Embracing God's Love: Freedom Through Christ's Sacrifice

Summary

The God we worship is not distant or indifferent, but one who sees us in our brokenness and loves us relentlessly. He is the God who, even when we were lost and hurting, declared, “I made them. I love them. I won’t give up on them.” This is the heart of the gospel: a God who enters into our pain, who is pierced for our transgressions, and who invites us to look upon Him—not just with gratitude, but with honest mourning for what our sin cost Him. Communion is a time to hold both sorrow and joy together: sorrow for the suffering Christ endured, and joy for the freedom and new life His sacrifice brings.

Reflecting on John’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion, we see how the promise given through Zechariah centuries before was fulfilled in Christ. The people would look upon the one they had pierced, and in that moment, both grief and hope would meet. This promise was not just for those in Zechariah’s day, but for us as well. When we come to the table, we are invited to remember—not just intellectually, but with our whole being—the depth of Christ’s love and the reality of His suffering.

The world’s foundation is built on rules and rewards: obey, and you are accepted; fail, and you are punished. This system is fragile and leaves us teetering on the edge, always fearing failure. But Jesus offers a different foundation—one built on relationship. In God’s kingdom, our starting point is not performance, but belonging. When we mess up, we are not cast aside, but invited into restoration and repair. Jesus bore the penalty for our failures, so that we could move beyond punishment into healing.

This is the difference between slavery and freedom. The world, and sometimes even the church, can trap us in a cycle of rule-keeping and condemnation. But in Christ, there is no condemnation. The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us, empowering us to live in freedom, not by our own strength, but by His. True freedom is not found in doing whatever we want, but in surrendering to the One who loves us and gives us life. Control is an illusion; whoever we allow to dwell in us will shape our lives. When we let Christ lead, we find the life and peace we were made for.

Key Takeaways

- God’s love is both transcendent and deeply personal. He is not aloof or indifferent, but intimately involved in our lives, seeing us in our brokenness and choosing to love and redeem us. This love is not based on our performance, but on His unchanging character and commitment to us. [54:02]

- Communion is a sacred space where sorrow and joy coexist. As we remember Christ’s sacrifice, we are called to mourn the cost of our sin, even as we celebrate the freedom and victory His death and resurrection have secured for us. This honest engagement with both grief and gratitude deepens our relationship with Jesus. [57:11]

- The world’s system is built on conditional acceptance—obey the rules and you are rewarded; fail and you are punished. This creates anxiety and instability, leaving us always fearing failure. In contrast, God’s kingdom is founded on relationship, where restoration and repair are always possible because of Christ’s work on our behalf. [01:01:11]

- True freedom is not the absence of boundaries, but the presence of the Spirit. When we surrender to Christ, we are no longer enslaved to our sinful desires or the world’s expectations. The Spirit empowers us to live in a new way, marked by life and peace, rather than condemnation and fear. [01:07:04]

- Control is an illusion; we are always shaped by what or who we allow to dwell within us. If we let our sinful nature or the world’s values guide us, we remain trapped in cycles of brokenness. But when we invite Christ to lead, we experience transformation from the inside out, discovering the true freedom and identity found in Him. [01:11:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[53:39] - God’s Nearness and Love
[54:48] - John’s Memory of the Cross
[55:56] - Zechariah’s Prophecy and Promise
[57:11] - Communion: Sorrow and Joy
[58:20] - The Bread and the Cup
[59:21] - Foundations: World vs. Jesus
[01:00:52] - The World’s Foundation: Rules and Punishment
[01:01:11] - Jesus’ Foundation: Relationship and Restoration
[01:03:17] - Slavery vs. Freedom
[01:04:20] - Healing from Hurt and Legalism
[01:05:30] - God’s Strength, Not Ours
[01:06:28] - Romans 8: No Condemnation
[01:07:54] - Life in the Spirit
[01:09:41] - The Illusion of Control
[01:12:31] - The Nature of Our Desires

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide

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### Bible Reading

- John 19:31-37 (John’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion, including the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy)
- Zechariah 12:10 (“They will look on me, the one they have pierced…”)
- Romans 8:1-14 (“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…”)

