The Cross: Our Path to Reconciliation with God

Summary

In today's sermon, I explored the profound significance of the cross and the separation that Jesus experienced from the Father—a separation that was necessary for our reconciliation with God. I began by emphasizing the importance of not being ashamed of Jesus, His word, or His teachings, despite the cultural resistance we may face. I encouraged the congregation to use Jesus' teachings as instruments of love to draw others into a relationship with God.

I then delved into the heart of the message, focusing on the three hours of darkness that fell upon the land while Jesus was on the cross. This darkness, I explained, was a physical manifestation of the spiritual darkness of sin that separates humanity from God. At that moment, Jesus bore the weight of humanity's sins, becoming the sacrificial lamb that was foreshadowed in the Passover. His cry, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" reflected the intense separation He felt—a separation that was necessary for our sins to be covered once and for all.

I drew parallels between the separation we experience in our human relationships and the separation Jesus experienced on the cross. This was not just a physical separation but a spiritual one that tore at the very fabric of the unity between the Father and the Son. I emphasized that sin is serious—it separates us from God, and it was this separation that Jesus agonizingly anticipated in the Garden of Gethsemane.

I concluded by reminding the congregation that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was not just an act of love but a deliberate act to break the curse of sin that separates us from God. I urged everyone to run to the cross, repent, and embrace the relationship with God that Jesus' sacrifice has made possible. We then transitioned into a time of communion, reflecting on Jesus' sacrifice and the new covenant established through His blood.

Key Takeaways:

- The cross is not merely a symbol of sacrifice but the pivotal point of Christian faith that anchors us against the drift of worldly ideologies. Just as the sun's gravity holds the planets in place, the cross must remain the central force in our spiritual lives to prevent us from drifting away from the truth of God's word. [23:01 ]

- The darkness that fell during Jesus' crucifixion was a divine illustration of the separation caused by sin. It is crucial to understand that sin is not a trivial matter to God; it necessitates a response of repentance and a turning away from sin to embrace the closeness with God that Jesus' sacrifice has made possible. [33:38 ]

- The tearing of the temple curtain at the moment of Jesus' death symbolizes the end of separation between God and humanity. This act signifies that through Jesus, we now have direct access to God's presence, and we are invited to live in intimate relationship with Him, not at a distance. [53:06 ]

- The anguish Jesus felt in the Garden of Gethsemane was not solely due to the anticipation of physical suffering but the impending spiritual separation from the Father. This depth of agony underscores the gravity of sin and the lengths to which God has gone to restore our fellowship with Him. [47:01 ]

- Communion is a sacred practice that allows us to remember and honor Jesus' sacrifice. It is an opportunity for believers to reflect on the cost of our redemption and to renew our commitment to live in the freedom and relationship that Jesus' death and resurrection have secured for us. [01:01:05 ]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Mark 15:33-34: "At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' (which means 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?')."
2. 2 Corinthians 5:21: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
3. Isaiah 59:2: "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."

#### Observation Questions
1. What significant event occurred at noon while Jesus was on the cross, and how long did it last? ([31:01])
2. What was Jesus' cry at 3 PM, and what does it signify about His relationship with the Father at that moment? ([31:42])
3. According to 2 Corinthians 5:21, what did God make Christ to be, and for what purpose?
4. How does Isaiah 59:2 describe the effect of sin on our relationship with God?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is the darkness that fell during Jesus' crucifixion significant, and what does it symbolize about sin? ([32:56])
2. How does Jesus' cry of abandonment on the cross help us understand the seriousness of sin and its consequences? ([33:38])
3. In what ways does the tearing of the temple curtain at Jesus' death symbolize the end of separation between God and humanity? ([53:06])
4. How does understanding Jesus' anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane deepen our appreciation for His sacrifice? ([47:01])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt separated from God. How did you respond, and what steps did you take to restore that relationship? ([43:41])
2. How can you use Jesus' teachings as instruments of love to draw others into a relationship with God, especially in a culture that may resist these teachings? ([20:55])
3. What are some practical ways you can keep the cross as the central force in your spiritual life to prevent drifting away from the truth of God's word? ([23:31])
4. How does the understanding that sin is not a trivial matter to God change your approach to repentance and turning away from sin? ([33:38])
5. In what ways can you make communion a more meaningful practice in your life, reflecting on Jesus' sacrifice and the new covenant established through His blood? ([57:23])
6. Identify one specific sin that you struggle with. What steps can you take this week to repent and embrace the closeness with God that Jesus' sacrifice has made possible? ([54:54])
7. How can you support and encourage others in your small group to run to the cross and embrace the relationship with God that Jesus' sacrifice has made possible? ([55:25])

