The Sacrificial Lamb

Introduction

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Praise the Lord he is risen! It is our ultimate hope! Without that good news, the message today would not be one of hope, nor would we even gather together. I want us to keep that at heart. Why is it so important because it is through the events of the Cross and these seven statements we see four realities about Jesus.

We are in the midst of celebrating the week that led up to the resurrection of Christ. We started with Palm Sunday, this past Sunday and tonight, we are looking at the seven statements of Jesus on the Cross that took place on Friday, which we call Good Friday.

The timing of the events would be something like:

Sunday Jesus triumphantly enters into Jerusalem. The crowds celebrate him praising him.

Then on Monday, Jesus cleanses the Temple from the wickedness that was taking place.

On Tuesday, Jesus teaches in parables and discusses the sign of the times with the people.

On Wednesday of Passion Week, it is believed that Judas’ agreement to betray Jesus was cemented.

On Thursday, Jesus gathered with his disciples and celebrated the Passover meal with them after eating and Judas departure to get the crowd, Jesus and the remaining disciples depart for the Garden of Gethsemane.

In the darkness of night, Jesus is betrayed. Then ultimately he ends up before Pilate where the crowd choses to free Barabbas over Jesus.

Jesus is then given a crown of thorns, beaten with rods, and whipped with the cat-of-nine-tails. A brutal and painful punishment meant to rip away skin and muscle alike. Only then to march carrying his cross to the place he would be crucified.

Unable to go on from the beating and whipping, Simon, a man of Cyrene is called out of the crowd to carry his cross.

Jesus approximately hung on the cross from 9:00 am until about 3:00 pm. About 6 hours.

Nails driven through his wrists and feet, raised and dropped into place, Jesus looks around and speaks the first words from the cross.

1. The forgiving spirit of the sacrificial Lamb.

Luke 23:34 ESV

34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

spoken towards all involved.

We too are part of those Jesus was asking God to forgive.

Application: The purpose of Jesus death on the cross was to provide forgiveness for all who place their trust in Him. Jesus never lost sight of that even in his suffering.

2. The comforting heart of the sacrificial Lamb.

Luke 23:43 ESV

43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Jesus takes the time to encourage the thief who asks him to remember him in heaven.

The thief experienced saving faith in Christ.

Christ tells him you will be with me today in heaven.

In agony and suffering Jesus ministered.

John 19:26 ESV

26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”

Not only did he comfort the repentant thief, Jesus comforts his mother.

Jesus instructs John to take care of Mary as his own mother and Mary to look at John as her own child.

He knew his mother would need to be cared for and comforted, and Jesus provided that.

Application: Jesus is our comforter. He provides us with peace in the darkest of circumstances.

3. The suffering of the sacrificial Lamb.

Mark 15:34 ESV

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?”

For the first time in all of history, for a brief moment, Jesus is forsaken by the Father that is, abandoned!

As the sin of the world was taken on by the Son of God, God the Father had to turn his face from his child.

Also, Jesus is quoting from Psalm 22:1 which ends with great hope!

So while the cry is heart breaking most believe it was Jesus pointing us to the hope found in the midst of despair! Jesus’ suffering is not in vain!

John 19:28 ESV

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”

Jesus’ humanity is demonstrated in this statement. In his suffering, beating, blood loss and being exposed to the sun for several hours, Jesus’ need for a sip of fluid comes.

Jesus rejected the medicine to help with the suffering. Instead, he decided to take on the full extent of the suffering of the Cross.

Application: Because Jesus suffered, we can rest in peace through bringing him our own suffering.

4. The completed work of the sacrificial Lamb.

John 19:30 ESV

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

Tetelestai- This means there was no more penalty left to be paid for sins, for all Jesus’ suffering was “finished”

Luke 23:46 ESV

46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 19

His spirit does not mean the Holy Spirit but Jesus’ own human spirit, which he voluntarily released from his body that it might return to the presence of God the Father (see Luke 23:43, 46).

Jesus work, that he was sent to do is completed. Jesus was the willing sacrificial Lamb.

He paid the price for our sin, have you ever came to the place in your own

Conclusion:

Instructions for time of reflection, writing, and putting the paper on the Cross.

At the end of the final point, I will draw their attention to reflecting on Jesus’s sacrifice for our struggles and how he took on our sin because we couldn’t. I will present the challenge of placing their whole trust in Jesus alone for salvation. Then, we will shift to talk about how we all have struggles, even strong followers of Christ, but Jesus wants those struggles placed on him as well.

We have leaders around the room that have Pens and a piece of paper. They are going to give everyone one of them. I want you to write everything you are struggling with on that piece of paper.

When you have prayed and written down what struggles you need to give to the Lord, I want you to get up quietly, come to your left side of the stage and give your pen to the leader at the stage, and take your paper and put it on the cross.

Show them this by putting my own paper on the Cross.

After ya’ll have had an opportunity to bring yours up here, you will return to your seat and spend a little time in prayer. We should here absolutely no talking during this time.

When Alex feels lead to begin, we will all worship the Lord to close out the night.