THE WORDS OF JESUS ON THE CROSS

1.THE WORDS OF JESUS ON THE CROSS

• Luke 23:34- Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not wha
they do…
1. FATHER FORGIVE THEM.
• Matt 27:34,46-They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when
he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And about the ninth hour Jesus
cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani? that is to say,
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
• Isa 53v12: Therefore, will l divide him a portion with the great, and he shall
divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto
death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of
many and made intercession for the transgressors.
• On the cross Jesus made intercession for the transgressors.
• For God to forgive their sins was far more important than for God to remove
…his own Son's sufferings
• Jesus had willingly yielded himself to die on the cross, so that important
matter was already settled but he wanted everybody to know that he
forgave them for the way they treated him.
i. Jesus was not only fulfilling the OT prophecy, but He was also
practicing the truth that He taught to others.
• Matt 6:15- But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses.
• This does not mean that forgiveness is based on our good works or that it
can be earned by forgiving others.
• His prayer reminds us that if we are unwilling to forgive others, then our
hearts are in no condition to ask God for His forgiveness.
• If I am broken before God, then I wilI be forgiving toward others.
• The Lord's time coincided with the Roman Empire, and the reign of Tiberius
Caesar.
• Among their many deities, the Romans worshipped Justitia (Nemesis), the
goddess of revenge and retribution.
• Acts 28:1-6- And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island
was called Melita. And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness:
for they kindled a fire, and received us everyone, because of the present
rain, and because of the cold. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of
sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and
fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast
hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a
murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth
not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down…
• Our Lord Jesus Christ did not worship revenge, nor should we.
• He prayed “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”
• Thus, He fulfilled and practiced His own message of forgiveness.
• Only God can see the human heart, so only He knows the damage being
done by people who will not forgive others.
• The virus of an unforgiving spirit has infected marriages, families, churches,
and whole nations with devastating consequences.
• It would make a difference if we would only learn to forgive and pray as
Jesus prayed-”Because they know not what they are doing"
• The people who did all they did to Him, are ignorant of His person.
• In-spite of their careful attention to the study of the OT, the people did not
recognize their Saviour and King when He arrived.
• Luke 22:64-And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the
face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?
• They mocked him as king, putting a robe on Him, giving Him a scepter and
placing a crown of thorns on His head.
• John 19:15-But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him.
Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered,
We have no king but Caesar.
• They laughed at Christ's claim that He was the Son of God.
• Luke 23:35- 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.
• They were ignorant of His person, because they refused to believe His Word
and obey what He said.
• John 7:17- If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether
it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
• Anyone who seeks to obey the truth of the word will be led by the Spirit to
confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
• But Jews were locked into their traditional religious system that they would
not receive Christ's teaching and discover the reality of eternal life.
• They were ignorant of the meaning of their own action.
• They did not recognize that what they were doing was fulfilling their own Old
Testament Scriptures.
• They parted His garments and cast lots for them.
• Luke 23:34 -Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what
they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots…
• This fulfilled:
-Psa22:18-They part my garments among them& cast lots upon my vesture.
-Luke 23:36- And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering
him vinegar,
i. They gave Him vinegar to drink and this fulfilled the scriptures.
-Psalm 69:21- They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they
gave me vinegar to drink.
ii.mHe was crucified between two transgressors, fulfilling
-Luke 23:33- And when they were come to the place, which is called
Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right
hand, and the other on the left.
-Isaiah 53:12-Therefore, will I divide him a portion with the great, and he
shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul
unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the
sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
iii. His cry to the Father: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
-Is a quotation of Psalm 22:1 -a Psalm that the Jews certainly knew well, as
a Messianic Psalm.
-Psalm 22:1- My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so
far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
iv. In the OT, the law of Moses made provisions for sins of ignorance but not
for deliberate high-handed sins.
-Thus, Jesus pleaded that their sin be not charged to them because it was a
sin of ignorance.
-This prayer accomplished Grace and Mercy because judgement did not fall.
-Acts 3:17- And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did
also your rulers.
v. God was patient with Israel and gave them nearly forty more years of
grace before the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70.
• 1 Tim 1:13- Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious:
but I obtained mercy, because l did it ignorantly in unbelief.
• The Lord was merciful to Paul in answer to the Lord's Prayer.
• When the Lord was crucified, He was put between two thieves.
• They could have put two thieves together since they were partners in crime
• However, they put Jesus Christ between them…
• Prophecy Fulfilled.