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing the Gravity of the Cross
The cross stands as the pivotal point of Christian faith, a symbol of the ultimate sacrifice and a beacon against the drift of worldly ideologies. It is essential to recognize the cross as more than a mere emblem; it is the anchor that holds believers steadfast in their faith amidst the ever-changing tides of cultural thought and opinion. The gravity that the sun exerts to maintain the planets in their orbits is akin to the spiritual gravity the cross exerts on believers, keeping them aligned with the truth of God's word. The cross is a call to resist the pull of secular perspectives and to hold firm to the teachings of Jesus, using them as instruments of love to draw others to God. [23:01]

Hebrews 12:2-3 (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. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted."

Reflection: How can you actively resist cultural pressures this week to maintain the cross as the central force in your spiritual life?

Day 2: The Darkness of Sin and the Light of Repentance
The darkness that enveloped the land during Jesus' crucifixion serves as a divine illustration of the separation caused by sin. This physical manifestation of darkness symbolizes the spiritual chasm that sin creates between humanity and God. It is a stark reminder that sin is not trivial in the eyes of the divine; it is a serious transgression that requires a heartfelt response of repentance. Believers are called to turn away from sin and embrace the closeness with God that Jesus' sacrifice has made possible. The act of repentance is not merely a one-time event but a continuous journey towards the light of God's presence. [33:38]

Colossians 1:21-22 (ESV): "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him."

Reflection: What is one sin you need to repent of today, and what practical steps can you take to turn away from it and move closer to God?

Day 3: Tearing Down the Barrier to God's Presence
The tearing of the temple curtain at the moment of Jesus' death is a powerful symbol of the end of separation between God and humanity. This act signifies that believers now have direct access to God's presence, without the need for intermediaries. The curtain's tearing invites us to live in an intimate relationship with God, not at a distance but in close communion with Him. Through Jesus, the barriers have been removed, and the faithful are called to enter boldly into the holy of holies, where God's presence dwells. [53:06]

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: How can you practice living in the reality of direct access to God's presence in your daily life?

Day 4: The Agony of Anticipated Separation
The anguish Jesus felt in the Garden of Gethsemane was not solely due to the anticipation of physical suffering but also the impending spiritual separation from the Father. This depth of agony underscores the gravity of sin and the lengths to which God has gone to restore fellowship with humanity. The separation Jesus experienced on the cross was a spiritual rupture that tore at the unity between the Father and the Son, a necessary sacrifice for the sins of humanity to be covered. This profound moment invites believers to reflect on the seriousness of sin and the magnitude of Jesus' love. [47:01]

Isaiah 53:4-5 (ESV): "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: In what ways can you deepen your appreciation for the spiritual separation Jesus endured for your sake?

Day 5: Communion as a Covenant Renewal
Communion is a sacred practice that allows believers to remember and honor Jesus' sacrifice. It is an opportunity to reflect on the cost of redemption and to renew the commitment to live in the freedom and relationship that Jesus' death and resurrection have secured. As the bread is broken and the wine is poured, the faithful are reminded of the new covenant established through His blood, a covenant that invites them into a life of grace and truth. This act of remembrance is not just a ritual but a profound encounter with the living God, who invites His children to partake in His divine nature. [01:01:05]

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (ESV): "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread."

