Jesus' Crucifixion: Fulfillment, Faith, and Redemption

Devotional

Day 1: Quenching Our Spiritual Thirst

The physical thirst Jesus expressed on the cross is a profound representation of the spiritual thirst caused by sin. His declaration of "I thirst" just before His death signifies the completion of His mission to bear the full wrath of God and to fulfill the scriptures, offering us the living water of eternal life. This thirst is not merely a lack of physical hydration but a deep yearning for reconciliation with God. Sin has left a void in our souls that only the Living Water, Jesus Christ, can fill. On the cross, Jesus experienced the ultimate separation from God so that we would never have to endure such spiritual desolation. By acknowledging our own spiritual thirst and turning to Jesus, we accept the gift of eternal life He provides. His sacrifice was the outpouring of God's love, quenching the arid landscape of our sin-ridden lives with the waters of grace and redemption [49:10].

"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." - Psalm 63:1

Reflection: In what ways do you experience spiritual thirst, and how can you seek the Living Water of Jesus Christ to satisfy that thirst today?

Day 2: Transformative Faith in Action

True belief in Jesus Christ is not a passive acknowledgment but an active, transformative faith that changes our very nature. It is a belief that compels us to turn away from sin and to embrace the righteousness of Christ, leading to a life that is pleasing to God. This transformation is not superficial; it is a profound change that affects our desires, our actions, and our entire being. When we truly believe in Jesus, we are not just accepting a set of facts; we are entering into a relationship with the living God who reshapes us from the inside out. Our old self, with its sinful desires and habits, is replaced by a new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. This belief is not stagnant but continually grows and bears fruit as we live out our faith in obedience to Christ's teachings [01:10:05].

"And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." - Ephesians 4:24

Reflection: How is your belief in Jesus Christ actively transforming your life, and what steps can you take today to grow in righteousness and holiness?

Day 3: Prophecy Fulfilled in the Crucifixion

The crucifixion of Jesus was a meticulously fulfilled prophecy, demonstrating God's sovereignty and the authenticity of Jesus as the promised Messiah. Every detail of His death, including the fact that none of His bones were broken, was in accordance with God's redemptive plan as revealed in the scriptures. The fulfillment of these prophecies is not a matter of coincidence but a clear indication of the divine authorship of scripture and the reliability of God's promises. As believers, we can have confidence in the truth of the Bible and the certainty of our salvation because it rests on the historical reality of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. The prophecies confirmed in Jesus' crucifixion assure us that God is in control and that His plan for humanity is unfolding exactly as He intended [01:05:09].

"For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots." - Psalm 22:16-18

Reflection: How does the fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus' crucifixion strengthen your faith, and what specific prophecy can you meditate on today to deepen your trust in God's plan?

Day 4: Historical Evidence of Jesus' Death

The Roman soldiers' role in Jesus' crucifixion serves as historical evidence of His actual death, dispelling any notion that He did not truly die on the cross. Their expertise and the consequences they faced for failing to execute properly underscore the certainty of Jesus' death, which is foundational to our faith. The historical reality of Jesus' death is not just a theological concept; it is a fact that has been confirmed by the actions and testimonies of those who were present at the crucifixion. This evidence provides a solid foundation for our belief in the resurrection, for one cannot be resurrected unless one has truly died. As Christians, we can stand firm in the historical truth of Jesus' death and resurrection, knowing that our faith is not based on myths or legends but on the concrete events of history [01:02:06].

"They will look on him whom they have pierced." - Zechariah 12:10

Reflection: How does the historical evidence of Jesus' death on the cross impact your understanding of the resurrection, and what can you do today to bear witness to this truth?

Day 5: Reasoned Faith Rooted in Truth

The Christian faith is not a blind or uninformed belief but is deeply rooted in the truth revealed by God through His word and confirmed by the Holy Spirit. Our faith is reasonable, informed, and grounded in the historical reality of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. We are called to love God with all our mind as well as our heart and soul, which means seeking understanding and wisdom in our walk with Christ. The Holy Spirit works within us to confirm the truth of the gospel, guiding us into all truth and empowering us to live out our faith with confidence and conviction. As we study the scriptures and grow in our knowledge of God, our faith becomes increasingly robust and resilient, able to withstand the challenges and questions that come our way [39:10].

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." - John 17:17

Reflection: How can you engage both your mind and heart to deepen your understanding of the Christian faith, and what steps will you take today to pursue truth in your spiritual journey?

Sermon Summary

In my sermon today, I explored the profound spiritual significance of Jesus' crucifixion and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies through His death. I began by drawing a parallel between the physical thirst Jesus experienced on the cross and the spiritual thirst that sin creates in our lives. This thirst is a symbol of God's judgment and our broken relationship with Him. Jesus, as the Living Water, quenched this thirst by bearing the full wrath of God, satisfying the requirements of divine justice, and overcoming the consequences of sin.

I then delved into the concept of belief and repentance, emphasizing that true belief in Jesus is transformative. It changes our desires and aligns us with God's will. This belief is not a blind leap into the unknown but is informed by the revelation of God's word and confirmed by the Holy Spirit within us. I stressed that our faith in Jesus' person and work should consume us and drive us to share the good news with others.

