The Crucifixion

* The crucifixion of Jesus stands as the center of history and Christianity around which life, as we know it, revolves.

* It was on that hillside where darkness collided with light, where death battled life, where forces of hell confronted the powers of heaven. On that crucifixion day when Satan, his demons, and all of his followers thought they had won the victory, when, in fact the victory was yet to be won.

* On the hill called Calvary that crucifixion day questions abounded: The Religious Leaders asked, “Who do he think he is?” One thief asked, “If you are the Son of God?” The other thief asked, “Will you remember me?” John must have asked, “how did this happen?” Mary must have looked up at her Son and asked, “why?”

* Mary’s question is the question which has been ringing down through both time and eternity. Why? Why did Jesus have to suffer? Why did He have to endure the Cross? How could a loving God allow His Son to experience this type of death?

* The Bible answers this question in just a part of one verse. TEXT. Please hear an eternal truth; had there been another way, God would have used it. Do I understand this entire meaning? No. But I trust the character, wisdom, and power of our creator, Jehovah God. And here is what I do understand about the cross.

1) IT IS A PLACE OF SACRIFICE.

> From the beginning of creation & fall of man in the Garden of Eden, God has required a sacrifice for sin. In the Old Testament, lambs were killed & their blood offered for release. In Egypt, lambs were killed & the blood was place over the door post for protection. God said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” The lamb was to be pure & spotless.

> The New Testament gives this eternal principle; “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness for sin.”

> Today because of the cross, no animals are killed. Jesus became the sacrifice for sin, pure & spotless.

The Crucifixion – Pg 2

2) IT IS A PLACE OF SUBSTITUTION.

> The concept of substitution is an interesting concept. Simply put it is the act of putting one thing or person in the place of another. Allow me to illustrate. You go to your doctor and he writes you a script for medicine. So you take that script to the drug store and what question do they ask you? “Is generic okay?” You quickly understand that this substitution has the potential to cost you “personally” less money. The cost to you is less.

> Every person in this room knows that he or she is a sinner, because everyone has done something wrong. Besides the fact that the Bible says, “for all have sinned” and “there is no one who is righteous”, we know ourselves. The Bible says, that the wages, payment, or compensation for our sin is death. So, we understand that blood has to be shed and the price or punishment of death must be satisfied. How can this be? How can this happen? Watch;

> The entire Bible tells us that “Jesus was wounded for our transgression; He was bruised for our sins, He was delivered for our sins.”

> Those nails? Should have been mine. That crown of thorns? Was mine. The rugged cross? Was meant for me. He was my stand in, my substitute, my sacrifice.

3) IT IS A PLACE OF SALVATION.

> Jesus said, “Take eat, this is my body broken for you. Take drink, this is my blood poured out for you.”

> In Jesus of Nazareth, “God demonstrated His own love for us..” how did He demonstrate this love? While we were STILL SINNERS (and unworthy) Christ died for us.” Jesus was delivered for our sins, and raised from the dead for our justification. What does that big word mean? He came to make us right; before God.

> A jailer was stirred in his heart about His need for God and he asked the question; “What must I do to be saved?” The answer for him is the same answer for you, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ & you will be saved”. Will you be saved tonight?