Introduction
Today we are going to be talking about the Cross. What is the meaning of the Cross and its significance to you and I as a believer.
I am going to start my sermon with a story.
Tom, a 16-year-old boy was caught driving 90m/hr. This is 3 times more than the driving limit. His car was impounded by the police and brought straight to the courthouse to face the judge.
The good news for Tom as he entered the court room is that, his dad is the judge. However, two things came to Tom’s mind; his dad being a good and just judge always punishes anyone guilty of the law. On the other hand, Tom was hoping that mercy would be shown to him. After-all, the judge is his Father.
Tom pleaded guilty of dangerous driving and he had two options; to pay a fine of £1000 or go to jail for 1 month. Tom being only 16 and having never had a job couldn’t pay the fine. This means Tom would have to go to jail. However, as he was being led to jail, the judge stood up, reached for his pocket and paid Tom’s fine in full. Despite the fact that Tom was guilty, he was spared jail because his fine was paid in full.
This is the message of the cross. Christ paid it all on the cross.
What is the meaning of the cross?
The Gospel without the cross is like a movie without an ending. If a movie has no ending, you might as well not watch it
The most important thing about the Gospel is the cross. The cross is definitely more than a movie. The cross is the reason why you and I are fellowshipping together this morning. We live in a period where the message of the church is changing. Churches are moving away from the old message of salvation through the blood of Jesus and are moving toward messages such as salvation through good works, prosperity preaching, name and claim it gospel et cetera.
The old bloody message of the cross is quickly being replaced by a bloodless message that lacks power and hope. Today, I would like to bring back our attention to the old message; the old rugged cross.
It’s interesting that in the Bible Jesus doesn’t ask us to remember His birth or His resurrection, although we know we should, and we still do which is a good thing but Jesus tells us to remember His death. During the LORD’S Supper with his disciples, He said, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).
I would like to remind everyone about what happened on that day about 2,000 years ago that changed the future of everyone who puts their faith in Christ
Christ’s death was an absolute torture. It was an agony. The book of Matthew 27:26 said He was scourged. The book of Luke 22:63-64 said the men who guarded Jesus mocked, blindfolded and beat him
In the book of Matthew 27:30 we were told “They spat on him and struck him on the head with their staff again and again”.
Apart from the physical torture. Jesus also experienced psychological torture. In the book of John 19:23. we were made to understand that He was stripped naked. He was abandoned by his closest friends and Peter denied ever knowing him
Throughout his life, Jesus anticipated this agony because he knew it was going to happen. what a trauma! He was nailed to the cross for our sake.
These might sound disturbing, but it is nothing compared to what Christ faced on the cross.
The only way to get to God is by the way of the cross.
The cross is God’s first and last word when it comes to salvation.
Why? because Jesus was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev 13:8). And the cross is God’s last word about salvation, for in heaven they will sing, “Thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev 5:9).
There is no “plan B” for salvation. The only way that goes to heaven is through Calvary. You cannot bypass his redemptive work on the cross. The Bible says, “Without shedding of blood [there] is no remission [for sin]” (Hebrews 9:22). As you look at the cross today, you’ll see the curse of sin, the cost of sin, and the cure for sin. As you listen or read this message today, you must remember one thing; He did it for you!
Significance of the Cross
Jesus took your curse at the Cross
In the book of Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one-man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so, death passed upon all men.
God’s curse is for all sinners. We are cursed, doomed, hopeless and dead in sin without Christ. However, through Christ we have been rescued from the curse of the law because Christ redeemed us from the Curse of the law by being made a curse for us - Galatians 3:13
Jesus paid the penalty for our sin.
The blood of goat and ram was never be enough. That was why the people in the old testament was always going back for more sacrifice. Now we have the ultimate sacrifice. The blood of Jesus. The death of Christ was the payment for our sins.
Jesus died in our place as our substitute, receiving the punishment that was due us.
In the book of Hebrews 9:28 “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.”
The cross shows that God loves us
The death of Christ upon the cross also demonstrated that God loves sinful humanity. The Scripture speaks of His death as an act of love toward humankind.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life – John 3:16
Paul wrote, “But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us”- Romans 5:8. It was love that puts Christ on the Cross
The cross defeated Satan
Ever since the Lucifer sinned and became the devil, he has been in the business of trying to hinder the work of God. He loves nothing better than keeping souls in bondage and seeing them condemned to Hell, Ephesians. 2:1-3. But, when Jesus went to the cross, he defeated death. Jesus defeated satan. He didn’t stay in the grave. He resurrected. He destroyed all powers of principalities and power. The Bible tells us that the victory over the devil is found in the blood of the Lamb, Rev. 12:11.
Reconciled us back to God
Imagine two friends who have just had a serious argument. The good relationship they once enjoyed is strained to the point of breaking. They cease speaking to each other; communication is deemed too awkward. The friends gradually become strangers. Such estrangement can only be reversed by reconciliation. To be reconciled is to be restored to friendship or harmony we once enjoyed. When old friends resolve their differences and restore their relationship, reconciliation has occurred. The books of 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 declares, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” The Bible says that Christ reconciled us to God- Romans 5:10
The fact that we needed reconciliation means that our relationship with God was broken and needed to be restored.
Summary
Without the redemptive work of Jesus on the Cross, you are I will forever be condemned. Jesus’ death on the cross of Calvary was the culmination of His incredible work of love for us people. By His death He reconciled those who believe In Him with God, and through His life He opened a way back to the Father for those who follow Him. Through death over sin, Jesus conquered death. By His life, He gave us life. If you will turn to Jesus Christ and put your trust in what He did for you in taking your just penalty for sin on the cross, He will deliver you from the penalty of sin and its power. He wants to be your Lord and Saviour. He loves you just as you are, but He loves you too much to leave you that way. He wants to heal you from the devastating effects of sin. Will you turn to Him? He is waiting and tomorrow may be too late.
