From Darkness to Light: Christ's Atoning Sacrifice

 

Summary

In the profound darkness that enveloped the land during the crucifixion, a divine silence fell upon the mocking crowd. This darkness was not just a physical phenomenon but a spiritual one, symbolizing the weight of sin and the judgment that Jesus bore on behalf of humanity. As the temple curtain tore from top to bottom, it signified the removal of the barrier between God and humanity, granting us direct access to His presence. This act of tearing was not by human hands but by God Himself, illustrating the profound impact of Christ's atoning work.

Reflecting on the Genesis narrative, we see the first humans, Adam and Eve, hiding in shame after their disobedience. Their expulsion from Eden marked the beginning of humanity's separation from God. Yet, through Christ's sacrifice, the way back to God was opened. The angel with the flaming sword guarding Eden's entrance was dismissed, symbolizing the restoration of our relationship with God. We are no longer banished but invited to return to His presence without shame or fear.

Jesus' final words on the cross, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit," demonstrate His unwavering trust in God, even after enduring the full measure of divine wrath. This trust echoes the faith of Job, who declared his trust in God despite his suffering. Jesus' loud cry at the moment of His death was a declaration of victory and fulfillment of His mission.

The centurion's acknowledgment of Jesus' innocence and the crowd's reaction of beating their breasts in fear and trembling highlight the profound impact of these events. The crucifixion was not just a spectacle but a transformative moment that revealed the truth of Jesus' identity and mission. As believers, we are called to live in the light of this truth, embracing the access we have to God through Christ and living lives that reflect His love and grace.

Key Takeaways:

1. The darkness during the crucifixion symbolizes the weight of sin and judgment that Jesus bore, silencing the mockery and revealing the gravity of His sacrifice. This event calls us to reflect on the depth of Christ's love and the seriousness of sin. [10:50]

2. The tearing of the temple curtain signifies the removal of the barrier between God and humanity, granting us direct access to His presence. This act invites us to approach God with confidence, knowing that we are covered by Christ's righteousness. [16:42]

3. The Genesis narrative of Adam and Eve's expulsion from Eden illustrates humanity's separation from God due to sin. Through Christ's atonement, we are invited back into God's presence, free from shame and fear. [15:19]

4. Jesus' final words on the cross demonstrate His unwavering trust in God, even in the face of suffering. This trust challenges us to place our faith in God, regardless of our circumstances, knowing that He is faithful. [19:46]

5. The centurion's acknowledgment of Jesus' innocence and the crowd's reaction highlight the transformative power of the crucifixion. As believers, we are called to live in the light of this truth, embracing the access we have to God through Christ. [21:30]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [10:12] - The Darkness Falls
- [11:09] - Silence in the Crowd
- [11:46] - The Temple Curtain Torn
- [12:22] - Creation and the Fall
- [13:11] - The Serpent's Deception
- [13:58] - Hiding in Shame
- [14:47] - Expulsion from Eden
- [15:37] - Symbolism in Jewish History
- [16:27] - God's Hand in the Temple
- [17:14] - Access Restored
- [18:20] - Jesus' Final Words
- [19:46] - Trust in the Father
- [20:39] - The Centurion's Revelation
- [21:30] - The Crowd's Reaction

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Luke 23:44-49
2. Genesis 3:1-24
3. Hebrews 10:19-22

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the significance of the darkness that fell during the crucifixion, and how did it affect the crowd's behavior? [10:50]

2. Describe the tearing of the temple curtain. What did this event symbolize in the context of the sermon? [11:46]

3. How does the Genesis narrative of Adam and Eve's expulsion from Eden relate to the crucifixion of Jesus? [15:19]

4. What was the centurion's reaction to Jesus' death, and what does it reveal about Jesus' identity? [20:39]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. The darkness during the crucifixion is described as a profound spiritual event. How does this darkness symbolize the weight of sin and judgment that Jesus bore? [10:50]

2. The sermon mentions the tearing of the temple curtain as a divine act. How does this act illustrate the removal of the barrier between God and humanity? [16:27]

3. Reflecting on Jesus' final words, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit," what does this demonstrate about His trust in God, even in suffering? [19:46]

4. The crowd's reaction of beating their breasts is highlighted in the sermon. What does this reaction indicate about the impact of the crucifixion on those who witnessed it? [21:30]

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Application Questions:

1. The darkness during the crucifixion symbolizes the seriousness of sin. How can you reflect on the depth of Christ's love and the gravity of sin in your daily life? [10:50]

2. The tearing of the temple curtain invites us to approach God with confidence. How can you embrace this access to God in your personal prayer life? [16:42]

