The Cross of Jesus

Why did the Jews want to get rid of Jesus?GethsemaneThe Betrayal The TrailThe CrucifixionWhy was the cross necessary?

Why Did the Jews Want to get rid of Jesus?◦Jesus did not measure up to the

expectations of the Jewish people.

◦He repeated challenged them

Jesus refused to be contained by the Religious people:

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud

voices for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of

the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd

said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the

stones will cry out." (Lk 19:37-40)

The Jews did not recognize Gods visitation and as a result received judgement:

1. That he had done everything that he could to minister to the Jewish people;

2. That his tears over the city, demonstrate his sincerity (Lk 19:41);

3. That these persons nevertheless perished;4. and that the reason was, they would not be

gathered together under his protection: therefore wrath, i.e. punishment, came upon them to the uttermost.

The Cleansing of the TempleJesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers

and the benches of those selling doves.” It is written,” he said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer but you are

making it ‘a den of robbers’”. The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the

teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, "Hosanna to the Son of

David," they were indignant. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "' From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?" And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany,

where he spent the night (Matt 21:12-17).    

Jesus wept over Jerusalem

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day

what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes (Lk 19:41-42)

Gethsemane◦The Pain in the Garden◦Jesus could have spared Himself◦Jesus needed and asked for support from His earthly companions◦Jesus goes a second time to pray◦Jesus goes a third time to pray

Betrayed with a Kiss Display of compassion to the Enemy Jesus challenged the Religious Leaders over

arresting Him during the night An illegal arrest Jesus Before the Sanhedrin The accusation of blasphemy Before Pilate Before Herod Before the people

How did the crucifixion work?◦The habit of scourging a prisoner before

crucifixion◦The suffering of the cross

The last words that Jesus spoke to the world came from the cross as He was dying.

The way He conducted Himself under such extreme physical torment, the words He spoke and the life issues He addressed speak volumes to us about what is important in life.

His words were not the usual ones expected from someone nailed to a crucifix. It was usual for the crucified victim to be cursing and swearing in great pain.

With Jesus this was not the case despite His excessive agony. Each one of His statements can be studied for their meaning and their application for us as believers.

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are

doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Luke 23:34

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in

paradise“Luke 23:33-34

 

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, "Woman, here

is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home

John 19:26-27

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?"-which means "My God, my God, why have you

forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that

Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty“

John 19:28

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With

that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.John 19:30

Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this,

he breathed his last .Luke 23:46

The Cross, a means of punishment, cruelty and de-humanisation, is for the Christian the most glorious of instruments.

For by the Cross we have been reconciled to God, our ‘record’ expunged (justification,) our enmity replaced with relationship (reconciliation,) God’s wrath embraced through the perfect gift of the Son of God (propitiation) and our bondage broken, our shackles removed (redemption.)

Even more than this wonderful fact, are the effects that are associated with the resurrection!

The Resurrection of Jesus

The Events of the Resurrection What is Resurrection?The significance of the Resurrection

The Events of the Resurrection:Historical belief: the empty tomb the eyewitness testimony the transformed lives of antagonists such as James and Paul the existence of the church the inability of the Jewish leaders to disprove the resurrection

and the claims of the apostles the early date and solid character of the claim to resurrection (1

Cor 15:3-4), as well as the solid character of surrounding evidence such as

Jesus’ existence, ministry, death by crucifixion, and burial.

The Bible records demonstrate eyewitness accounts

The Nature of the Resurrected Body

The Glorification of the Body of Jesus

Summary of the glorified body of Jesus

Jesus believed he would be raised

Resurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead.

It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world.

The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scriptures.

Many Christians regard the resurrection of Jesus as the central doctrine in Christianity.

For understanding Jesus, the risen Lord: the foundation of our regeneration and

spiritual/ethical life (Rom 6:4-5; 1 Pet 1:2) our justification (Rom 4:25; Eph 2:6) our present ministry and work for the Lord (1 Cor 15:58) our hope of glorification and our eternal

communion with the Father, Son and Spirit (1 Cor 15:12-28).

For the Christian Life:And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised

Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be

pitied more than all others (1 Cor 15:14-19).

For Christian witness: Those who believe would: cast out demons speak in new tongue take up serpents survive if poisoned and lay hands on the sick and

they would recover.  

For our future hope: Jesus risen means:◦Joy – 1 Peter 1:18◦Peace – Romans 4:25◦Worship – Romans 1:4; Luke 24:52◦Hope – 1 Corinthians 15:20◦Victory – Matthew 28:18