• Isaiah 53:12–Therefore, will I divide him a portion with the great, and he
shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul
unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the
sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
• Mark 15:27-27And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right
hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith,
And he was numbered with the transgressors.
• At the place of the skull where He was crucified, were wicked hands of men
at work, but also the powerful hands of God.
• Wicked men obeyed God and fulfilled divine prophecy.
• Acts 2:23- Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel& foreknowledg
of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain
• Jesus was numbered among transgressors because evil men concluded tha
He was a transgressor.
• He was sinless, the spotless lamb of God, yet they treated Him like a crimina
• He died with sinners, and He died for sinners.
• Because Jesus was between the two thieves both of them could hear His
repeated prayer “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
• Luke 23:34 - Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what
they do. And they parted his raiment, an cast lots.
• And they could also hear the wailings of the crowd.
• Luke 23:37-And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
• Luke 23:35-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.
• If He saved others, then He could save the thieves.
• This was good news for them…The confession contained in his prayer.
• Luke 23:42-And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou
comest into thy kingdom.
• In this prayer the dying thief acknowledged that:
i. He feared God.
ii. He confessed he was guilty.
• Sinners can not be saved until they admit they are guilty before God.
• The sinner knew Jesus was innocent because he discerned the quality of
the man.
• He knew He was dying and after death he would meet God.
2. JESUS SPEAKS TO HIS OWN.
• John 19:26-27-When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple
standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy
son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour
that disciple took her unto his own home.
• Roman soldiers were at the cross because they had to be.
• Four women were there, because they all loved Jesus.
• They were there out of devotion not out of duty.
• Mary the mother of the Lord, Mary Magdalene, Salome His mother's sister,
Mary the wife of Cleopas, and the beloved disciple of Jesus.
• Salome was the wife of Zebedee, the mother of James and John.
• All of them were near the cross and this had special significance.
i. MARY MAGDALENE - A PLACE OF REDEMPTION
• Mary Magdalene had been redeemed by the Lord and set free from terrible
bondages of demonism.
• She had been delivered from seven demons.
• Luke 8:2- And certain women, which had been healed of evil Spirits and
infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
• Mark 16:9- Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he
appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
• At the cross Mary watched the Lord pay the price for her redemption.
• She was at the tomb when Jesus was buried because in all this she saw
her redemption.
ii. SALOME - A PLACE OF REBUKE.
• Matt 20:20-28 - Salome was the mother of James and John, and the wife
of Zebedee. She had come to Jesus with her sons asking to let them be
enthroned on His right and the left in his kingdom. Jesus had answered by
asking the brothers - "are you able to drink the cup that I drink and be
baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" James and John had
answered "we are able." Jesus said "you will indeed drink my cup and be
baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with."
• James was the first apostle to be martyred and John the last apostle to
die, and he experienced suffering and persecution, greatly.
• Acts 12:1-2- Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands
to vex certain of the church? And he killed James the brother of John with
the sword.
• For Salome the cross was a place where she was rebuked for her
• She had wanted places of honor for her sons at the throne of Jesus.
• But now as she beheld him, the cross became not a throne but on a place o
intense suffering and anguish.
• Salome in her selfishness had not fathomed the way to the cross is suffering
• 2 Timothy 2:12-if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he
also will deny us
iii. MARY THE LORD'S MOTHER- A PLACE OF REWARD.
• We find Mary at the beginning of John 2, and then in chapter 19.
• In chapter 2 Mary speaks to Jesus and suggest that they help solve an
embarrassing problem.
• In John 19 Mary is silent.
• Her silence is meaningful.
• Her testimony could have saved Jesus…Mary kept quiet.
• As she stood quiet her silence was that Jesus indeed, is the Son of God.
• It is eloquent testimony that the Christ we worship is God, Jesus Christ the
Son, God came in human flesh.
• The cross was a place for reward for Mary.
• Jesus did not ignore her but rewarded her by sharing His beloved disciple
with her.
• He started a new relationship between John and Mary.
iv. JOHN - A PLACE OF RESPONSIBILITY.
• Jesus not only restored John who had forsook him in the garden, but He
also honored him.
• It was as though Jesus said to John, you are taking my place, be a son to
Mary and care for her.
• This is a call to responsibility to his likeness and conformity to Him.
• Galatians 2:20-I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
• 1 John 4:17- Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness
in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
3. JESUS SPEAKS TO THE FATHER
• Jesus also spoke to the Father.
• Matt 27:45-49- Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the
land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud
voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me?*"Some of them that stood there, when they
heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them
ran,& took a sponge, & filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave
him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to.