3. Jesus' unwavering trust in God challenges us to place our faith in Him, regardless of circumstances. Can you identify a situation in your life where you need to trust God more fully? [19:46]

4. The Genesis narrative shows humanity's separation from God due to sin. How can you live in the light of Christ's atonement, free from shame and fear? [15:19]

5. The centurion's acknowledgment of Jesus' innocence highlights the transformative power of the crucifixion. How can you live a life that reflects the truth of Jesus' identity and mission? [21:30]

6. Reflect on a time when you felt separated from God. How does the message of the crucifixion encourage you to return to His presence without shame or fear? [17:32]

7. The sermon emphasizes living in the light of the truth revealed by the crucifixion. What specific actions can you take this week to embody Christ's love and grace in your interactions with others? [21:30]

Devotional

Day 1: The Darkness of Sin and Judgment
The darkness that fell during the crucifixion was not merely a physical event but a profound spiritual symbol. It represented the weight of sin and the judgment that Jesus bore on behalf of humanity. This darkness silenced the mocking crowd, revealing the gravity of Christ's sacrifice. It calls us to reflect deeply on the depth of Christ's love and the seriousness of sin. As we consider this moment, we are reminded of the immense cost of our redemption and the love that drove Jesus to endure such suffering for our sake. [10:50]

Isaiah 53:5-6 (ESV): "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Reflection: What specific sin in your life do you need to bring into the light of Christ's love and forgiveness today?


Day 2: The Curtain Torn and Access Granted
The tearing of the temple curtain at the moment of Jesus' death signifies the removal of the barrier between God and humanity. This act, performed by God Himself, grants us direct access to His presence. It invites us to approach God with confidence, knowing that we are covered by Christ's righteousness. This profound event illustrates the impact of Christ's atoning work, which allows us to enter into a relationship with God without fear or shame. [16:42]

Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV): "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

Reflection: How can you intentionally draw near to God today, knowing that the barrier has been removed through Christ?


Day 3: Restoration from Eden's Expulsion
Reflecting on the Genesis narrative, Adam and Eve's expulsion from Eden marked the beginning of humanity's separation from God. Through Christ's atonement, however, we are invited back into God's presence, free from shame and fear. The angel with the flaming sword guarding Eden's entrance is dismissed, symbolizing the restoration of our relationship with God. We are no longer banished but invited to return to His presence. [15:19]

Ephesians 2:13-14 (ESV): "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility."

Reflection: In what ways can you embrace the freedom from shame and fear that Christ offers you today?


Day 4: Trust in the Midst of Suffering
Jesus' final words on the cross, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit," demonstrate His unwavering trust in God, even in the face of suffering. This trust challenges us to place our faith in God, regardless of our circumstances, knowing that He is faithful. Jesus' example encourages us to surrender our lives into God's hands, trusting Him with our present and future. [19:46]

Psalm 31:5 (ESV): "Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust God more fully today, and how can you take a step towards that trust?


Day 5: The Transformative Power of the Crucifixion
The centurion's acknowledgment of Jesus' innocence and the crowd's reaction highlight the transformative power of the crucifixion. This event was not just a spectacle but a moment that revealed the truth of Jesus' identity and mission. As believers, we are called to live in the light of this truth, embracing the access we have to God through Christ and living lives that reflect His love and grace. [21:30]

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."

Reflection: How can you actively reflect Christ's love and grace in your interactions with others today?

Quotes


and so even now when the full measure of the Judgment of God against evil falls upon his beloved Son when his beloved Son is sent into the Wilderness outside the camp outside the city being cursed entirely by the father God turned out the lights and this crowd that had been mocking him and taunting him tormenting him saying if you are the Christ get down off the cross you saved others can you not save yourself and when this event took place every one of the taunts everyone of the mockeries every one of these torments were stopped instantly as every mouth was silenced as the people were plunged in a total darkness they were there to watch the spectacle to life with Jesus that I noon see him exposed to humiliation when suddenly they couldn't see their hands in front of their faces do you have any idea how terrified this multitude was it wasn't a momentary blotting of the sun it lasted across the whole land and for three solid hours they trembled they could hear him talk but they couldn't see him anymore [00:09:54]