Reflection: How can participating in communion this week be a meaningful act of renewing your covenant with God?

Quotes

"Guys Without Jesus you've got nothing build your life on him he's the solid rock build your Hope on him he's the good news right like there's no need to be ashamed of Jesus there's no need to be ashamed of his word there's no need to be ashamed of his teachings are his teachings anti our culture yes they are if you stand up for his teachings are you going to find an abrasiveness with our culture yes you will but don't be ashamed of Jesus it's okay to love Jesus and to love his word and to love his teachings and there's a way to communicate that in a way that also sounds like love because I think that's who Jesus was wasn't he wasn't Jesus the ultimate example of Love yeah and he taught with love that's why the Bible says that Sinners liked being with Jesus wow when the church figures out that little piece right there the church is Unstoppable do you hear me you are the church I'm not talking about as the administrator I'm talking about us as the church when we figure this out we're Unstoppable right when we understand that everything in this word isn't to beat people up to beat people into submission it's to love people into a relationship with God you see what I'm saying like look I'm my name is Jeff I'm your friend I'm also your coach you got to figure out how to take the teachings of Jesus which are anti our culture and you got to figure out how to use those things as an instrument of love to help people know who Jesus really is because when they find out who he is man their lives start to change just like your life has been changing how many you guys would say in here my life is being changed by Jesus come on come on I mean yeah you better believe it you better believe it." [22:01 ] ( | | )

"Jesus for that act of obedience to your father and ultimately the love that you have for us that you would be willing to do that so we could be forgiven of our sins thank you Jesus thank you now let's take and eat this bread or Cracker in remembrance of Jesus thank you Jesus now I hope that that was meaningful for you and I hope that that's something that you continue to participate in when we have it happen here at new life whether you're in person or online to remember Jesus sacrifice we never want to forget it so thank you so much for being here today join back next week as we're continuing the cross series and if this message was impactful and meaningful to you or there's someone in your life that you want to share this message with I just encourage you copy the link wherever you're watching today and just share it with a friend CU it just might change their life forever until I get to see you again next week may God bless you and strengthen you." [01:04:17 ] ( | | )

"that pain again but would you please let me use this illustration because I think it's the closest thing I can get to on Earth to help us understand what Jesus was experiencing in the separation from his father on the cross think about 50 plus years of life just think about it I mean think about the memories think about the adventures right think about think about all the stories that you could tell you've experienced more things together right than you can even remember but you try to hang on to all of them because this deep love and desire for one another and then all of a sudden one gets sick your holding on to hope that possibly maybe there could be you know a miracle that would sustain them forever which you know is not possible but you're asking God for the miraculous and the miraculous doesn't come through and and then it's their day and God calls them home and now they're gone from you think about now after spending 50 plus years with somebody building all these beautiful wonderful memories and amazing Stories and then now you got nothing think about the pain think about the loneliness think about the quietness of the house for a moment where it once used to be like you thought you heard and you would yell out hey hey honey there's no honey anymore in the house you think about this there's no one to tell your story to when you come home when you wake up in the morning there's no one to share coffee with anymore right if you got it you got that picture the pain the isolation and the loneliness you got friends but just think about that for a moment and now try to magnify that by a hundred times between Jesus and his father try to magnify that and you're sitting here and you're going I can barely fathom the first one Jeff and you want me to magnify it by a hundred times yeah see what I'm trying to drive home for you is that you are never ever going to truly understand this separation that Jesus had from his father because there was something so beautiful and so unique about it but that separation had to happen and the only way it could happen was there was a closeness and a closeness that came through the Holiness and the righteous living of Jesus Christ he was the sinless one and when the sin Came Upon him and he was separated from his father for the very first time because that's what sin does the anguish of that the anguish was that was like the story I told you times a 100 and it's going to be hard for you to wrap your head around that but pay attention to me pay attention to this Jesus was separated from his father and he went through that." [42:33 ] ( | | )

