The Cross: Encounter

 The cross (Galatians 3:13-14, Col 2:14-15)

 

Galatians 3:13-14

¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” 

¹⁴ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

 

Col 2:14-15

¹⁴ 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. 

¹⁵ And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 

 

1. Original Mankind

1) God finished the work of creation in 6 days.

2) The world God created was a really good world.

Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

3) God created man in God’s image and gave him blessings and missions

Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

4) Man, as a creature, has been given the authority to rule the beautiful world that God has created.

Genesis 1:28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

2. Man had sinned and was separated from God.

1) The first man, Adam, ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge and left God.

Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

2) As a result of sin, a curse came upon this earth. Poverty, disease, calamity, death, judgment, and eternal punishment followed.

3) People created idols and religions, but it could not set them free from sin and death.

4) There is no true peace and joy in the heart of man who has not met God.

5) People who have not met God are children of the devil and live the rest of their lives as slaves to the devil.

John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

6) Man is judged by God after his death.

Heb.9:27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

7) After death, he is punished by eternal hell.

Revelation 20:14-15 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

3. Jesus' Suffering

1) From the Court of Pilate to the Hill of Golgotha

 (1) Jesus was beaten in the court of Pilate.

a. They whipped Jesus.

b. The whip was made of many strings with hooks of iron and bone.

c. So, if you hit it with a whip and pull it, the body's flesh will fall off.

d. The bones are exposed, and the internal organs of the body are exposed.

e. Many people die or are forever crippled after being whipped.

 (2) Jesus was being ridiculed (red cloth, crown of thorns, reed): The soldiers dressed Jesus in red cloth and put a crown of thorns on his head. And he held a reed in his hand.

a. They knelt before him and mocked him, saying, "Peace be with you, King of the Jews."

b. They covered his eyes and spit on him

c. They took the reed and hit him on the head and said, “Prophesy! Who hit you?”

 (3) Jesus carried the cross
: According to Roman custom, the sinner was to carry the cross, his torture frame, and go to the place of execution.

a. The cross was so heavy that Jesus fell.

b. The soldiers forced Simon, a man from Cyrene in North Africa, to carry the cross of Jesus.

2) On the cross

(1) Wine mixed with gall: When they arrived at Golgotha, the soldiers offered Jesus wine mixed with gall to relieve his pain, but Jesus refused it.

(2) Jesus was crucified
: Next, they crucified Jesus (Matthew 27:32-35, Mark 15:21-25, Lk 23:26-33, John 19:17-18).

a. The Bible does not explain the detail of the process.

b. In general, a crucified person was dying from hunger, exhaustion, or the chill of being naked.

c. On the cross, even breathing was hard. If he wanted to breathe for a short moment, he had to strain his nailed leg, but then would feel great pain and lose all strength in his body.

(3) Jesus was being ridiculed (casting lots for clothes, ridicule of robbers):

When the Son of God was hanging on the cross, the soldiers cast lots for his clothes, and the women watched from afar.

a. Jewish leaders laughed at Jesus saying that he could not even save himself.

b. Jesus asked John to take care of his mother.

c. He confirmed salvation to the dying thief on his left side.

 (4) Jesus cried out
: When darkness came and the darkness ended, Jesus cried out and died.

Mark 15:33:  At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 
34: And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)

a. The Cry of the Forsaken

•Some people got it wrong and they thought Jesus was calling Elijah.

•This was the 'cry of the forsaken'.

•His death was more than just the fulfillment of messianic prophecies, it was a genuine cry from the depths of humanity.

b. The cry of pain

•Jesus himself was astounded by how deep the pain of the cross was.

•In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus began to feel the suffering of the coming cross.

He prayed in deep agony until his sweat turned to blood.

- He asked his disciples to pray, but even they didn’t.

-He cried out praying, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me!"

-but in the end the Lord prayed, thoroughly submitting to the will of his father.

-The Lord decided to obey the Father's will for him on earth.

- And he prayed, “Yet not my will, but yours be done!”

- The Father's will was for him to drink from the cup.

c. The Pain of Being Separated from God

•At the cross, Jesus personally experienced the curse.

 (5) Jesus was Separated from the Father
: On the cross, the Father and the Son were actually separated.

a. This is what the Father and Son chose

b. It was for our sins.

 (6) Thirst of the forsaken

a. At the cross, Jesus said, “I am thirsty!”

b. His thirst was beyond physical thirst and he longed for all humanity to be set free from sin and pain.
c. He did not hesitate to drink the last drop of the water of affliction, and drank from the cup of wrath.

d. He suffered because of our sins.

 

4. The Power of the Cross

1) The problem of human sin was solved.

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

2) The cross of Christ solved the problem of the curses on mankind.

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

3) The cross of Christ broke the power of the death and death.

Hebrews 2:14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

4)Jesus’ death on thee cross solved the problem of human death and opened the way to eternal life.

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

5) We receive the blessing of peace and healing through the cross of Christ.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

6) To those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

7) When we pray in Jesus’ name, God answers us.
John 16:23-24 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

8) Through the cross of Christ, we are protected by the angels.

Acts 12:11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

9) We received a new mission through the cross of Christ.

Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

 

Conclusion

The cross of Christ is the way to solve the Original problem of mankind.

Through the cross, sin leaves and righteousness comes

Through the cross, all the curses leave and blessings follow.

Through the cross, poverty leaves and rich follows.

Through the cross, all sicknesses leave and health follows.

Through the cross, the punishment leaves and the reward follows.

Through the cross, shame leaves and glory follows.

Through the cross, the devil leaves and the angels follow.

Through the cross, we go to heaven.

Hallelujah!

Ministry 1/ Proclamation

1. I became a child of God through the cross.

2. I became righteous through the cross.

3. I became healthy through the cross.

4. I became rich through the cross.

5. I received grace through the cross.

6. I was blessed through the cross.

7. I have been commissioned to share this cross to the whole world.

8. I will enter the glorious heaven.

9.I will receive an eternal reward in heaven.

Hallelujah! amen!

 

Ministry 2.

Video/Passion of Christ

Ministry 3.

Prayer Ministry – Bring all your sins to the cross, confess them. And crucify every curse in your life to the Cross.

Psalm 32:5

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Ministry 4.

Praise God for his victory on the cross