A Message from the Cross - Outline
April 12, 2020
Jesus made seven statements from the Cross.
“Father forgive them.”
When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. (Luke 23:33–34, NLT)
“You will be with me in paradise.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42–43, NLT)
“Woman, behold your son.”
But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man. (Isaiah 52:14, NLT)
When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26–27, NLT)
“Why have you abandoned me?”
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:45–46, NLT)
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? (Psalm 22:1, NLT)
“I thirst.”
Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28, NLT)
“It is finished.”
When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30, NLT)
What was finished? What does this statement mean?
1. He carried the burden of sin on our behalf.
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21, NLT)
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. (Isaiah 53:4–5, NLT)
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. (1 Peter 2:24, NLT)
2. He did it out of his love for us.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NLT)
… just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her (Ephesians 5:25b, NLT)
3. He resolved the injustice of sin.
For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, (Romans 3:25, NLT)
4. He canceled the legal demands against us.
He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:14, NIV)
5. He suffered and died to provide for our forgiveness.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins… (Colossians 2:13–14a, NIV)
“Father into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46, NLT)
He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19, NLT)
And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. (Matthew 26:27–28, NLT)