JERUSALEM BECAME DARK
• Three mysteries are wrapped up in this third statement from the cross.
• From noon until three o'clock in the afternoon, darkness was over all the
land, a supernatural darkness that could not be explained.
• It was not caused by an eclipse (a very unlikely event during Passover
season) or by a sandstorm.
• Why was there this?
i. The Darkness of Sympathy.
• The Creator was dying on the cross, and all creation shrouded in darkness,
was sympathizing with Him.
• Adam and Eve's disobedience affected all creation.
ii. The Darkness of Solemnity.
• It was the most solemn moment in the history of the world as just one died
for the unjust and the innocent lamb of God shed His blood for guilty sinners
• God sent three days of darkness to Egypt before that first Passover when
lambs were slain to protect the first born, and God sent three hours of
darkness before the lamb of God died for the sins of the world.
• This symbolizes a moment of solemn judgement.
• John 12:31-Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this
world be cast out.
• He was made sin; He had become sin.
iii. The Darkness of Secrecy.
• It was the darkness of secrecy as though God put a curtain around the
cross.
• During those three hours Jesus Christ accomplished the great work of
redemption and died for the sins of the world
iv. A Greater Mystery
• The darkness symbolized a greater mystery when the Father could not look
upon him because of sin.
• He was moved into loneliness and rejection.
• At this time even God deserted Him because He had become sin and God
can not look upon sin.
v. The Greatest Mystery
• The blindness of the people around the cross.
• The priest groping in the dark to go to the temple to kill the Passover lamb.
• Among all devout Jews, coming to attend Passover from everywhere, there
is no record of one knowing what was taking place…They were in the Dark.
• They were blind to the scriptures,& blind to the Savior, blind to their own sin
• Thus, Jesus went through darkness that we might have light.
4. I THIRST
• John 19:28-30-After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now
accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there
was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and
put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had
received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head and
gave up the ghost.
• The Lord was crucified at nine o'clock in the morning and spent 3 hours on
the cross in broad daylight, then the darkness came, and at the end of the
darkness he cried "My God, my God why has thou forsaken me.
• Then He said, “I thirst,” which helps us to see three portraits of Christ.
i. The suffering son of man
• Jesus Christ was truly man.
• To deny His humanity is to rob yourself of your Saviour.
• He is our merciful High Priest who understands.
• Heb 4:16- Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
• When Jesus requested a drink they gave him the narcotic that the thieves
took but he refused.
• This is because the Jewish High priest when he ministered in the
sanctuary of God, was warned not to take strong drink.
• Leviticus 10:8-11- And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, 'Do not drink
wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the
tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever
throughout your generations: 'And that ye may put difference between holy
and unholy, and between unclean and clean; "And that ye may teach the
children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them
by the hand of Moses.
• Jesus when He offered Himself as the final sacrifice for sin on the cross,
He did not take strong drink.
ii. The obedient servant of God
• Crucifixion is agonizing and creates intense thirst.
• Psalm 69 paints a picture of Jesus on the cross.
• Psalm 69:3- I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail
while I wait for my God.
• Psalm 69:21-They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they
gave me vinegar to drink.
• Despite the thirst Jesus remained obedient to the Word of God and did not
defile himself by taking the vinegar.
iii. The loving savior of sinners.
• Hell is a place of thirst.
• When He became sin, He became hell's candidate.
• Luke 16:24
• It mentions those at a place of judgement crave water & thirst, eternal thirst
• When He became sin, He thirsted…thus, He said, “I thirst.”
• There are several cups offered to Jesus at the cross.
i. The cup of Charity
• When they offered him with wine mingled with myrrh some form of painkiller
or narcotic to deaden His pain.
• That cup Jesus rejected.
• Mark 15:23-And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he
received it not.
ii. The cup of Mockery
• When the soldiers at the cross ridiculed Him, and offered Him wine.
• Luke 23:36-And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering
him vinegar.
iii. The cup of Sympathy.
• When someone put some sour wine on a sponge and lifted it to His dry lips
• John 19:29-Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a
sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
iv. The cup of Iniquity
• John 18:11- "Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath:
the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
• He drank to the full the cup of suffering that rightfully belonged to us.
• Exo 17:6- Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and
thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the
people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
• Jesus was smitten on the cross for us that the water of life that satisfies
thirst forever.
iii. The cup of Sympathy.
• When someone put some sour wine on a sponge and lifted it to His dry lips
• John 19:29-Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a
sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
iv. The cup of Iniquity
• John 18:11- "Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath:
the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
• He drank to the full the cup of suffering that rightfully belonged to us.
