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THE CROSS OF CHRIST

Introduction

We’ve been singing about the cross of Christ this morning.

The cross Christ stands at the very center of Christianity. In fact, the cross of Christ is the dividing line between the saints of God and a lost and dying world.

What I mean by that is that the difference between us who are believers and a lost world boils down to the Cross of Christ.

As Christ was crucified that day between two malefactors (two thieves), the Bible tells us that one believed on Him and went to paradise and the other remained in unbelief and went to hell. The difference was their view of the cross and the One Who was on it! The cross of Christ was central then and it is central now.

John 3:18–“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

I want us to go back to the Old Testament and reflect on the prophecy of the cross found in Isaiah 53. This prophecy tells the story of Jesus' atonement for our sins long before it happened. Though the cross is not specifically mentioned, nevertheless we know that what is revealed in this passage was literally fulfilled on the Cross of Christ.

I want us to see five things today:

THE SIMPLICITY OF THE CROSS - Vs. 2

THE SHAME OF THE CROSS - Vs. 3

THE SACRIFICE OF THE CROSS - Vss. 4-6

THE SILENCE OF THE CROSS - Vss. 7-9

THE SATISFACTION OF THE CROSS - Vss. 10-12

I.            THE SIMPLICITY OF THE CROSS. (Vs. 2)

               Vss. 1-2 - A tender plant is a shoot, just a wee little thing.

When Jesus came, He came simply. We know that He is God manifested in the flesh, but He was born to the home of a humble carpenter through the miracle of the virgin birth.

Though He was of the Kingly line of David, He did not have the benefits of living in a King's house.

               It also says that He was as a root coming out of a dry ground.

Think about Israel at the time of Christ’s entrance into the World.

               The once proud nation was a desert both politically and spiritually.

Politically speaking, Israel was under Roman domination. Israel really did not control its own affairs. Rome ruled, and what Rome said was the law that superseded all other laws. Their political system was a desert.

Spiritually speaking, they worshiped in the temple, but many were caught up in a liberalism that didn't believe in the resurrection (e.g. like the Sadducees) or else they were in a conservatism that led to legalism (e.g. like the Pharisees).

Israel had God's law, but there were those who added many man-made writings that interpreted the law. They took their man-made ideas and in many ways placed them on equal footing with or above God's Word.

               Jesus rebuked some in Mark 7:8-9–

Mark 7:8-9–“For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”

It says here in verse 2 that Jesus “had no form nor comeliness.” Now that doesn't mean that Jesus was ugly. As the perfect man, I personally believe Jesus was probably very handsome, but I don't feel that He looked much different than any other Jewish man.

Contrary to some of the classic art works, Jesus did not walk around with a glow or halo on His head. He simply looked the part of a humble servant.

               But, there is another way that Jesus had no form nor comeliness.

It goes along with the last phrase in Vs. 2 - “and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”

When He was on the cross, suffering for our sins, there was no beauty to be found in what people could see. What Jesus endured for us was not a pretty thing!

The wounds from the scourging and buffeting He suffered were not pretty.

The nails and the wounds they caused were certainly not pretty.

The crown of thorns pressed down on His head was not pretty, but ugly.

                            The spear wound in His side was not pretty.

The way He had to push himself up so He could breathe was not pretty.

                            His voice would not have been pretty.

Isaiah 52:14–“As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:”

               The birth and life of Jesus were in many ways simple.

               His appearance on the cross was also simple.

THE SIMPLICITY OF THE CROSS.

II.           THE SHAME OF THE CROSS. Vs. 3

Why did Jesus go to the cross? Well, we know that He went there to die for our sins. He willingly gave His life for us!

But Jesus was nailed to the cross, because He was despised by some of the very people He came to save. He was especially despised by those in Israel’s leadership.

I feel that Jesus was despised by the leadership of Israel for the following reasons:

               · Jesus could do things that they could not do.

               · Jesus threatened their leadership.

               · Jesus made them jealous.

               · Jesus convicted them of their own sins and failures.

               Along with Jesus being despised, it says here that He was also rejected.

               John 1:11 - “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

We are told here that Jesus “was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Jesus took upon His shoulders the sins of the world. In order to die for sin, He had to bear the sin.

With sin comes sorrow and grief. And there was sorrow and grief from the mock trials Jesus endured, the false accusations, the beatings, the abuse from the soldiers, the abuse of the nails and spear and the cross itself, and the verbal abuse.

               “…and we hid as it were, our faces from him.”

               The very people He came to save hid their faces from Jesus.

That's a shame! And yet today, people who Jesus came to save are still turning their backs on Him by failing to believe in Him as their Saviour.

It says, “he was despised and we esteemed him not.”

Luke 23:35-37–“And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. [36] And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, [37] And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.”

Luke 23:39–“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.”

THE SIMPLICITY OF THE CROSS .

