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On the Cross

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As important as the birth of Jesus Christ is the events of Holy Week were and are greater. Easter week is the anniversary of events that determine our eternity. One week before Easter is Palm Sunday, the day Jesus led a triumphant parade into Jerusalem. The following Thursday Jesus instituted communion. Good Friday is” good" because of what Jesus did on the cross. Then comes Easter Sunday, the day death was defeated and Jesus rose to life.

 

The pastor presented a biblical look at the events of Good Friday to help us understand what Jesus did for on the cross. It was an awful day for Jesus, man was at his worst but God was at His best. He was tried and declared innocent, but condemned anyway. He was whipped almost to death, and then led to his crucifixion.

 

Jesus died at 3 p.m. The law required burial before sunset. A rich stranger offered his grave for Jesus his name was Joseph; ironically, he was a member of the Sanhedrin, the group who called for Jesus' crucifixion. He had believed in Jesus and did not conspire with others to kill him.

 

 

 

 

On the Cross
Matthew 27:45 - 55

 

A.D. abbreviates the Latin words "Anno Domini," which means "Year of Our Lord." It has reference to the year of Jesus birth.

 

On Good Friday Jesus was tried, declared innocent, but condemned anyway.

 

I. Pain

After being whipped raw and bloody He collapsed under the weight of the cross that he was forced to carry.

 

On the cross they bent his arms and drove spikes through the base of his hands, they bent his legs and nailed his feet to the vertical wood.

 

Imagine the pain of hanging by nails fighting to get a breath.

 

II. Insults

Passersby laughed and mocked him, saying the Son of God should be able to come off that cross.

 

Jesus did not defend himself and the Father did not speak on behalf of his son.

 

III. Loneliness

The first nail was driven into Jesus at 9 a.m.; He died at 3 p.m., six of the loneliest hours of his life.

 

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

 

On him was every murder, every lust, every envy, every rape, every theft, every profanity, every act of racism, every injustice against the poor, and every sin of every person from every generation.

God never gave up on Jesus, and God never gives up on us.

 

IV. Death

John said Jesus cried out loud, "It is finished," then, "bowed his head and gave up his spirit" (John 19:30).

 

Jesus was born to save his people from their sins; He completed what he came to do.

 

When He declared: "It is finished!" everything changed forever.

 

V. Burial

Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, offered his grave for Jesus to be buried.

 

That is what happened the day Christ died for you and for me.