• Exo 17:6- Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and
thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the
people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
• Jesus was smitten on the cross for us that the water of life that satisfies
thirst forever.
5. “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise-Luke 23:43
6. IT IS FINISHED.
• Matthew 23:38-Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
• Matthew 26:61-And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple
of God, and to build it in three days.
• When the veil was rent, the temple was destroyed as the place where
Jehovah dwelt.
• Matthew 27:50-51- Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice,
yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain
from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.
• Before this event Jesus had cried “It is finished.”
• This is the sixth statement Jesus cried from the cross.
• This was not the whimper of a defeated man, but rather it was the
triumphant shout of victory.
• He did not mean “I am finished” but rather "It is finished"
• In the Greek this statement was written “Tetelestai” which means "It is
finished, it stands finished, and it always will be finished."
• This means He had fulfilled all that needed to be done.
• He had left nothing undone, that the Father had given Him to do.
• John 17:4- I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work
which thou gavest me to do.
• “Tetelestai” was an all-familiar word.
• Though this word isn't recognized by most people in our contemporary
world, it was a familiar word during the Lord's day.
• Common people in Jesus' day used the word "tetelestai" in their every day
lives.
i. Servants
• Servants and slaves used this word whenever they had finished an
assignment and reported that fact to their master.
• The servant would say "Tetelestai" meaning "- I have finished the work
you gave me to do.
• This meant the task assigned was completed the way the master wanted it
done and when he wanted it done.
• Phil 2:5-11- Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who,
being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 'But
made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men: &And being found in fashion as a
man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the
death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given
him a name which is above every name:
…"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven,
and things in earth, and things under the earth; "And that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
• Jesus Christ is God's servant.
• The prophet Isaiah describe him as God's suffering servant.
• Isaiah 42:1-4
• Isaiah 49:1-6- Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far;
The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother
hath he made mention of my name. And he hath made my mouth like a
sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me and made me a
polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; 'And said unto me, Thou art
my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Then I said, I have
laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet
surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God…
…'And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob again to him. Though Israel be not gathered yet shall l be
glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength. And he
said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes
of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light
to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
• Isaiah 50:4-9- The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that
should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he
wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the
learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious,
neither turned away back. 'I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to
them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Fo
the Lord GOD will help me; therefore, shall I not be confounded: therefore,
have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. "He is
near that justifieth me; who will contend with me?...
…let us stand together: who is mine, adversary? let him come near to me.
'Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo,
they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
• Isaiah 52:13-14-Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be
exalted and extolled and be very high. 'As many were astonied at thee; his
visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the
sons of men:
• Isaiah 53:12-Therefore, will I divide him a portion with the great, and he
shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul
unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the
sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
• Jesus Christ came to the earth as a servant because He had a special
work to do.
• As a servant Jesus fulfilled the work assigned, thus he spoke "It is finished"
• Luke 22:27-For whether is greater, he that sits at meat, or he that serves?
is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serves.
• John 13:1-17- He even took the place of a servant and washed the
disciples' feet, but his greatest act of service was when He died for us on
the cross.
• Mark 13:15 “And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the
house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house”
ii. Priests
• The Greek priests also used this word “Tetelestai.”
• Whenever worshippers brought sacrifices to the temple dedicated to
whatever god or goddess they worshipped.
• The priests had to examine the animal to make sure it was faultless.
• If the sacrifice was acceptable the priests would say “Tetelestai”-it is
perfect!
• The Jewish priests followed the similar procedure at the temple and used
the equivalent Hebrew or Aramic word.
• Jesus Christ is God's perfect, faultless sacrifice, the lamb of God who died
to take away the sin of the world.
• John 1:29-The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
• Jesus' faultlessness was vouched for by the Father.
• Matthew 3:17- And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased.
• 1 Peter 1:19-But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot:
• Luke 23:4- *Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no
fault in this man.
• Psa 40:8-I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
• Hebrews 1:1-18
• Luke 2:49-And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not
that I must be about my Father's business?
• John 4:34-Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent
me, and to finish his work.
• John 17:4- *I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work
which thou gavest me to do.
• He could shout “tetelestai” because He was a faithful servant, in spite of
opposition, in the pain of the cross.
• He had been faith, He is faith and could thus declare “It is finished - I have
been faithful.”
iii. Artists
• Artists after completing their work, would step away from it & look at it& say
“Tetelestai”
• Meaning it is finished, meaning the picture is completed.
• The work of Jesus on Calvary completed a distorted picture of Jesus Christ.
