What happened on the Cross?
When we talk about the power of the cross, we are not talking about the wooden beams having power in themselves, but for us born again believers we refer to the work Jesus Christ did on that cross for us when He suffered and died on it.
Galatians 6:14 NKJV
“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
The work Jesus did on the cross is so amazing, it will be hard to cover everything in this one lesson, but at least we can have a brief overview of a few things that happened on that dreadful day when Christ died. I trust the Holy Spirit will enlighten your heart and mind as we study Scriptures about the crucifixion of Christ and bring the freedom He died to bring to your life.
A. Five Truths Of The Cross
1- The shape of the cross.
As we examine the shape of the cross we can see two beams, one horizontal, a minus (humanity) and one vertical, God’s intervention, making the minus into a plus.
Also we could make this equation: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given
Only in Christ we can find the forgiveness of sin. The price for forgiveness is too high to pay, so high that is impossible to attain, this is why Jesus stepped down from glory to become a man and took the punishment due for ourselves, He paid it with His very life.
Isaiah 53:5 NKJV
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”
2- Christ Actually Died On A Cross.
It was not just the Jews who killed Jesus, or the Romans, we all did.. Every sin of humanity Christ carried upon Himself on that cross. (1 Peter 2:24, Colossians 2:14) Every sinner that does not acknowledge Christ, and anyone who leaves the faith and denies Christ by turning to sin as a life style, Christ is crucified again by that someone everyday. (Hebrews 6:6)
I Peter 2:24 NKJV
“who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed.”
Colossians 2:14 NKJV
“having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
Hebrews 6:6 NKJV
“if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”
Many will like to deny the fact that Jesus died on the cross because if they admit His death, they will have to admit His resurrection, and by admitting His resurrection, they are admitting that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, then they will have to bow to Him and make Him Lord, but they don’t want to. Yet history proves that no one ever survived a Roman crucifixion, the barbarity of such cruel practice was designed to cause maximum pain for a prolonged period — victims' feet and hands were usually nailed to a wooden cross, which would hold them upright while they suffered a slow and agonising death, often taking several days until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation.
John 19:31-37 NKJV
“Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.””
Christ indeed died on that cross, His death was not like any other crucifixion, He was torture, beaten, scourged so badly that you couldn’t tell, He was human, as we read in Isaiah 52:14. Yet He endured all of that for you and me.
Isaiah 52:14 NLT
“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.”
3- The Six Times Christ Shed Blood.
There were six times blood shed on the way to the cross, recognising that the seventh time Jesus will carry His own Blood to the throne room before God to make atonement for us. The first time He bled was at the garden of Gethsemane and then five times more when He was wounded on the head (crown of thorns), His back (scourging), His hands and feet (nails) and finally on His side (spear)
Because Jesus never sinned, His innocent Blood has the power not only to forgive us but also to make us God’s children. And just like soap is not good until you apply it on you, the precious Blood of Jesus must be applied by faith to receive the cleansing from sin.
As Hebrews tells us that without shedding of blood there is no remission. Confessing sins alone does not forgive you, but when we confess our sins to the Lord, trusting the Blood of Jesus paid the price for our sins, it’s when we receive the forgiveness of sins.
Hebrews 9:22 NKJV
“And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”
Colossians 1:14 NKJV
“in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
4-Prophesies fulfilled
There were 28 Old Testament prophesies fulfilled on the cross when Jesus cried out, it is finished!
Isaiah 53 is very descriptive of the sufferings and glories of the Messiah but unfortunately this chapter is not allowed to be read in synagogues today, if it was, many Jews would come to Christ. They call it the forbidden chapter. Let’s pray the Lord opens the eyes of the Jewish people so they come to Christ.
Read Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22
5- From The Cross To The Tomb
John 19:41-42 NKJV
“Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.”
After Jesus died He was buried on a tomb near by, but He didn’t stay dead, at the third day Jesus resurrected from the dead and for 40 days Jesus stayed and gave undeniable proof that He had indeed risen (Acts 1:3), after that He then ascended to the throne as our High Priest. As High Priest, He always lives to make intercession for us and mediates for us before God. There is no other way to the Father but Jesus, and not any other mediator. Because of His sacrifice on the cross we have direct entrance to the Heavenly Father.
No other man or woman, dead or alive can give you access to God, only Jesus.
Acts 1:3 NKJV
“to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”
Hebrews 4:15 NKJV
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 7:25 NKJV
“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus”
B. The Seven Statements Of Jesus.
1- Father Forgive Them.
Luke 23:34 NKJV
“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
And they divided His garments and cast lots.”
Today the Lord offers forgiveness to you and as you receive His forgiveness, you can be free to forgive others.
2- You Will Be With Me In Paradise
Luke 23: 32-34 and 39-43 NKJV
32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
They were two thieves next to Jesus, one to his left and one to his right. There are two choices, Saviour or judge. Which thief are you? Because of sin we are all condemned men, what choice will you make? Will you choose Christ as your Saviour? Or you prefer to live your life as you please? If you do the latter one, you must know you will be judged at the end of your life and condemned forever. Now is the time to make your choice if you haven’t done it yet. Don’t wait any longer, you don’t know how long you have left on this earth.
3- Woman Behold Your Son.
John 19:26-27 NkJV
26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He called His mother, “woman,” at the end of His ministry here on earth, Mary was still called a woman, not mother. Especially as He was going to heaven, Mary was “woman,” not mother. Yet, He loved her and told John to look after her as a mother.
4- I thirst
John 19:28 NKJV
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.
He thirst so we can be satisfied and drink of the Holy Spirit.
John 4:14 NKJV
“But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
5- “Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani?”
Mark 15:34 NKJV
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
He was forsaken so we would be accepted and never forsaken.
John 14:18 NKJV
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
6- It Is Finished
John 19:30 NKJV
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
He did it all, He suffered and was punished so we don’t have to.
7- Father Into Your Hands ?
Luke 23:46 NKJV
And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.
Just like Jesus, we must too give our lives to the Lord.
C. What Can The Work Of The Cross Do To Us?
Purging
Purified
Purchase price has been paid for in full
Perfected
Protected by the Blood
Peace through the Cross
Propitiation
Jesus died but He resurrected at the third day and He is coming back again, are you ready for His coming?
Here is what you can do:
Admit you are a sinner
Believe what Jesus did on that cross is good enough for you
Confess Him as your Saviour.
There is a difference between a mental accent and actually surrendering your life to Christ. Don’t flirt with God, give your whole life to Him and not just part of it. He is worthy of all or nothing at all.
Here is a prayer to help you talk with Him.
Heavenly Father,
I want to know you but I have sinned and my sins keep me away from you. So I repent now of all my sins, I don’t want to continue sinning and ignoring you.
Only you can give me the power to change and become the person you created me to be.
Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross, taking my place and paying for the penalty for my sins.
I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus is your Son and the only Way to You.
I open my heart to you Lord, forgive me and come and live in me.
Fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to live right before you.
Be my Lord and my Saviour.
I receive you now
In Jesus Name
Amen
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Karina Maile