Sermon Tone Analysis

John 19:16-37

THE CROSS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

Title: The Cross Makes the Difference

Text: John 19:16-37

Date: March 20, 2016

Intro: This is a very special time of the year for those of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ.

To me, it is far more special than Christmas.

As we approach the time when we will celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the dead, it is a time for believers to think about the things that really matter in life.

The things that make life worth living and the things that have shaped us into what we are this morning.

For me, it is a time to remember the cross.

It is a time to remember that 2,000 years ago, God loved me so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die on a cross so that I might be saved.

It is a time for me to remember that, while my upbringing, my education, and my experiences have contributed to who I am, it was the cross of Calvary that made the difference in my life.

If you are saved, you will have to make the same statement today!

This morning I want to take you back to that day when Heaven died for earth.

I want to take you back to Calvary and show you why the old rugged cross made the difference.

If you are saved, I hope you will remember what Jesus did for you that day and I pray that you will fall in love with Him all over again.

If you are lost, I want you to learn today that the cross of Calvary can make all the difference in your life now and in your eternity later.

As we travel back to that time long ago, and look at a message that is as fresh as today.

Allow me to make a few observations from this text that tell how and why The Cross Makes The Difference.

I. THE TRIP TO THE CROSS-VS.

16-18

A. V. 16 The Plan Of That Trip

Pilate delivered his prisoner to the cross, but God was fulfilling an ages old plan by delivering up His Son, 1 Pet.

1:20; Rev. 13:8.

Calvary wasn’t an accident, it was a divine assignment.

Designed to purchase salvation for sinners.

B. V. 17 The Place Of That Trip

“The place of a skull.”

A place associated with death in the minds of the people of Jerusalem.

Yet, it was a place prepared by the Father Himself (Ill.

The foreknowledge and planning of the Father!)

A place designed to host the death of the Lamb of God.

C. V. 17, 18 The Pain Of That Trip –

Verse 17 tells us that He carried His cross to Calvary.

The other Gospel writers mention that a man by the name of Simon of Cyrene carried the cross for Him.

There is no contradiction!

He left Pilate’s judgment hall carrying the cross.

Simon was recruited along the way to help.

John’s words bring to mind the symbolism of the cross.

Jesus was bearing upon Him the sins of the world!

That cross was more than wood.

It represented the heartbreak, the pain, the slavery and the debt of sin.

That’s what Jesus was carrying that day!

When they arrived at Calvary, verse 18 reminds us that Jesus was crucified.

They nailed our Lord to the cross with spikes through His hands and His feet.

(Ill.

The agony of that experience!

Isa.

53:4-5; Isa.

52:14.)

Isaiah 52:14

14- As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

D. V. 18 The Power Of That Trip –

Verse 18 records that Jesus was “in the midst” of two thieves that day.

Friend, when Jesus gets in the midst, things begin to happen!

Luke 23:42-43 tells us that one of those thieves came to faith in Jesus that day and was saved.

The other died lost, because he rejected Jesus.

The truth of this verse is that Jesus cannot be avoided.

Just like those thieves, every person in this room will make a decision concerning Jesus Christ!

He cannot be evaded or avoided.

You will decide!

The trip to the cross

II.

THE TESTIMONY AT THE CROSS-VS.

19-24

(Ill.

Two events occurred at Calvary that day that gave loud testimony to what was taking place.)

A. V. 19-22 The Testimony Of The Writing –

Ill.

Pilate’s sign.

Written in Hebrew, the language of religion; Greek, the language of philosophy and culture (Greek was also the language of the common man!); and Latin, the language of law and government; the sign told all who might have passed by that Jesus was The King of the Jews.

The cross of Christ became a giant Gospel tract for all who were passing by.

The importance of this is that Jesus is pictured as a universal Savior.

That does not mean that He will automatically save everybody, but that He will save anyone who will come to Him by faith regardless of their social standing or background.

He is the Savior of “whosoever will.”,

John 3:16; Rev. 22:17.

John 3:16

16- 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.

Revelation 22:17

17- And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.

And let him that heareth say, Come.

And let him that is athirst come.

And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

B. V. 23-24 The Testimony Of The Wager –

Ill.

The seamless garment.

The soldiers gambled for it just as the Scriptures has predicted, Psalm 22:18.

Psalms 22:18

18- They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

The picture in this garment is special.

· First, the seamless garment was to be worn by the High Priest of Israel as part of his ceremonial dress, Exodus 39.

This was to remind him that he was going into the presence of God without blemish and without flaw.

This was picture of the Lord Jesus and what He was about to do as our Great High Priest, Heb.

9:24-28; Heb.

10:12.

Hebrews 9:24-28

24- For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

25- Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

26- For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27- And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28- 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 10:12

12- But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

· Second, just the night before, Israel’s High Priest had rent his own garments in the presence of Jesus.