• In His life, death, resurrection and ascension Jesus fulfilled the types and
prophesies of the Old Testament.
• Because of His work on the cross, we can see the complete picture, the
Father is no longer hid.
• When God had showed Himself to Moses, he could only show him His back
parts.
• No one could see the face of God then because it was hidden.
• The feasts, the tabernacle, the oblations all were shadows and types of the
original…Thus, Calvary completes a distorted picture of God.
• It gives us the full and front view of his work and his person.
• He is no longer hid…His work is no longer displayed in a riddle.
iv. Merchants
• “Tetelestai” was also used by merchants to mean the “debt is paid.”
• If something was purchased on account when you made the last payment,
the merchant would give you a receipt that read “tetelestai” to mean the
“debt has been fully paid.”
• Jesus paid the debt when He died on the cross.
• That is what Tetelestai means.
• “The debt has been paid, it stands paid, and it always will be paid.”
• When we turn to Christ in faith, our sins are forgiven and the debt is paid,
forever.
• Col 2:14-15- having wiped out the [a]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. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers,
He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
TETELESTAI- A FINISHED WORK.
• Tetelestai was a familiar word spoken by a faithful savior about a finished
work
• When he shouted the word, it meant that all the OT prophesies referring to
His work on the cross were now fulfilled and finished…It has been fulfilled.
• Gen 3:15-"And will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between
thy seed and her seed,; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his
heel.
• God had promised a savior, the seed of the woman who would defeat Satan
• The tabernacle, its pictures of Christ and His priestly ministry and the
sacrificial system were completely finished and fulfilled.
• Old Testament types and prophesies were fulfilled.
• The veil of the temple was torn in two, and man was able to enter into the
presence of God.
• It is finished also means that the Old Covenant law is finished.
• Col 2:14-Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us,
which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.
• The handwriting of ordinances were the law pertaining to sacrifices,
ordinances and rules, Jesus wiped it all out.
• We no longer live under the bondage of law instead.
• Matt 27:4-“Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent
blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
• Thus, all who knew Him had declared “tetelestai.”
TETELESTAI
• Shouted by the Lord Jesus, meant all the above things.
• He came to do the Father’s will, and He did it.
• He came to purchase our redemption, and He did it.
• He came to do a great work; the work of salvation & He finished that work
• We can live free from sin and its rule over us.
• Heb 9:26-28- He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation
of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put
away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die
once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the
sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second
time, apart from sin, for salvation.
• Heb 10:4-For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should
take away sins.
• Heb 10:12-But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever,
sat down on the right hand of God;
• The work of salvation is completed.
• Heb 1:3-Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his
…person,and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by
himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
• He sat because it is finished.
• In the OT tabernacle, there were no chairs, because the priest’s work was
never finished.
• But Christ sat down in heaven because His work was finished, “Tetelestai.”
• This was the cry of a faithful saviour about a finished work.
• When Jesus said it is finished, the Abrahamic Covenant had come to an
end, so far as Israel was concerned.
• Everything contained in the covenant ended with it.
• There will never be another scape goat to bear Israel’s sins away in type.
• It was the end of the Holy of Holies in Israel’s temple.
• This is why the curtain rent from top to bottom& their temple was left desolat
• That is why there was an earthquake, and darkness came down and
settled over Jerusalem and Golgotha.
• The heart of the Son of man had been broken on that cross, it was the
beginning of a New Covenant, a New Dispensation.
• Luke 22:14-23- “And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the
twelve apostles with him. ‘And he said unto them, With desire I have
desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I
will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. “And
he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among
yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until
the kingdom of God shall come. “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and
brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for
you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise, also the cup after supper,
saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
• Matt 26:28-For this is my blood of the NT, which is shed for many for the
remission of sins.
• The Old Covenant died, the New Covenant was born.
• The New Covenant began functioning on the day of Pentecost.
• It was not established in Heaven until He carried His blood into the holy of
Holies and poured it out there as the red seal upon the document of our
redemption.
• Old Covenant men had a limited righteousness and on the ground of that
they performed miracles and prodigies that Israel saw.
• All the OT miracles were performed with limited righteousness.
• This was based upon a covenant sealed with the blood of Abraham together
with the blood of bulls, goats etc.
• Now a New Covenant sealed not with the blood of bulls and goats, but the
precious blood of Jesus, which speaks better things than the blood of Abel
4. WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE VEIL WAS RENT
• When the veil was rent, the Old Covenant died.
• The New Covenant was born.
• The New Covenant began functioning on the day of the Pentecost.