the curtain of the Temple was torn in two thirty feet high 45 feet wide the temple curtain was the wall of partition between the holy place and the temple and the sanctum sanctorum the holy of holies where only the high priest could go once a year on the day of atonement and even then only after going through elaborate rituals of cleansing again we go back to the early Pages the dawn of creation when God breathed into the dirt of Adam and Adam became a living soul and then he created a helpmate suitable for Adam and from his rib he made his wife Eve and the first foreboding tension that we encounter in Chapter 3 of Book of Genesis as we read and the serpent was more crafty and more subtle than all of the beasts of the field you know the story the serpent slithered into the Garden of Eden asked a simple question did God say that you should not eat of the tree of any tree in the garden and then if you did you would surely die it's not what he said the server knew it wasn't what he said Adam and Eve knew it wasn't the one that he said but they were tricked and tempted and succumb to the temptation as we all know and suddenly their eyes were opened and they were naked and ashamed [00:11:50]

this was the first time in human history that man and woman sought out the darkness they looked for a place to hide a place where the Gaze of God would not penetrate and so because of their nakedness and because of their shame they hid themselves and when the Creator came in the cool of the evening he called to his creatures saying Adam where are you and the voice replied we're hiding because we're ashamed we're shamed of our nakedness how do you know your naked did you eat of that tree and of course they had and the First Act of God's Redeeming Grace was to cover his shamed creatures with skins that he made from animals to hide their guilt that was an act of Mercy but what followed was an act of judgment where God expelled and banished Adam and Eve out of paradise made them leave and to go live East of Eden and not only that for the first time in human history God appointed Earthly government he assigned a sentinel an angel with a flaming sword to guard the entrance to Paradise lest Adam and Eve would try to sneak their way back a sign was posted on Paradise no admission no entrance here because they were expelled into the darkness [00:13:36]

and throughout Jewish history the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the immediate presence of God was symbolized through the pages of the Old Testament through the construction first of the Tabernacle then of the Temple where this wall of partition made out of several layers of cloth not that made out of wood or gold that could be smashed by sled hammers but anybody wanted to go ahead and destroy that wall of separation if they sent blows against it the plied cloth would just simply give but this day on the day of atonement the temple was torn not by an earthquake not from the ground up but again by the hand of God from the top down as if the Lord God omnipotent reached down because of the atoning work of Jesus Christ and he took the veil of the temple and he ripped it and he tore down the sign that said no admittance said to all of those who were covered by the righteousness of Christ and were justified by his life and death would have the result as the Apostle Paul declared that being justified we have peace with God and what access access into his presence [00:15:39]

The Sentinel that stood at the gates of paradise had his sword extinguished and put back in his Scabbard as he was dismissed from service as for the first time since the fall we could go home Without Shame and without fear to the presence of God I love this hymn that we sang today never mind that I wrote the words I love it anyway if for no other reason than the music that was composed to go along with it loots will sing Pipers play when we see him face to face like your Dave is experiencing on this sabbath morning and so the temple was torn and the bar removed and we once again had access to our God finally Luke tells us then Jesus calling out with a loud voice said father into your hands I commit my spirit seven times Jesus has said to at least is recorded that he spoke from the cross no one gospel writer mentions all of them but this presumably was the last one with his last breath he made a commitment to the father [00:17:10]

I remember when my father died I was there I heard the death rattle in the midst of his coma and I listened to his breathing as it became shallower and shallower and shallower and so you would expect that the last moment of Jesus life that whatever he would say would be hardly audible at all as he was speaking with his last breath but do you read what Luke said Jesus cried out with a loud voice father into your hands I commit my spirit into the hands of the one who had just poured out every drop of wrath upon him into the hands of the father who had put this curse upon him like job infinitely magnified job had said though thou kill me yet will I trust you here Jesus said never mind the torture never mind the Wrath father I commit my soul to you and he breathed his last [00:18:57]

almost as if concluding unscientific footnote Luke adds now when the Centurion saw what had taken place he praised God not Caesar not Zeus but he prays the god of Heaven and Earth and such certainly this man was innocent not I think he was innocent not I hope he was innocent no maybe he was innocent no he said certainly echoing the very Judgment of Pontius Pilate I find no fault in this man and all the crowds that had assembled a huge crowds for the spectacle when they saw what had taken place listen to what Luke tells us they went home not licking their chops they went home beating their breasts which was an indication of fear and trembling among them what they witnessed when the lights came back on what they heard the commitment of Jesus when it was over they went home in self-torment beating their breasts and all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him From Galilee stood at a distance watching these things [00:20:39]

now I believe beloved in the inerrancy of sacred scripture you know that I know there are many scholars and theologians who don't but I do categorically and unequivocally and one might quibble about a possible error that is found here in the text because Luke recorded the Jesus breathed his last and he did breathe his last before he died but the rest of the story says he did not breathe his last because he breathed again [00:22:28]

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Transcript
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