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### Observation Questions

1. In John 19:36-37, what Old Testament prophecy does John say is fulfilled at the crucifixion? How does he describe the people’s response to Jesus being pierced? [55:21]
2. According to Zechariah 12:10, what will God pour out on the people, and what will their response be when they look on the one they have pierced? [56:25]
3. In Romans 8:1-2, what does Paul say is true for those who belong to Christ Jesus? What has the Spirit done for them? [01:06:44]
4. In the sermon, what are the two different “foundations” described for how the world and Jesus approach acceptance and belonging? [01:00:52]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think John connects the piercing of Jesus on the cross to Zechariah’s prophecy? What is the significance of “looking on the one they have pierced” for us today? [55:21]
2. The sermon describes communion as a time to hold both sorrow and joy together. Why is it important to remember both the cost of our sin and the freedom Jesus brings? [57:11]
3. According to Romans 8, what does it mean to live by the Spirit instead of by the sinful nature? How does this relate to the idea of true freedom? [01:07:04]
4. The world’s system is described as being built on rules and rewards, while God’s kingdom is built on relationship and restoration. How does this difference affect the way we view failure and forgiveness? [01:01:11]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon says God sees us in our brokenness and loves us relentlessly, not based on our performance. Is there an area of your life where you struggle to believe God’s love is truly unconditional? What would it look like to invite Him into that place this week? [54:02]
2. When you take communion, do you tend to focus more on sorrow for Jesus’ suffering or on joy for what He accomplished? How might holding both together change your experience of communion? [57:11]
3. The world often makes us feel like we have to earn acceptance or fear punishment when we fail. Can you think of a recent time when you felt this pressure? How does knowing Jesus offers restoration instead of condemnation change how you respond? [01:00:52]
4. The sermon says, “Control is an illusion; whoever we allow to dwell in us will shape our lives.” What are some things (habits, thoughts, influences) you’ve allowed to “dwell” in you lately? How have they shaped your actions or attitudes? [01:11:06]
5. Romans 8 says there is “no condemnation” for those in Christ. Are there areas where you still feel condemned or stuck in shame? What would it look like to bring those to God and receive His freedom? [01:06:44]
6. The difference between slavery and freedom was described as moving from rule-keeping to relationship. In what ways do you still find yourself living as if you’re a “slave” to rules, either in your faith or daily life? What’s one step you could take to live more out of relationship with Jesus this week? [01:03:17]
7. The Spirit empowers us to live in a new way, marked by life and peace. Is there a specific area where you need the Spirit’s help to move from fear or condemnation to peace and freedom? How can the group pray for you in this? [01:07:04]

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Devotional

Day 1: Looking Upon the One Who Was Pierced
God calls us to look upon Jesus, the one who was pierced for us, and to let both grief and gratitude shape our response to His sacrifice.

Zechariah 12:10 (ESV):
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.”

Reflection: As you remember Jesus’ sacrifice, what emotions arise in you—sorrow, gratitude, or both? How can you bring your honest heart before God today as you “look upon the one they have pierced”? [56:25]

Day 2: No Condemnation for Those in Christ
In Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation; instead, we are set free from the power of sin and death by the Spirit who gives life.

Romans 8:1-2 (ESV):
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you still feel condemned or unworthy? How can you invite the truth of “no condemnation” to bring freedom to that place today? [07:04]

Day 3: Life and Peace Through the Spirit
Letting the Holy Spirit guide your mind leads to true life and peace, while following the sinful nature leads only to death and unrest.

Romans 8:5-6 (ESV):
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can set your mind on the Spirit today, especially in a situation where you’re tempted to follow your old patterns? [07:38]

Day 4: Relationship Over Rules
God’s foundation is built on relationship, not rules; through Jesus, we move from punishment and shame to repair, restoration, and belonging.

