The Suffering Messiah - The Cross

Good Morning!, Today’s Service is going to be a little heavy. Spoiler alert: it ends with a death. As we wrap up our series on the Suffering Messiah, we will follow the Messiah as he willingly surrenders himself to suffering. Death on a cross. Right now, let’s begin on a high note, as Jesus rode into Jerusalem, a humble Messiah on a donkey. The crowd’s Shout HOSANNA! Glory to God in the highest! Praise Him!

Song

Sin is Serious

The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself or less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less. - Tim Keller

Sin is the issue. Since the beginning we have done things our way.

Over all the years of history have we improved the situation?

IT is the hardest thing for people to accept - I can’t fix myself

Jesus cam to do what we could not do - perfect life - perfect sacrifice

Mark 14:22–24 CSB

As they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

Communion is what we do to remember - not only our sin, but the price Jesus paid

Today we will look at the cost for our sin and the amazing love that paid that cost

First - let us remember

Communion / Song

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 CSB

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Grace is Costly

The crucifixion is the vehicle by which we have been able to experience the grace we received

Cost of that grace matched the seriousness of our sin

Think about this:

He was rejected - the people who He healed called for the release of a murderer in Barabbas

He was abandoned

He was beaten beyond recognition

He was mocked and spat upon

He had to carry His own cross

Mark 15:22 CSB

They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull).

Mark 15:24 CSB

Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, casting lots for them to decide what each would get.

The entire time His only thought was for us

Every lash, every mocking, every pounding of the nails - paying for our disobedience

We don’t deserve it, we can’t earn it - it is Grace

Song

Love is Sacrificial

If we want proof of God's love for us, then we must look first at the Cross where God offered up His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Calvary is the one objective, absolute, irrefutable proof of God's love for us. - Jerry Bridges

This one act changed everything - motivated by love for those who did not love Him

Even those performing the execution saw it

Mark 15:37–39 CSB

Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed his last. Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

This one act changed everything -

Now we had access and way back - the holies of holies was now no longer isolated

We make sacrifices for our friends and families and call it love

Christ sacrificed for those who never knew Him and those who hated Him

That defines Love

As we close I want us all to wrestle with this, to remember the cost of our sin, i want us to mourn

Matthew 5:4 CSB

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Easter Sunday we will finish the story

For now we will close with a song and video, and then we ask you to simply exit

Let’s pray

Video/Song

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