"pain and that Agony and that abandonment so that you and me could be United with God and if the sin of the world separated Jesus from his father if the sin of the world that Came Upon Jesus separated him from his father let me tell you what your sin's going to do your sin's going to separate you from God I'm not trying to bring the bad news I'm just trying to bring the facts I'm trying to ask you to entertain this thought in our world today we think God's a gracious God and God's somehow going to overlook my sin and I'm going to tell you today God's not going to overlook our sin God's looking for repentance from us God's looking for us to recognize you sent your your son Jesus to the Cross he bore my sin upon upon himself and he W he went through the agony of feeling the Abandonment for those few hours of being separated from you you want me you want me God to come and repent of my sin because you don't want my sin to separate me from you you weren't designed for that God didn't design you to be separated from him because of your sin but your sin will separate you Isaiah 59:2 it says it this way that it's your it's your sins that have cut you off from God because of your sins he has turned away and he will not listen anymore but here's the good news guys Jesus went to the cross and he paid the price to break the curse of separation from God he already paid that price that price has been paid for there's nothing there's no other price that can be paid Jesus Paid It All now what do we do we take advantage of it we lean in we walk on his coattails we say thank you Jesus for what you did I I want relationship with you God but to do that guys you have to truly understand how serious the three hours of Separation was for Jesus from the father you you have to get it you you you have to somehow try to Grapple with the weight of this I I once as a as a young Christian thought that when Jesus was in the garden praying before he got arrested and then he got put on trial and then he got put on the cross the next morning so the night before 9:00 a.m. that Jesus gets crucified he's in the garden and he's praying and dark darkness is is now upon the Earth it's night and he goes with his disciples and and he leaves some of them and he takes three more of them and he leaves them there and then he goes a little bit farther and he asks them be praying with me Jesus is foreseeing what's coming in the morning he's seeing what's getting ready to come at noon the next day prophetically he sees it and he goes pray with me and then the Bible talks about the agony of of Christ's prayers that he anguished over this that he went back to his disciples and they're sleeping he's kind of like bam come on get up what are you guys doing man this is a big night pray with me right I think he probably did that you know I mean come on if you had somebody that was sleeping That was supposed to be praying with you you're not going to bend down and try to wake them up either you're going to be like that's what you're going to do that's what Jesus did open toad sandals so you got to be careful maybe like a little kick to the side kind of a soccer kick maybe like a maybe a heel kick I don't know some maybe a foot on the head I something he's waking him up and he's like guys this is serious pray with me and he goes back and the Bible says that he prays with such Agony that that drops of blood are coming out of his pores you've never experienced this type of pain this type of loss I've always I thought I thought for years in my early Christianity that the reason why Jesus was in this anguish was because of the pain he was going to suffer on the cross that he'd seen the pain and he he knew the agony and he knew how a person was going to die on the cross and that this was the reason and I'm here to tell you today that's only part of it you want to know why Jesus was anguished in prayer you want to know why he he he had droplets of sweat that became blood you want to know why why because for the very first time he was getting ready to be separated from his father that's how serious it is how serious is sin it caused Jesus to have drops of Blood come from his very pores how serious is sin how serious is my sin that Separates Me From God that when I allow sin to live in my life it's like driving a wedge between me and God and and we've we've just come to say it's okay it's acceptable it's not acceptable to God God said I did everything to break the curse of sin in your life I did everything I put my son on the cross I went through separation from the one I love more than anyone for God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son I know what it's like to send my son overseas into battle and not know if he's going to come home God took that times a thousand to a whole another level when he sent his son from a perfect heaven to an unperfect earth knowing that he was going to be separated from his son even for a few hours bearing the weight of my sin and your sin upon his shoulders." [48:45 ] ( | | )

