The Cross: God's Eternal Plan of Love and Redemption

Summary

Today’s focus is on the profound and sometimes unsettling question: Why would a loving Father sacrifice his Son? This question sits at the heart of Christianity and distinguishes it from every other world religion. While other faiths emphasize what we must do to reach God, Christianity is about what God has already done for us through Jesus. The cross is not a last-minute fix or a desperate act; it is the culmination of God’s eternal plan, conceived before the foundation of the world, to bring us into a relationship with Him that is unconditional and unbreakable.

From the earliest pages of Scripture, the coming of Jesus and His sacrificial death are foreshadowed and foretold. The cross was not a contingency plan, but the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem humanity. Even in Genesis, we see the first hints of this plan, and throughout the Old Testament, over 300 prophecies point to the work Jesus would accomplish. God’s love is not reactive but proactive—a love that anticipated our deepest need and met it at great personal cost.

It’s easy to misunderstand the cross as an act of cosmic child abuse, but this is a distortion of the truth. Jesus was not a passive victim, nor was He forced into this role. The triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit—planned our redemption together. Jesus, fully God, volunteered for the cross, motivated by the joy of restoring us to Himself. He endured unimaginable suffering, both physically and spiritually, bearing the weight of our sin so that we could be adopted into God’s family.

The brutality of the cross is not softened or sanitized. Jesus endured the worst humanity could inflict, not out of obligation, but out of love. He went willingly, knowingly, and unflinchingly, so that shame, guilt, and death would no longer have the final word over us. The cross is not a symbol of abuse, but of adoption—a doorway into a family where grace, mercy, and eternal life are freely given.

This invitation remains open today. The same Jesus who chose the cross is choosing you, offering a relationship where shame is silenced and hope is restored. The question is not whether God’s love is enough, but whether we will say yes to it.

Key Takeaways

- The Cross Was Always the Plan, Not a Contingency
God’s plan to redeem humanity through Jesus was not a reaction to our failure, but an eternal purpose set before the world began. The cross is woven into the very fabric of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, showing that God’s love is intentional and prepared, not haphazard or desperate. This reveals a God who is never caught off guard, but who lovingly anticipates our deepest needs. [30:58]

- Jesus Volunteered, He Was Not Forced
The relationship within the Trinity is one of perfect unity and mutual purpose. Jesus was not drafted or coerced into suffering; He willingly chose the cross, motivated by the joy of restoring us to Himself. This voluntary sacrifice transforms our understanding of God’s love from something transactional to something deeply relational and self-giving. [41:34]

- The Cross Satisfies Both God’s Holiness and His Love
We often want a God who is loving but not holy, or holy but not loving. The cross is where both are fully expressed: God’s justice is satisfied as sin is dealt with, and His mercy is poured out as we are offered forgiveness. Only a God who is both just and loving is worthy of our worship, and only the cross holds these together in perfect harmony. [43:18]

- The Suffering of Jesus Was Real, Willing, and Redemptive
The physical and spiritual agony Jesus endured was not minimized or accidental. He faced the full weight of human cruelty and divine judgment, not as a victim, but as a willing participant. Every moment of pain was embraced for the sake of our adoption, demonstrating a love that is both costly and personal. [46:26]

- The Cross Is Not Cosmic Child Abuse, But Cosmic Adoption
At the cross, God did not lose His Son; rather, Jesus gave Himself so that we could be brought home. The cross is the ultimate act of inclusion, inviting rebels and outsiders into God’s forever family. In this family, shame and guilt are replaced by grace and belonging, and the invitation to join remains open to all who will say yes. [50:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:30] - Introducing the Big Question: Why the Cross?
[04:10] - The Uniqueness of Christianity
[07:45] - Wrestling with Difficult Questions
[10:30] - Personal Story: The Cruise and Passive Participation
[13:50] - Christological Focus: Jesus at the Center
[17:20] - The Cross in Genesis and the Old Testament
[21:00] - God’s Plan: Not a Contingency
[26:21] - Prayer for Understanding
[30:58] - The Cross as God’s Eternal Plan
[33:06] - Foreshadowing Jesus Throughout Scripture
[37:59] - Jesus: Creator and Sustainer
[40:18] - Jesus’ Willing Sacrifice
[43:18] - God’s Holiness and Love at the Cross
[44:07] - The Real Cost: The Suffering of Jesus
[46:26] - The Weight of Sin and the Gift of Adoption
[50:26] - The Invitation: Will You Say Yes?
[53:07] - Responding to God’s Love
[53:50] - Prayer of Commitment
[54:41] - Closing and Blessing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

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### Bible Reading

1. Genesis 3:14-15 (ESV)
> The Lord God said to the serpent,
> “Because you have done this,
> cursed are you above all livestock
> and above all beasts of the field;
> on your belly you shall go,
> and dust you shall eat
> all the days of your life.
> I will put enmity between you and the woman,
> and between your offspring and her offspring;
> he shall bruise your head,
> and you shall bruise his heel.”

2. Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
> Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

3. John 10:17-18 (ESV)
> For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.

---

### Observation Questions

1. In Genesis 3:15, what is the significance of the promise that the offspring of the woman will bruise the serpent’s head, and the serpent will bruise his heel? How does this connect to the idea of Jesus’ sacrifice? ([30:58])

2. According to Hebrews 12:2, what motivated Jesus to endure the cross? What does the phrase “for the joy that was set before him” suggest about his attitude toward his suffering? ([40:18])

3. In John 10:17-18, what does Jesus say about his authority over his own life and death? How does this challenge the idea that Jesus was a passive victim? ([41:34])

4. The sermon describes the brutality and suffering of the cross in detail. What are some of the specific ways Jesus suffered physically and spiritually, according to the message? ([45:09])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says the cross was not a last-minute fix or a desperate act, but the fulfillment of God’s eternal plan. Why is it important to understand that the cross was always God’s plan and not a reaction to human failure? How does this shape our view of God’s love? ([33:06])

2. The message emphasizes that Jesus volunteered for the cross, rather than being forced. What does this reveal about the relationship within the Trinity and about the nature of God’s love for us? ([41:34])

3. The cross is described as the place where both God’s holiness and love are fully expressed. Why is it necessary for God to be both just and loving? What would be missing if God were only one or the other? ([43:18])

4. The sermon says the cross is not “cosmic child abuse” but “cosmic adoption.” What does this mean, and how does it change the way we see our relationship with God? ([50:26])

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon says that God’s love is proactive, not reactive—a love that anticipated our deepest need and met it at great personal cost. Can you think of a time when you experienced or witnessed this kind of prepared, sacrificial love from someone? How did it impact you? ([33:06])

2. Jesus endured the cross “for the joy set before him”—the joy of restoring us to himself. How does knowing that Jesus went to the cross willingly and joyfully for you affect the way you respond to him? ([40:18])

3. The message describes the cross as a doorway into a family where grace, mercy, and eternal life are freely given. Do you struggle to believe that you are fully accepted and adopted by God? What makes it hard to accept this truth, and what would help you embrace it more deeply? ([50:26])

4. The sermon challenges the idea that the cross is a symbol of shame and instead calls it a symbol of adoption. Are there areas of shame or guilt in your life that you need to bring to Jesus? What would it look like to let his grace replace your shame this week? ([49:07])

5. The message says, “The question is not whether God’s love is enough, but whether we will say yes to it.” What might be holding you back from fully saying yes to God’s love and invitation? ([51:47])

6. The cross shows that God’s love is costly and personal. Is there a relationship or situation in your life where you need to show costly, self-giving love? What is one step you can take this week to do that? ([33:06])

7. The sermon ends with an invitation to respond to God’s love. If you have already said yes to Jesus, how can you share this invitation with someone else in your life who needs to know about God’s grace and adoption? ([53:07])

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Devotional

Day 1: Jesus’ Sacrifice Was Always God’s Plan
From the very beginning, God’s plan for humanity included the cross; it was not a last-minute rescue or a backup plan, but the fulfillment of God’s unconditional love for us. The cross was foreshadowed in Genesis, prophesied throughout the Old Testament, and fulfilled in Jesus, demonstrating that God’s love anticipated our deepest need and provided a costly, prepared solution for our salvation. This means that your relationship with God is not based on your ability to earn it or keep it, but on the finished work of Jesus, who was always the plan to bring you home. [33:06]

Genesis 3:15 (ESV)
"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."

Reflection:
How does knowing that God’s plan to save you was set in motion before the world began change the way you view your worth and security in Him today?


Day 2: Jesus Volunteered—He Was Not Forced
Jesus was not a passive participant or a victim of circumstance; He willingly volunteered to lay down His life, fully understanding the cost, motivated by the joy of restoring your relationship with God. The triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit—planned salvation together, and Jesus’ sacrifice was an act of love and authority, not compulsion or cosmic abuse. You are invited to see the cross not as something done to Jesus, but as something He chose for you, out of love and for the joy set before Him. [41:34]

John 10:17-18 (ESV)
"For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."

Reflection:
What does it mean to you that Jesus willingly chose the cross for you, and how might that shape your response to Him today?


Day 3: The Cross Satisfies Both God’s Holiness and Love
The cross is where God’s justice and mercy meet; God did not ignore sin, but satisfied His holiness through Jesus’ sacrifice, making a way for you to be fully forgiven and restored. We often want God’s love without His holiness, but a God who is not holy would not be worthy of worship, nor could He truly deal with the brokenness of our world. The cross assures you that God takes both your sin and your value seriously, offering you a relationship that is both just and merciful. [43:18]

Romans 3:23-26 (ESV)
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

Reflection:
Is there an area of your life where you want God’s love but resist His holiness? What would it look like to invite both into that area today?