• This New Covenant gave to us the beginning of the New Creation, the
Circumcision of the heart.
• Col 2:11-12- "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made
without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the
circumcision of Christ: 'Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen
with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from
the dead.
• A person entered the Abrahamic Covenant by circumcision.
• We enter the New Covenant by circumcision of the heart or the New Birth.
• Heb 8:12-For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and
their iniquities will I remember no more.
• Heb 8:1-13
• Jesus made the First Covenant old.
• There was an annulling of the foregoing commandment and foregoing
covenant and foregoing Priesthood and sacrifices.
• There was the inauguration of the New Covenant, the New Priesthood
with the New Creation folk who are called a New Covenant people.
• The new covenant had a new law.
• John 13:34-35-A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. "By this shall
all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
• The Old Covenant had a law of fear.
• The New Covenant has a law of life and a law of love.
• Rom 8:1-2-There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."For the law of
the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin& death
• Leviticus & Deuteronomy are an exposition of the Law of the Old Covenant
• The Pauline Revelation is an exposition of the New Covenant Law.
• 1 Cor 13 is a condensed form of the features of the New Covenant
• Heb 9:11-12- But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come,
by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to
say, not of this building;
• Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in
once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
• This describes the Lord Jesus entering the Heavenly Holy of Holies with His
blood once and for all up until now.
• The High Priest had entered with blood once a year to cover the broken law
for spiritually dead Israel, behind the veil of the earthly tabernacle.
• Heb 9:14-How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience
from dead works to serve the living God?
• Heb 9:24-For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands,
which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the
presence of God for us:
• When the veil was rent, that which was temporary, and that which was a
shadow of the heavenly temple was done away with.
• No more were sacrifices to be offered there…A New Covenant had come
into being.
• 1 Peter 2:3-10, gives us a picture of the new sacrifices that we are to offer
to the Father. A New Priesthood was inaugurated to "offer up Spiritual
…sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
• There is now a new Holy of Holies for each believer.
• Heb 13:15- By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God
continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
• In the Holy Priesthood we offer up our praises, our worship, and our love,
through Jesus Christ our Lord
• Eph 5:20-Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
• 1 Peter 2:9-10-*But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who
hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: "Which in time
past were not a people but are now the people of God: which had not
obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
• There is a two-fold Priesthood for the Church; Royal Priesthood ministry to
others and Holy Priesthood ministry to the Father.
• My royal Priesthood does not function in reality unless there has been time
spent in the Holy Priesthood.
• One is directed outward and the other is directed upward.
• One is horizontal and the other is vertical.
• Heb 10:19-22- Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the
holiest by the blood of Jesus, °By a new and living way, which he hath
consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an
high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,
and our bodies washed with pure water.
• Heb 4:16- Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
• This is the temple that Jesus raised or built in three days.
• That is the new home of God…We are now the temple.
• 1 Cor 6:19-What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy
Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
• 1 Cor 3:16- Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit
of God dwelleth in you?
• Because a New Priesthood was inaugurated, the Old Priesthood was
done away with.
• History says that 50 years after the crucifixion of Jesus, none of the
members of the Priesthood was living nor could be found.
• By AD 70 that which was initiated by the veil being rent was fulfilled and
the temple, the shadow, was destroyed.
• The Priesthood was to last until Shiloh came, Shiloh had come, and the
Jews did not know it…Gen 49:10- …until Shiloh come; and unto him shall
the gathering of the people be.
HIS ATONING DEATH
1. INTRODUCTION
• Matthew 27:51-52
• The death of Christ is absolutely a unique death.
• All the combined deaths of mankind cannot be compared with the death of
Christ, for His death is an atoning death.
• The work of the cross sets forth Christ's death in its uniqueness because it
is the only death which makes redemption possible.
• Christianity is founded on this death of Jesus…Jesus' death saves man!.
• His perfectly sinless life, like the perfect law simply condemns man.
• It is like the un-rent veil.
• It stands between God and man, condemning and excluding man from any
approach to God.
• It is His life, His risen life, that saves men…Rom 4v25
• Many accepted Christ's coming as a leader, a prophet, a great teacher,
who was sent in this life, but they rejected His atoning death as priest and
sacrifice for sin.
• It is not His ethics, life or example but His death, burial, resurrection which
saves man…It is His, risen life that saves men- Romans 5:1-10.
• God's order is first His saving death and His saving life.
• Rom 5:1-10- Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ: 'By whom also we have access by faith into
this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And
not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation
worketh patience: experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not
ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the
Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength,
in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
• For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good
man some would even dare to die.But God commendeth his love toward
us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'Much more then,
being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through
him.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.