"that's why Jesus came Jesus went to the cross and didn't die a bloody mess on the cross just to die a mess and to show oh isn't it amazing how much love a person has for another that they would give up their life for you that's not the only reason why Jesus went to the cross the real reason why Jesus went to the Cross is to break the curse of Separation that your sin and my sin is causing between us and God got to stop we got we got we got to stop living life willing to be okay with the separation from God it's like look it's like we know God from from a distance and we're okay with it when God goes no I paid the price so that you could know me up close and you're like no I I don't really need that I'm okay with being a way over here it's like we're okay with knowing about God but really knowing him we're okay with just having some knowledge of God but really knowing him no Jesus was was separated from the father so that you and me might be United with God and to prove it just to drive home the point just to drive a stake into this and to help you really understand the gravity of it to prove it after six hours of Jesus being on the cross tortured on the cross Luke gives an account of what happened and I I I need you to get this because this is how we're going to land the plane here today to really truly help you understand Jesus was separated so that you can be United with God Luke CH 23 verse 46 by this time it was about noon and darkness fell across the whole land until 3:00 the light from the sun was gone and suddenly suddenly the curtain in the sanctuary of the temple was torn down the middle then Jesus shouted father I entrust my spirit into your hands and with those words he breathed his last what time did Jesus die you may have never even thought about this it it tells us right here what time did he die he went to the cross at 9ine Darkness fell upon the Earth at noon and then at 3:00 Jesus dies did you realize that this was the perfect time to die that there was no other minute in all of the universe this was the perfect minute and the perfect hour to die because at 3:00 at the Passover in the temple the priests would bring the sacrificial lamb and they would Slaughter it and they would pour the blood of the lamb at the altar to cover the sins of the people at 3:00 as the evening sacrifice but not this day not this day no natural lamb was going to be good enough on this day because this day was going to change everything this is where the old was going to go away and the new was going to come because at 3:00 on the Passover on this day Jesus becomes the sacrificial lamb and at 3:00 Jesus says I offer up my spirit to you I am the sacrificial lamb I'm bearing the sins of all Humanity upon myself and I give up myself so that all of you might live and to prove it the priests that were in the temple that would been getting ready to slaughter that Lamb's throat at 3:00 they look up in this curtain that separates them from the holy of holies the place where only one person a high priest goes once a year into the presence of God from the top to the bottom not from the bottom to the top where somebody could cut it with a knife and rip it in two from the top to the bottom only Supernatural God goes I'm SE I'm ripping it no longer are you separated from my presence but because the sacrificial lamb Jesus Paid the price for you and for all of your sins now you get to be with me for eternity so because Jesus was separated from his father because of your sin you and me can be United to God see guys the Bible without a cross has no climax the Bible without a cross has no ending the Bible without a cross has no Solutions so what do we do what do we do with this kind of information I think we do the logical and we look at our lives and we go if you took my sin that serious then I'm running back to the Cross today and I'm repenting if you loved me that much God then I'm bringing my sin see when you get to this level of understanding of the separation that that Jesus had to experience as he took my sin upon himself then here's what you have to come to the conclusion of there is no sin that's so great that can keep you from the love of God he took all of our sin he took the sin that you think is little and he took the sin that that is much and can I say this to you the sin that is much might keep you from God right now because you feel guilty and shameful and dirty but I'm going to tell you Jesus already took that to the Cross okay so you can come running to Jesus right now with confidence in your heart going I can be free and I can be clean today what I worry more about what I worry more about is for those of us who call our ourselves Christians who are allowing the little sins to live in our lives the hidden sins to live in our lives because they're separating us from a holy God and Jesus Paid the price for it so run to the cross and repent today and find a loving God who's going I already broke the penalty of separation between you and me now run to me and repent so that the blood of the sacrificial lamb Jesus Christ can cover your sins once and for all and you and me can be one just like God designed you to be he designed you to be close to him so let's run to the cross and let's find a heart of repentance before God today amen." [55:25 ] ( | | )

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Transcript

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