               THE SHAME OF THE CROSS.

III.         THE SACRIFICE OF THE CROSS. (Vs. 4-6)

               Here we see that Isaiah fills us in on some other important details.

Vs. 4 - The Jews thought of Jesus as being judged by God, that is, that Jesus was stricken and smitten by God for His own sin. But that is not what was truly happening. Because Jesus had no sin of His own!

What was really happening was that Jesus was bearing on the cross the griefs and sorrows caused by our sin. The words “griefs and sorrows” mean “pain and sickness.” He was taking the pain and sickness of our sins upon His own shoulders.

2 Corinthians 5:21–“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Vs. 5 - Jesus was wounded and bruised for our transgressions and iniquities.

               Jesus was chastised so we could have peace with God.

               Somebody had to appease God for our sins. That is what Jesus did.

Romans 5:8-10–“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life”

Jesus shed his blood so we could be declared righteous before God.

So, when God looks at a believer, He sees that His Son's blood is covering their sins. God doesn’t need to pour out the wrath of His judgment towards us because our sins are already paid for.

Romans 5:1–“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

When our faith is in the blood of Jesus Christ to pay for our sins, God declares us righteous or justifies us. That means that God no longer has an issue with us over sin so we are at peace with God.

               And don't forget, it is with his stripes that we are healed.

               We are healed from sin sickness because of the work of Christ.

Vs. 6 - Just like sheep, every one of us have gone astray.

Romans 3:23–“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

Everyone one of us has done our own sinful thing and gone our own sinful way.

In love God laid our sins on to His Son. It is with His stripes, His beatings, His wounds that we are healed.

               THE SIMPLICITY OF THE CROSS.

               THE SHAME OF THE CROSS.

               THE SACRIFICE OF THE CROSS.

IV.         THE SILENCE OF THE CROSS - Vss. 7-9

               I see two kinds of silence here.

               A.   Silence of Words. (Vs. 7)

When Jesus was asked concerning his identity, He answered.

When Jesus was falsely accused, mocked, and beaten, he remained silent.

                            He took it quietly. It is often hard for us to take abuse quietly.

                            Jesus took the most abuse of anyone ever, and He took it quietly.

               B.         Silence of Death. (Vs. 8-9)

                            Jesus was cut off from the land of the living.

                            His voice was now silent. Or so his enemies thought.

                            God allowed Jesus to be buried in a rich man's tomb.

"He could have called ten thousand angels

                            To destroy the world and to set Him free.

                            He could have called ten thousand angels

                            But He died alone for you and me."

V.           THE SATISFACTION OF THE CROSS. Vs. 10-12

               There is not just sorrow in Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53 ends on a high note.

               For all the grief found in Isaiah 53, there is much satisfaction.

               I see satisfaction here in three ways:

               A.      The Satisfaction of Resurrection. (Vs. 10)

                            God was certainly satisfied with the work of Jesus on the cross.

Notice, that because God was satisfied, "he shall prolong his days."

                            Jesus' Days were prolonged by His resurrection from the dead.

Revelation 1:18–“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

Also notice it says that Jesus shall see His seed.

That would be His descendants. Jesus had no physical descendants. But Jesus has plenty of descendants.

Every person who places their faith and trust in Christ is a descendant of Jesus who has the same hope of eternal life.

John 14:19–“Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.”

1 Corinthians 15:20-23–“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.”

Are you a descendant of Christ? There is still room for more descendants.

Revelation 22:17 –“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

Notice also in verse 10 that “the pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.”

I am sure that there are many ways to interpret this phrase, but I want to suggest one specific idea.

Where is Jesus right now? He's in Heaven sitting at the right hand of God. He is prospering at the right hand of God!

Romans 8:34–“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

Psalm 110:1–“The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

So, there is the satisfaction of resurrection.

               B.  The Satisfaction of Justification. (Vs. 11)

May I remind you again of Romans 5:1–“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Because of what Jesus did on the cross, whoever has placed their faith in Christ has eternal life.

Jesus has justified millions of people, including many in this room.

Jesus has every reason to be satisfied with the wonderful redemption He has wrought for so many.

               C.  The Satisfaction of Glory. (Vs. 12)

Philippians 2:7-11–“7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

                            Jesus has a portion with the great. Because He is great!

                            He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Conclusion

We’ve seen the cross in all its ugliness and in all its beauty today. What made it ugly was our sin! What made it beautiful is what it brought about for us!

Have you given yourself to the one who hung there for you?

If not, He invites you to come today and cast all your sin and shame upon Him and receive His offer of forgiveness of sin and eternal life!

Dear Christian, have you made the mind of Christ your mind?

Philippians 2:5–“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”

Are you living for God or self? Jesus did not live unto Himself but rather He lived to do the will of the Father, we are to have that same mind.

Home Page   Contact Us    Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!