What The Death Of Jesus Means To Us

WHAT THE DEATH OF JESUS MEANS TO US Matthew 26:45-52

“He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil 2:8 In the

NT 175 times the death of Christ is mentioned. So all the great doctrines of the Bible are built

around this subject. A doctrine that we are speaking of is an absolute truth. As we see this the Cross

and Christ are one because they were nailed together. So if we are to preach the cross we have to

preach Christ and that He was crucified. The cross brings us the grace that puts sin away which is

the enemy of the human heart and soul. The death of Christ on the cross puts the end of sin that

separate our way to come to be right with God. For the wages of sin is death and that means

separation from God. It bothers me that any one would deliberately want to be separated from God

who loves them. Yet there are many in our town who chose to live in sin and not come to God for

forgiveness from sin and peace that passes all understanding. I want to speak about what His death

did and what it means to us today. We find it was:

I. A VERY SHAMEFUL DEATH. If you would look up history you would find that for the Romans

back in the days of Jesus if you had robbed or committed murder the punishment was to be stripped

naked and crucified. If you look closely at Jn 19:23,24 we find only did they take his clothes they

gambled as to who would take them home with them. He was the very Son of God being in the form

of a man being made naked to all eyes that looked upon Him. If I had been God that would not have

happened. For if I could split the Red Sea, if I could cause fire to come out of heaven to destroy

cities and if I could cause the earth to open up to swallow up a bunch of wicked people do you think

I would let these puny men disgrace me before those I was trying to help? The Bible tells us that He

“endured the cross, despising the shame” for you and me and all who have sinned, even those who

put Him to death. It tells us way back in the OT that “cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree,” which

means to die on a cross. He took our sin and suffered for our shame for sin and shame can’t be

separated. Have you been ashamed for the sin you have done? Hb 6:4It is impossible for those who

have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,

5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall

away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all

over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and

that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8But land

that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be

burned.” What a pity if we prove ourselves to be ashamed of Him who was not ashamed to be put to

death by the awful and shameful death on the cross. He took our place that we might be saved from

the guilt and power of sin in our lives and the shame to stand before a holy God blameless. How

much thought have you given to the shame He had by being put on the cross.

II. IT WAS A WILLFUL DEATH. On Christ’s heart was written “The Will of God.” All of His life was

governed by what will please the Father.

One Solitary Life Two thousand years ago there was a man born contrary to the laws of nature. This

man lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity. He did not travel extensively. Only once did he

cross the boundary of the country in which he lived. And that was during his exile in childhood to

Egypt. He possessed neither wealth nor influence. His relatives were inconspicuous and had

neither training nor formal education. In infancy he startled a king. In childhood he amazed Jewish

leaders. In manhood he ruled the course of nature, walking upon the billows as if pavement. He

hushed the sea to sleep. He healed multitudes without medicine and made no charge for his

service. He never wrote a book and yet all the libraries of the country could not hold the books that