Day 4: The Cost and Depth of Jesus’ Suffering
Jesus endured unimaginable physical and spiritual agony on the cross, bearing not only excruciating pain but also the full weight of humanity’s sin, so that you could be permanently and perfectly restored to God. Every step, every breath, every moment of suffering was embraced with you in mind, and He offered grace even in His deepest pain. Let the reality of what Jesus endured for you move you to gratitude and awe, knowing that He went unflinchingly, knowingly, and lovingly for your sake. [46:26]

Isaiah 53:3-5 (ESV)
"He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 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."

Reflection:
Take a moment to imagine Jesus’ journey to the cross. What specific aspect of His suffering stands out to you, and how does it deepen your understanding of His love?


Day 5: The Cross Opens the Door to a New Family
The cross is not cosmic child abuse, but cosmic adoption—Jesus gave Himself so that you could be welcomed into God’s forever family, where shame is silenced, guilt is erased, and your future is secure. This invitation is for you today: to step into a relationship where you are fully known, fully loved, and never alone, because Jesus chose you and paid the price in full. Will you say yes to this family, trusting that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is able to give you new life and hope? [50:26]

Romans 8:15-17 (ESV)
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

Reflection:
What would it look like for you to live today as someone fully adopted into God’s family, free from shame and fear?

Quotes

Every other world religion is about what you and I can do to get to God on our own, period. Depending on the world religion, you actually might get multiple lifetimes at trying to achieve it. I'm not sure about you, but for me, if that's what it took was me doing it on my own, it would definitely take multiple lifetimes. Biblical Christianity isn't about what we can do, though. It's about what God has already done on our behalf through Jesus. [00:25:32] (28 seconds)  #GraceNotWorks Edit Clip

Christological focus is the principle that shows how the center of all of Scripture, from the very first pages to the very final pages, is the person and work of Jesus, foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures, described in the Gospels of the New Testament, and it has fueled the church ever since. [00:30:40] (18 seconds)  #ChristCenteredScripture Edit Clip

But the cross means that for those who choose to follow Jesus, our relationship, like God's love for us, is unconditional. And so in some ways, on the other side of the cross, you and I are offered a more perfect and more permanent relationship than even Adam and Eve had. And you can't break it because you didn't earn it. [00:32:33] (19 seconds)  #UnbreakableLove Edit Clip

Look, we've all experienced the difference between someone scrambling last minute to get you a card for a holiday or throwing together a plan versus the kindness of prepared love, a love that anticipates our needs, a costly love that requires personal sacrifice for the good of someone else. That's the kind of love that God has extended to us. [00:35:29] (24 seconds)  #PreparedSacrificialLove Edit Clip

God the Son, Jesus himself, is the person of the Trinity that God used to create the world, to create the entire universe. And both here in Hebrews as well as in the letter to the church at Colossae in the New Testament of your Bible, Jesus is described as the active agent of the Trinity holding the universe together at a molecular level every moment of every day of our lives. [00:39:02] (23 seconds)  #JesusCreatorSustainer Edit Clip

Who decided to do this? Jesus did. How could God the Father send his Son? Oh, because Jesus volunteered for the assignment. Why did Jesus decide to volunteer? For the joy that was set before him. From eternity past, when God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit planned for all of human history, the day that he came to earth as a helpless child, to the day that he would hang on the cross, he had the joy of a restored relationship with you in mind. [00:40:13] (32 seconds)  #JoyfulSacrifice Edit Clip

One of the apprehensions we have in 21st century in the West is we want God without holiness. All of this is to satisfy the holiness of God. And we go, well, God, just give up on that part. But here's the thing. You wouldn't worship a God that wasn't holy. He wouldn't be worthy of it. [00:43:00] (18 seconds)  #HolinessMatters Edit Clip

We started our time together by asking this question. Why would a loving father sacrifice his son? And I hope you heard that this wasn't a father forcing his son. It was father, son, and spirit moving together in perfect harmony, determined to do whatever it took to bring you home. Jesus, he wasn't drafted. He volunteered. [00:51:08] (26 seconds)  #VolunteeredLove Edit Clip

Because he knew what the cross would accomplish.That it would open up the door for a rebel like me, a rebel like you, to come home into a family where shame is traded for grace, guilt for brokenness, and death for life. [00:51:42] (20 seconds)  #CrossOpensHome Edit Clip

The scene on the cross is tragic, but the reason it's triumphant is that three days later, Jesus would walk out of a tomb showing everyone that he had the power, not only to come back from the grave, but he had the power to win you back from the grave. [00:52:51] (16 seconds)  #TriumphantResurrection Edit Clip