next week we will examine His glorious resurrection!

Christ gave His life for those who were His enemies! Sinners opposed to Him, without strength, without hope, without any merit of our own! Yet in His incredible love, mercy, and grace Christ died to justify us and reconcile us to Himself! All this was willingly endured by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Why? John 3:16 (S).

If you have never believed, do it now. Trust in His death burial and resurrection.

If you have trusted in Him, What does God want to accomplish through this life He has purchased?

He purchased you, bought you with His blood, and wants to conform you to His image!

What is he asking you to give up, to let go of? He is making you like Christ! Let it go!

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ cost too much for us to take the Christian life lightly.

This week may we give Him our lives!

May we hold nothing back and endure any trial in  service  to the one who died for us.

# 453 “I Gave My Life For Thee”

I gave My life for thee My precious blood I shed That thou might'st ransomed be And quickened from the dead I gave I gave My life for thee What hast thou given for Me I gave I gave My life for thee What hast thou given for Me