2. FALSE THEORIES CONCERNING HIS DEATH
• There are many false theories concerning Jesus' death, which all refute his
atoning work.
1.Accident Theory
• This view sees no significance in the death of Christ.
• It maintains that Christ's principles and methods caused people to kill him.
• It was unfortunate that such a good man had to die, but his death was
meaningless apart from this. It is accounted unfortunate but accident.
2. The Martyr Theory
• This theory is related to the previous one, teaching that Christ died as a
martyr for the principles He was faithful to.
• It holds that Jesus' death was an example for all being willing to die for what
they believe.
• It denies that Christ's death was a substitutionary and propitiatory death.
• Christ is held up as any other martyr is held, dying for a good cause.
3. The Moral Influence Theory
• This theory teaches that Christ's death was just the mere natural
consequence of His taking human nature upon Himself.
• His death is likened to the missionary who lives, suffers, and dies for those
he wants to minister to.
• His death is held up as an example of meekness& humble suffering for
others
• It fails to accept that God must be propitiated before He can forgive sins.
4. The Governmental Theory
• This theory teaches that Christ's death was not propitiatory.
• It holds that in Christ's death, God made an example of His hatred for sin.
• It teaches that God punished Christ to maintain respect for His holy law.
• It teaches that God accepted the measure of Christ's as a substitute for
our penalty.
• This view is inadequate when it comes to the Biblical interpretation of
Christ's death, because it fails to understand the fundamental truth of His
death in its propitiatory meaning.
5. Commercial Theory
• This theory teaches that sin violates the honor of God.
• Therefore, God's honor requires Him to punish sin while His love pleads
for the sinner.
• It teaches that the ransom price was paid to Satan in an agreement
between him and Christ in order for Satan to release all men who were
Satan's prisoners.
• It holds that Christ purchased souls from Satan and deceived him by
entering his domain to lose the captives by resurrection.
• However, this theory neglects the holiness of God and misses the
substitutionary aspect of Christ's death.
• It is also false in as much as it teaches that the ransom price was paid to
Satan, as Christ paid nothing to Satan.
• It was God's holy law and God's justice which demanded a ransom price.
6. The Eradication Theory
• This theory holds that Christ in the incarnation took upon sinful human
nature as Adam had after the fall.
• With all its inborn corruption and depravity.
• By the power of the Holy Spirit, He restrained any manifestation of sin and
completely purified it through suffering and death, thus eradicating the
original depravity and reuniting it to God.
• It denies the sinlessness of Christ, which would made His death of no avail
to mankind.
• The above theories are inadequate and have erroneous elements in them.
• Christ did die because of loyalty to the truth He taught and believed.
• He did die as an expression of the love of God.
• He did die to maintain the truth of divine government
• He died to pay the ransom price…However, each of these are only partial
aspects of His death.
• They all miss the major purpose of His death which is atonement.
• To miss the atoning work of Christ's death is to miss the fundamental truth
3. SCRIPTURAL VIEW OF CHRIST'S DEATH
a. Paul summarizes the view of Christ's death.
• 1 Corinthians 15:3-4-For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also
received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; "And
that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the
scriptures:
• Christ died - this is the fact of the atonement.
• For our sins - this is the doctrinal interpretation of the atonement.
• His soul was made an offering for sin, or a sin offering.
• Isa 53:5-6- But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for
our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his
stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned
everyone to his own way;& the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all
• Isaiah 53:10-11- Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to
grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his
seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall
prosper in his hand. "He shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be
satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he
shall bear their iniquities.
• 2 Cor 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.
• 1 Peter 2:24-Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,
that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose
stripes ye were healed.
• 1 Peter 3:18-For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the
unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but
quickened by the Spirit:
b. To understand this is to understand the atonement.
i. The death of Christ was part of God's Eternal Purpose.
• Rev 13:8- & And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose
names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world.
• 1 Peter 1:18-20-Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received
by tradition from your Fathers;"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of
a lamb without blemish & without spot:Who verily was foreordained before
the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
• Acts 2:22-23–Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a
man approved of God among you by miracle: und wonders and signs,
which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him
being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye
ii. The Death of Christ was foretold under the law, the Psalm and the
prophets.
• Luke 24:27-And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded
unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
• Matt 5:17-18- Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven
and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till
all be fulfilled.
• Matt 11:13-For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
• Luke 24:44-45 -And he said unto them, These are the words which I
spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled,
which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the
psalms, concerning me. "Then opened he their understanding, that they
might understand the scriptures.
iii. The Death of Christ was the chief purpose of the Incarnation.