Ephesians 2:13,19 (ESV):
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ… So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”

Reflection: Where have you been living as if your worth depends on keeping the rules? How can you lean into God’s invitation to relationship and restoration today? [01:01:22]

Day 5: True Freedom Is Found in Christ
True freedom is not found in rejecting God’s ways, but in surrendering to Christ, who gives us the power to change and live as children of God.

Galatians 5:1 (ESV):
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to experience Christ’s freedom? What would it look like to stand firm in that freedom today, rather than slipping back into old patterns? [01:03:46]

Quotes

Jesus, today as we prepare to receive these communion elements together, I ask that you would bless them, that you would bless us, Lord, that you would reveal to us in our hearts any places, any things where we need to invite you in to make us new. [00:54:04]

Now, could it be that every time he told that story over the decades, God helped him to see more and more of the bigger plan displayed on the cross? It's interesting what stood out to John as he sorted through all of the images of the day of his teacher's last breath. [00:55:06]

God wants his children to consider. What do you feel as you look upon the one they pierced? That promise there came from a message God shared with the Old Testament prophet Zachchariah. God spoke of what he would accomplish through the son of David at a future day. [00:55:51]

This here makes it very clear that the promise that we receive wasn't exclusively for the people of Zachariah's day. It was preserved for us today as well. And so what is the message we need to hear about the one who was pierced? [00:56:55]

Jesus's sacrificial death was an event of joy along with a time of grief. This time when God's people gather to partake of communion should follow that pattern. It's a celebration of thanks for the freedom that Jesus's death purchased for us. [00:57:11]

Certainly, Jesus's sacrifice was filled with sorrow, a sorrow that we rightly remember during communion. And when we partake of the bread and the cup, we are participating through John's memory in Jesus's sacrifice. We need to hear the gasps, see the tears, smell death lurking nearby. [00:57:35]

Because our mourning in this moment is just as important as our thanksgiving for his victory over sin, death, and Satan. And so it is that we read that on the night when he was betrayed, Jesus took bread and after blessing it, he passed it to them and he said, "This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me." [00:58:09]

The idea here is that this is kind of the foundation of how the world works, the view of the world, right? And so the everything is founded on rules on on things that'll make things work together. And so the the pillars of these rules is we need to have hard obey the rules and things work really well for you if you do that. [00:59:46]

But this is a very unstable foundation. Um it it's very topheavy and to me actually it kind of looks like dominoes. You know, I feel like one bad pincher creek wind and all of it's going to come down. You might think that life is going really well right now, but you're like something happened. You're always teetering on the edge. [01:00:28]

But when we mess up, what we find is is that it's not all about, oh, let's let's lock them away and throw away the key, but instead we we manage the mess ups. We go, okay, how can we work through this? How can we get beyond this? Well, Jesus stepped in for one thing for us spiritually. [01:01:34]

Frankly, this is kind of the place that I I think many of us are in where we we look to God and we say, "My life isn't great. Things aren't always right. I still struggle, but I'm in a state of repair, a state of respiration." add that too a state of restoration as we move forward. [01:02:07]

But in God's economy because we have a relationship with our king because we have a relationship with a church family we're not alone and it's not about whether or not we're able to keep up with all the rules it's about what's the relationship we we have with Jesus and one another and how can we move through that? [01:02:47]

But the problem in this with this uh idea of slavery versus freedom is that the church too often ends up operating in the slavery side of things too. Slavery to the rules. Do this or else. Obey or else. Where's the hope? We already know that we can't do it. But what about freedom? [01:03:27]

But for a lot of us, we've grown up with a lot of hurt. Maybe it's hurt that the world laid on us. Maybe it's hurt from family or friends. Or maybe it's hurt from a a church uh a church situation or well-meaning people who who felt that they needed to add the world's provisions of rules rules rules over the gospel foundation of relationship. [01:04:27]

What I want to tell you today is that I think that whoever you are and whatever your background is and whatever your hopes are for the future, that there is something here for you today. Because this world is full of all kinds of things that want to weigh you down, that want to want to push you down, keep you stuck. [01:05:10]

Chatbot

What is the significance of looking upon the pierced one?

How does relationship differ from rule-based faith?

What does Romans say about freedom from sin?