Jesus' Sacrifice: The Path to Resurrection Life
Summary
In Matthew 27:46, Jesus cries out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This cry is not just a moment of despair but a profound connection to Psalm 22, a prophecy written by David over a thousand years before the crucifixion. Jesus' words invite us to explore the depth of His suffering and the fulfillment of prophecy. Psalm 22 vividly describes the agony and humiliation Jesus endured, from being mocked to having His garments divided. This was not just a physical ordeal; it was an emotional and spiritual burden as Jesus bore the sins of the world.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed fervently, experiencing such stress that He sweat drops of blood. Despite the immense physical and emotional toll, He submitted to the Father's will, knowing the path ahead. On the cross, Jesus took upon Himself our sins, our shame, and our suffering, offering us His righteousness in return. This divine exchange means that when God looks at us, He sees the righteousness of Christ, not our failures. This is the essence of Good Friday—a somber yet beautiful reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made for us.
As we reflect on this sacrifice, we are reminded that resurrection follows death. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, we too can experience new life by dying to ourselves and living for Him. This is the call to discipleship: to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. In doing so, we find true life, peace, and joy that the world cannot offer. If you are searching for meaning and fulfillment, know that it is only found in surrendering to Christ. Let us remember His sacrifice and live in the hope of resurrection life, inviting others to experience this transformation.
Key Takeaways:
1. Prophetic Fulfillment: Jesus' cry on the cross connects to Psalm 22, highlighting the fulfillment of prophecy written over a thousand years prior. This demonstrates the divine orchestration of events and the depth of Jesus' suffering, both physically and spiritually, as He bore the sins of the world. [37:29]
2. The Weight of Sin: Jesus' experience in the Garden of Gethsemane reveals the immense emotional and physical toll of bearing humanity's sin. His submission to the Father's will, despite the agony, underscores His love and commitment to redeem us. [37:29]
3. The Divine Exchange: On the cross, Jesus took our sin and shame, offering us His righteousness. This exchange means that in Christ, we are seen as righteous before God, free from condemnation, and able to live in the freedom of His grace. [37:29]
4. The Call to Discipleship: True life is found in dying to ourselves and following Jesus. This involves denying our desires, taking up our cross, and living for Him, which leads to experiencing the fullness of life He offers. [01:13:02]
5. Hope in Resurrection: Good Friday is a reminder that death is not the end. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, we too can experience new life in Him. This hope compels us to share the message of resurrection life with others, inviting them to find true fulfillment in Christ. [01:13:02]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Jesus' Cry on the Cross
- [03:15] - Connection to Psalm 22
- [06:45] - Prophecy Fulfilled
- [10:20] - The Agony of Gethsemane
- [14:00] - The Physical and Emotional Toll
- [18:30] - Bearing the Sins of the World
- [22:10] - The Divine Exchange
- [26:45] - The Meaning of Good Friday
- [31:20] - The Call to Discipleship
- [35:50] - Finding True Life
- [40:15] - Hope in Resurrection
- [44:00] - Invitation to Surrender
- [48:30] - Prayer and Reflection
- [52:00] - Closing and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 27:46
- Psalm 22:1-18
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
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Observation Questions:
1. What is the significance of Jesus quoting Psalm 22:1 while on the cross, and how does it connect to the events of the crucifixion? [37:29]
2. How does the description of Jesus' suffering in Psalm 22 align with the events described in the sermon about the crucifixion? [37:29]
3. What does 2 Corinthians 5:21 mean when it says that Jesus became sin for us, and how does this relate to the concept of the "divine exchange"? [37:29]
4. In the Garden of Gethsemane, what was the nature of Jesus' prayer, and what does it reveal about His submission to the Father's will? [37:29]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the fulfillment of prophecy in Psalm 22 enhance our understanding of the divine orchestration of Jesus' crucifixion? [37:29]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the emotional and spiritual burden Jesus carried on the cross, and how does this deepen our appreciation of His sacrifice? [37:29]
3. How does the concept of the "divine exchange" challenge our understanding of righteousness and our relationship with God? [37:29]
4. What does it mean to "die to ourselves" in the context of discipleship, and how does this lead to experiencing true life according to the sermon? [01:13:02]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt forsaken or distant from God. How can Jesus' cry on the cross encourage you in those moments? [37:29]
2. The sermon emphasizes the weight of sin that Jesus bore. How can acknowledging this weight change the way you view your own sin and the grace offered to you? [37:29]
3. Consider the "divine exchange" where Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness. How does this truth impact your daily life and interactions with others? [37:29]
4. The call to discipleship involves denying ourselves and taking up our cross. What specific desires or habits might you need to deny to follow Jesus more closely? [01:13:02]
5. How can the hope of resurrection life motivate you to share the message of Christ with others in your community? [01:13:02]
6. Reflect on areas in your life where you are seeking fulfillment outside of Christ. What steps can you take to surrender these areas to Him and experience true fulfillment? [01:13:02]
7. The sermon mentions the importance of inviting others to experience resurrection life. Who in your life can you invite to explore faith, and how will you approach this invitation? [01:13:02]
Devotional
Day 1: The Prophetic Cry of Fulfillment
In Matthew 27:46, Jesus' cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" is a profound connection to Psalm 22, highlighting the fulfillment of prophecy written over a thousand years prior. This moment on the cross is not just a cry of despair but a declaration of the divine orchestration of events. Jesus' words invite us to explore the depth of His suffering, both physically and spiritually, as He bore the sins of the world. The prophecy in Psalm 22 vividly describes the agony and humiliation Jesus endured, from being mocked to having His garments divided. This connection underscores the intentionality of God's plan and the depth of Jesus' sacrifice. [37:29]
Psalm 22:16-18 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: How does understanding the fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus' crucifixion deepen your appreciation for God's plan in your life today?
