Views of the Cross

Text: Galatians 6:14

 

I.         How do you see the cross?

            A.        What significance does it have for you?

            B.        To Paul, it marked his separation from the world - Galatians 6:14

            C.        It was the focus of his preaching - I Corinthians 2:2

            D.        It was something many could not understand - I Corinthians 1:23

II.        The viewpoints of men

            A.        To Judas it was about money

                        1.         Judas was a thief - John 12:4-6

                        2.         Betraying Jesus was an opportunity to line his purse - Matthew 26:15-16

                        3.         That it went further than he desired, wasn’t something he planned - Matthew 27:3-5

            B.        To the leading Jews it was about silence

                        1.         The world was believing in Jesus and they feared losing control - John 11:48

                        2.         The world seemed to be going after Jesus - John 12:19

                        3.         So they plotted his death - John 11:47-53; Matthew 26:3-4

                        4.         That it didn’t work was something they hadn’t counted on - Acts 4:15-20; 5:17-32, 40-42

            C.        To Pilate it was about self-preservation

                        1.         Pilate knew Jesus was innocent - Luke 23:4

                        2.         But he caved into pressure - John 19:12; Matthew 27:24; Mark 15:15

                        3.         He sacrificed Jesus to save himself, but such a move would not work - John 12:25

            D.        To the soldiers it was sport

                        1.         The soldiers mocked the Lord - Matthew 27:27-31; Luke 23:11

                        2.         Some gambled for his clothes - John 19:23-24

                        3.         That this a serious matter didn’t enter their minds at the time - Matthew 27:50-54

III.       The viewpoints of God

            A.        To the Father it was about satisfying justice

                        1.         Justified by Jesus’ blood - Romans 5:8-11

                        2.         Jesus tasted death for us - Hebrews 2:9

                        3.         He took our sins to the cross - Isaiah 53:5,11

                        4.         He was our propitiation – he turned away God’s wrath against us - I John 4:9-10

            B.        To the Son it was about submission

                        1.         He learned obedience - Hebrews 5:7-9

                        2.         Jesus submitted to the Father’s will - Matthew 26:39, 53-54

                        3.         He endured the cross - Hebrews 12:2

                        4.         He humbled himself - Philippians 2:8-11

            C.        Unlike man, God knew what was going to result

IV.      The viewpoint of the Christian

            A.        To each saint it was about salvation

                        1.         Gave us redemption by his blood - Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5

                        2.         It killed our sins - Romans 6:1-7

                        3.         It purified us - Revelation 7:14

            B.        To the Christian it purchased a kingdom - Acts 20:28

            C.        To the saved it demonstrated God’s power - I Corinthians 1:18-24

V.        To the lost, the message of the cross is foolishness - I Corinthians 1:18

            A.        Yet, we preach that message anyway - I Corinthians 1:23

            B.        Men of this world do not understand - I Corinthians 2:14-16

            C.        But in the message of the cross is the power of God - Romans 1:16

            D.        It is the core of all that we teach - I Corinthians 2:1-2

            E.        So, what does the cross mean to you?

Based on an article by Wade Webster