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Christianity for Dummies - 6 - The Cross

by Michael Russell
November 2002

Based upon a sermon series by Pastor Jim Henry, senior pastor of First Baptist Orlando, and enhanced with my personal commentary. Apologies to the book publisher for the title.

Today's lesson is about Jesus' death on the cross. This one event is the heart and centerpiece of the Bible. A large part of the prophecies in the Old Testament are about the Messiah's suffering and dying to redeem those who would turn to God. A large part of the New Testament is about Jesus' death on the cross and how in this act God provides a way for mankind to return to God.

The sacrifices of the Old Testament make sense when we see Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice. The resurrection and the hope of eternal life make sense only when we see that Jesus first had to die.

When so much of Scripture is about Jesus' death and paying the price demanded of our sins, it is not possible to discuss even 1% of this aspect of Christianity in these notes. But, we will look at the high level concepts.

1. Wisdom of the world rejects the cross

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 [18] 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. [19] For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
[20] Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? [21] For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. [22] Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, [23] but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, [24] but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. [25] For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

Those who do not believe in God cannot understand the purpose or necessity of the cross.

Current society shows a strange love-hate attitude toward the cross. Some people, who are not Christians, wear a cross symbol as a fashion statement, even though it is uncertain what statement they are making. Others, are so-called offended by the cross symbol and seeking to remove it from the public arena. Worse, there are even some churches that are dropping the cross in an attempt to not "offend" potential new members or guests. The paster read a newspaper article about a church in the northeast USA that was going to have an Easter presentation next year that would be missing the crucifician. Huh? What is Easter resurrection without Jesus first dying on the cross?

In the quoted Scripture, the Jews referenced can be extended to mean anyone who has a knowledge and familarity of the Bible. It seems those who have been raised in the church are sometimes difficult to teach the true lessons of the Bible because they are looking for signs.

In the quoted Scripture, the Gentiles referenced can be extended to mean anyone who has no knowledge of the Bible or has rejected Biblical teaching. It seems these folks are looking for wisdom, but in reality, they are seeking some emotional response since human wisdom is too often illogical.

2. A religion based upon an event, not a moral code

Christianity is different from other "religions" in that it is based upon an event -- the crucifixion of Jesus. The Old Testament pointed to this event; the New Testament points back to this event. Most religions are based upon a moral code - a set of rules, regulations, and sacraments. Unfortunately, even many Christian churches have decayed from preaching the salvation of Jesus to imposing some set of rules and regulations.

Technically, Judiasm should be a religion that is based upon looking forward to God's promised Messiah; but it too has fallen by pride into becoming a religion centered upon the God given moral code represented in the Mosaic Law. As the Apostle Paul said, the Law does not save, it only points out that we are sinners in God's view and that we need a Messiah -- Jesus.

The very beginning of Scripture foretells of Jesus and His necessary suffering.

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

In this verse, it points out that an offspring of the woman -- which is curious wording since usually it is the offspring of a man that is discussed but it makes sense when we understand Jesus did not have a male human parent -- would destroy the snake (devil), but not until after the devil had seemingly striked a fatal wound to the this male offspring.

Genesis 3:21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Also, from the beginning, God instituted animal sacrifice and showed that the sheding of blood was necessary to provide a "covering" for Adam, Eve, and all mankind. Why wasn't the fig leaf adequate covering? Because the fig leaf was made by man and represented works. The animal skin, which most believe was a lamb skin, represented spilt blood and the giving of one life in place of another life. Therefore, from the very first sin, God was showing that it was going to take a sacrifice of a life to pay the death penalty pronounced on the sins. At first, the sacrifices were animals and there was a hope looking forward. When in the fulness of time, God sent Jesus to be that sacrifice once and for all.

3. The nature of Jesus' suffering on the cross

Isaiah 52:13-15; 53:1-12 [13] See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
[14] Just as there were many who were appalled at him — his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any manand his form marred beyond human likeness —
[15] so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.
[1] Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
[2] He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
[3] He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
[4] Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
[5] But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
[6] We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
[7] He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
[8] By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
[9] He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
[10] Yet it was the LORD’S will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
[11] After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life£ and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
[12] Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Brutal and cruel. Jesus was so beaten and disfigured by the guards both before and after the cross that he was essentially a bloody pulp.

Of no importance or appeal to His generation. His contemporaries did not consider Him to be of significance. He did not have groupies following Him because of his appearance.

Rejected. We think we are rejected when that girl turns down our date proposal; well, we ain't seen nothing. Jesus was rejected by the religious leaders, rejected by the government, rejected even by his friends.

Weight of our sorrows. He took upon Himself all of our sorrows and transgressions.

Innocent; punished for our guilt. He was punished and held to suffer the punishment for our guilt and sins.

Went peacefully and quietly. He did not complain or accuse anyone.

Pleased God. It pleased God that His Son willingly gave His live in order to save us sinful humans.

Received Glory. God will glorify His Son through this.

4. It was done for us

1 Peter 2:24-25 [24] He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. [25] For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Not much to add. This and many other verses clearly show that Jesus died on our behalf. We are all destined to the pit, unless a solution is provided. Jesus paid the price due from our sins. The sinless man suffered for our sins so that we, by accepting what He offers, can be restored in a relationship with God.