Day 2: The Weight of Sin and Submission
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus experienced immense emotional and physical stress as He prayed fervently, even sweating drops of blood. This moment reveals the weight of bearing humanity's sin and the depth of Jesus' love and commitment to redeem us. Despite the agony, Jesus submitted to the Father's will, demonstrating His unwavering obedience and love for humanity. This submission, despite the immense cost, underscores the profound nature of His sacrifice and His desire to restore us to God. [37:29]
Luke 22:44 (ESV): "And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to submit to God's will, even when it feels difficult or costly?
Day 3: The Divine Exchange of Righteousness
On the cross, Jesus took upon Himself our sin and shame, offering us His righteousness in return. This divine exchange means that in Christ, we are seen as righteous before God, free from condemnation, and able to live in the freedom of His grace. This profound truth transforms our identity and how we live, as we are no longer defined by our failures but by the righteousness of Christ. Embracing this exchange allows us to live in the freedom and joy of being fully accepted and loved by God. [37:29]
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV): "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Reflection: How does knowing you are seen as righteous in Christ change the way you view yourself and your relationship with God today?
Day 4: The Call to Discipleship and True Life
True life is found in dying to ourselves and following Jesus. This involves denying our desires, taking up our cross, and living for Him, which leads to experiencing the fullness of life He offers. The call to discipleship is a call to transformation, where we find true life, peace, and joy that the world cannot offer. By surrendering our lives to Christ, we discover the purpose and fulfillment that comes from living for Him and His kingdom. [01:13:02]
Luke 9:23-24 (ESV): "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'"
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you need to deny yourself and take up your cross to follow Jesus more closely?
Day 5: Hope in Resurrection and New Life
Good Friday is a reminder that death is not the end. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, we too can experience new life in Him. This hope compels us to share the message of resurrection life with others, inviting them to find true fulfillment in Christ. The resurrection is a promise of new beginnings and the assurance that in Christ, we have victory over sin and death. As we live in this hope, we are called to be ambassadors of His resurrection power, sharing the transformative love of Christ with the world. [01:13:02]
1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."
Reflection: How can you actively share the hope of resurrection life with someone in your life this week?
Quotes
In Matthew, chapter 27, verse 26, it says that about three in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Eli, Eli, Lema, Sabachthani, which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? We first need to recognize that it was common for rabbis and teachers during that time to recite the first verse of a well-known scripture and expect his followers to know the rest, to go study the rest. [00:33:08] (39 seconds)
But I believe, you know, that as Jesus was experiencing the cross, that him saying, Father, why have you forsaken me? It wasn't just about the prophecy. I believe it was so much about what he was experiencing and what he was doing on that cross. [00:35:31] (17 seconds)
There was such an emotional toll on Jesus, such a physical toll on Jesus to think about the physical pain that he must have been going through, being scourged with a cat of nine tails, being whipped with shards of bone and metal 39 times across his body, seven-inch nails through his hands and his feet, they usually died of suffocation. [00:36:16] (33 seconds)
He was experiencing tremendous emotional and physical torture. But worst of all, he was carrying your sin and my sin and the sins of the world upon himself. The scripture tells us that we are all like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned our own way and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. [00:36:50] (36 seconds)
We should have been the ones forsaken. We should have been the ones on that cross. Yet Jesus took our place. 2 Corinthians 5:21 It says that God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might have the righteousness of Christ. On that cross, Jesus took our sin, our suffering, our shame, and he gives us his righteousness so that when God looks at us he doesn't see our failures, our mistakes, but if we are in Christ there is no condemnation and he sees the righteousness of Christ. What a beautiful exchange. [00:37:26] (54 seconds)
Many people today, they watch movies like The Passion of the Christ. They remember the sacrifice. They remember the suffering. They remember the death that Jesus paid for us. But guess what? Sunday's coming. You guys can get excited about that. But you know it's a reminder. It's a reminder because last I checked, only dead things can come back to life. [01:10:36] (40 seconds)
And it's a reminder for each and every single one of us that the only way to truly find life is to die to ourself, that he may live. I think of Matthew. When Jesus says, if anybody wants to be my disciple, they must deny themselves, they must pick up their own cross, and they must follow me. [01:11:27] (25 seconds)
For what good is it if a man gains the whole world, yet loses his soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? And the reason that we can be excited about Sunday is because our life is dead to ourself. It belongs to him, and we have hope, and we experience the life he has for us now, but also the life that we get to experience for all eternity. [01:11:59] (30 seconds)
And it's only when we die to ourself, and we bow our knee at that cross, and we surrender everything to him, that we can be resurrected, and that we can have peace, and joy, and experience his love. [01:13:02] (17 seconds)
Help us remember your words that we must deny ourselves, we must pick up our cross, and we will follow you, because that is where resurrection life happens. That is where new purpose begins to happen. God, that is where you begin to take the junk and the mess that we've made in life, and you begin to restore it. [01:13:18] (25 seconds)
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