VIA DOLAROSA
TEXT: John 19.28-30
INTRODUCTION:
People are looking for love in this world, but Jesus is the greatest example of love that there has ever been.
1. We see God’s love when He sends Jesus.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
2. We see the love that Jesus has shown to us in John 15.13:
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Christ died under a curse, so that even God turned His back on His son.
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” (Galatians 3:13)
Jesus laid down His life for us, in order that we could be saved. Why did Jesus have to come to this earth to die for mankind. Man had become sinful and were attempting to find a remedy for sin, but there had to be a better way, that was came through Jesus Christ.
I. The need for a Savior
A. Adam and Eve sinned in the garden.
“And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” (Genesis 3:7)
B. They hid themselves from God.
“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8)
C. That is what sin does to our relationship with God.
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you . . .” (Isaiah 59:2)
D. As a result of Adam’s sin, man was born into sin.
1. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12)
2. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
E. Sin only got worse.
“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5)
II. No other way, but God’s way
A. God made the first sacrifice and clothed Adam & Eve.
“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21)
B. God promised that a better way would come.
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)
C. There had to be a better way.
“. . . all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags . . .” (Isaiah 64:6)
D. That new way was through His Son Jesus Christ.
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
E. He sent His son that we might be saved.
1. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:17)
2. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
F. There is no other way to God.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
III. Jesus is the Savior
A. John proclaims Jesus as the Lamb.
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)
B. Jesus is the lamb without blemish.
“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (1 Peter 1:19)
C. Salvation comes through the blood.
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)
D. Christ was offered as a sacrifice to save from sin.
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:28)
E. Notice how the New Testament writer describe what Jesus did for us,
1. “Who gave himself for our sins . . .” (Galatians 1:4)
2. “. . . hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God . . .” (Ephesians 5:2)
3. “Who gave himself for us . . .” (Titus 2:14)
4. “. . . he laid down his life for us . . .” (1 John 3:16)
F. He is the best shepherd.
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
G. Christ was crucified for us.
“Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.” (John 19:16-18)
H. They pierced His side.
“But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they broke not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” (John 19:33, 34)
CONCLUSION:
Jesus died to provide salvation for us.