Furthermore, I highlighted the importance of understanding Jesus' humanity and His physical death on the cross. His death was not just a spiritual event but a real, human experience that was essential for our salvation. The Roman soldiers' confirmation of His death through the piercing of His side, which fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah, leaves no doubt about the reality of His sacrifice.

I also touched on the significance of Jesus' crucifixion during Passover, drawing connections to the Passover lamb and the deliverance it symbolized. Jesus, as our perfect Passover Lamb, fulfilled the requirements of a sacrificial atonement, thus achieving God's plan of redemption.

In conclusion, I affirmed that Jesus' death on the cross made the path to God possible for us. By believing in Jesus as the Messiah and His work on the cross, we are justified and saved. This belief is the cornerstone of our Christian faith, as recognized even by an atheist in a conversation I referenced.

Key Takeaways

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Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What did Jesus say to fulfill the scripture while on the cross, and what was given to Him in response? (John 19:28-29)
How did the Roman soldiers confirm Jesus' death, and what prophecy did this fulfill? (John 19:33-34)
According to the sermon, what does Jesus' statement "I thirst" symbolize in a spiritual context? [49:10]
What is the significance of Jesus' bones not being broken, as mentioned in the sermon? [55:37]

Interpretation Questions

How does the physical thirst Jesus experienced on the cross relate to the spiritual thirst caused by sin, as explained in the sermon? [49:47]
In what ways does the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies through Jesus' crucifixion strengthen the authenticity of Jesus as the Messiah? [58:20]
How does the sermon describe the transformative nature of true belief in Jesus Christ? [01:10:05]
What is the significance of Jesus' crucifixion occurring during Passover, and how does it relate to the concept of the Passover lamb? [52:14]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt a spiritual thirst or a sense of separation from God. How did you seek to quench that thirst, and how can Jesus as the Living Water fulfill that need? [49:47]
The sermon emphasizes that true belief in Jesus is transformative and should drive us to share the good news with others. How can you actively share your faith in your daily life? [01:10:05]
Understanding Jesus' humanity and His physical death is crucial for our faith. How does this understanding impact your view of Jesus' sacrifice and your relationship with Him? [55:37]
The sermon mentioned that the Christian faith is not a blind or uninformed belief but is grounded in truth and historical reality. How can you strengthen your faith by studying the Bible and seeking the Holy Spirit's confirmation? [39:10]
Jesus' crucifixion fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies, demonstrating God's sovereignty. How does recognizing God's control over these events affect your trust in His plan for your life? [58:20]
The sermon highlighted the importance of repentance and belief for receiving eternal life. What steps can you take to deepen your repentance and strengthen your belief in Jesus' work on the cross? [01:10:05]
Reflect on the urgency and passion with which John wrote his gospel to encourage belief in Jesus. How can you cultivate a similar urgency and passion in your own faith journey and witness to others? [01:12:37]

Sermon Clips

1) "The things that I place that much confidence in, it begins to define who I am, it begins to radiate out of me. I can't help it when I believe something to be this true. I can't help but be consumed by that thing. I can't help but talk to people to persuade them that what I know it's true... does your belief in that, does it consume you, does it drive you?" [01:13:12]( | | )

2) "The Christian faith, it's not uninformed or unreasonable. The faith we profess, it's informed by the word of God and it's confirmed by the spirit of God that dwells in so many of us this morning... the point of this morning's passage, the reason that John wrote it, was to strengthen his readers' faith in this Jesus, what Jesus actually came to do and why he did what he did." [40:21]( | | )

3) "Jesus feels this wave of death crashing toward him and in that moment just before he gives his Spirit up, just before he dies, he says 'I thirst.' The phrase 'I thirst,' it reminds us again of the incredible physical suffering that Jesus suffered on our behalf... there's a beautiful spiritual meaning to this that's meant to give us even more security and comfort and assurance as we reflect on the cross." [43:54]( | | )

4) "Thirst, guys, it's a picture of God's judgment, a sign of our broken relationship with God. Our sin, it's a physical representation of our spiritual dehydration... Jesus is the Living Water, he's the one who's come to take our thirst... he physically and spiritually felt the entire weight of God's Wrath and that's why he says 'I thirst' and when it was fulfilled he says 'it is finished'." [49:10]( | | )

5) "Jesus Took on the consequences of our sin, he took on our death... his sacrifice, it fully and entirely covers every single one of our sins, past, present, and future. He was our perfect sacrificial lamb, our atonement... God didn't leave a single detail to question, he wanted us to know confidently by simply repenting and believing in the Son of God, our debt is paid." [01:03:58]( | | )

6) "Jesus he was fully God in every single way, 100%, but he was also 100% man, and he didn't die a Godly death, he died a human death on our behalf. You have to believe that... you can't believe in a resurrection if you didn't believe he died a real physical death. You have to believe it, and he writes it so that you may also believe." [01:07:16](Download clip | Download cropped clip | )

7) "The pain of sin was finished, the Plan of Redemption was achieved, and then finally, the path to God was made possible... without this painful horrific event that Josh covered last week, without this story and what Jesus did almost 2,000 years ago, we have no foundation as Christians. None. Everything we do, everything we believe in, it's all in vain without the work of Jesus on the cross." [40:58]( | | )

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