• Heb 2:9-But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels
for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the
grace of God should taste death for every man.
• Heb 2:14- "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and
blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death
he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
• 1 John 3:5- And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins;
and in him is no sin.
• Matt 20:28-Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
• Heb 9:26-For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the
world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away
sin by the sacrifice of himself.
• He was born to be crucified.
• The incarnation was not an end in itself, but the means to an end.
iv. The Death of Christ is the Major theme of the Gospel of Grace.
• 1 Cor 15:1-4- Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I
preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
'By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto
you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all
that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to
the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third
day according to the scriptures
• Rom 5:5-10- And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is
shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For
when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly.For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for
…"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his
blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. '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.
• Rom 12:21-Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
• Christ died for our sins.
• The death penalty was paid…This is God's good news to a sinner.
v. The Death of Christ is prominent in the New Testament writings.
• 1 Cor 2:2-For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus
Christ, and him crucified.
• 1 Cor 5:4-In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered
together, and my Spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Gal 1:4- Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this
present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
• Gal 2:20-I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of
the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
• Gal 6:14- But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
• Rom 5:6- For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died
for the ungodly.
• 1 Thess 4:14- For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so
them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
• Phil 3:10- That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the
fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
• Eph 2:13- But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are
made nigh by the blood of Christ.
• Col 1:14-In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the
forgiveness of sins:
• 1 Tim 2:6- *Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
• 1 John 3:1-4-Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon
us, that we should be called the sons of God:therefore, the world knoweth
us not, because it knew him not.Beloved, now are we the sons of God,
and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every
man that hath this hope in him purified himself, even as he is
pure.*Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the
transgression of the law.
• Heb 9:26-For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the
…sin by the sacrifice of himself.
• Rev 5:1-13
• The last three days of the Lord Jesus' earthly life is said to occupy about
one fifth of the contents of the four Gospels.
• Although His 3 ½ years covered the details of His life, death and
resurrection.
• The three days and three nights of Calvary are given the most detail.
• His death is mentioned about 175 times in the NT, that is one out of every
53 verses mentions it.
• Paul, John and Peter are the major interpreters of the death of Christ.
vi. The Death of Christ is the burden of the law and the Prophets.
• Luke 9:30-31-And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were
Moses and Elias: "Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which
he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
• Rev 5:8-12-And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and
twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps,
and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 'And they
sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open
the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy
blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast
made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne
and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand
times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud
voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and
wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
• Matt 16:21-25-From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his
disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of
the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again
the third day."
• Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee,
Lord: this shall not be unto thee.23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get
thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not
the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto
his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose
it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
vii. The death of Christ is essential to Christianity.
• All other world religions are built upon the teachings of their founders who
are dead, or who will die.
• Christianity alone is built upon the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,
its founder.
• As the rod of Aaron budded to life, attesting to the fact that Aaron was
God's ordained and anointed High Priest, so the resurrection of Christ
from the dead attests to His divine priesthood.
• Without the death and resurrection of Christ, Christianity is reduced to the
level of other religions.
viii. The Death of Christ is essential to Our Salvation.
• John 3:14-15-And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even
so must the Son of man be lifted up: "That whosoever believeth in him
should not perish but have eternal life.
• John 12:24-Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into
the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
• Rom 3:25-26-Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in
his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are
past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his
righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which
believeth in Jesus.
• Matt 16:21- From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples,
how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders
and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third
• Mark 8:31- And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer
many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and
scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
• Luke 9:22-Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be
rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be
raised the third day.
• Luke 17:25-But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this
generation.
• Acts 17:31- Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge
the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof
he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the
• 1 Tim 2:6-Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
• 2 Cor 5:14-For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge,
that if one died for all, then were all dead:
• It was necessary that Christ die, for God can not pardon sinners unless sin
is dealt with.
• In order for God to pardon the sinner and remain consistent with His
holiness, Christ must pay sin's penalty.
• The wages of sin is death.
ix. The Death of Christ was a Voluntary Act
• John 10:17-18-Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my
life, that I might take it again. 'No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of
myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This
commandment have I received of my Father.
• Matthew 26:53-54-Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and
he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how
then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
• Isaiah 53:12-Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he
shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul
unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the
sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
• The cross was His deliberate choice, not His fate.
• He offered Himself as a free will or voluntary offering as shadowed forth in
the voluntary burnt, meal and peace offerings.
• His seeming tragedy was God's triumph.