Main Title : The Cross

By Pastor Michael Magbag

Scripture :

1 Peter 2:24-25
New International Version (NIV)

24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[a] but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

- The Cross Symbolize The Power Of God

But What Is The True Meaning Of The Cross?

- In Christianity, the cross is the intersection of God’s love and His justice. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The reference to Jesus as the Lamb of God points back to the institution of the Jewish Passover in Exodus 12. The Israelites were commanded to sacrifice an unblemished lamb and smear the blood of that lamb on the doorposts of their homes. The blood would be the sign for the Angel of Death to “pass over” that house, leaving those covered by blood in safety. When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John recognized Him and cried, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29), thereby identifying Him and God’s plan for Him to be sacrificed for sin.

For the me the cross symbolizes forgiveness , it symbolizes mercy and it symbolizes the true meaning of the word "Agape" or unconditional love that Christ died for us in order for us to be save from our sins. Sins that we do inherited from our ancestors in the past.

But the vocal point in this is not actually the cross but the man or God who died on the cross. It's Jesus.

Remember this that the Cross is not  all about the wood or stake but it is all about the Son of God who was persecuted on it.

- The cross reveals to us the character of God: His love for lost sinners and His perfect justice meet at the cross. If we want to grow in our love for God, which is the first and greatest commandment, then we must be growing to understand and appreciate of the cross, which shows us His great love. If we want to grow in godliness, we must grow in understanding the significance of the cross, which confronts the most prevalent and insidious of all sins, namely, pride.

- The cross is a place where all the wounds of sins are healed. If you suffer from emotional problems--guilt, anxiety, depression, anger, or whatever--there is healing in the cross of Christ.

Question: One might ask why Jesus had to die in the first place. ?

Jesus died to fulfill the prophecy :

Twelve times Matthew cites Old Testament prophecy in conjunction with the term “fulfilled,” together with such phrases as “that it might be fulfilled” or “was fulfilled,” “is fulfilled,” “should be fulfilled.” The following represents a sketch of these texts.

Matthew 1:22 – The apostle cited Isaiah 7:14 and declared that the supernatural conception of Mary, as a virgin with whom Joseph had not been intimate, was that which fulfilled what the Lord had spoken “through the prophet” in foretelling the nature of Jesus’ birth.

Matthew 2:15 – When Herod had ambitions to murder baby Jesus, Joseph was warned to take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt until such a time as it was safe to return to Canaan. Joseph followed the instruction. He remained there until Herod’s death “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through his prophet, saying, ‘Out of Egypt did I call my son.’” The quotation was from Hosea 11:1.

Matthew 2:17 – When the vicious Herod murdered the male babies two years old and under in Bethlehem, a cry of anguish went up from the hearts of the inhabitants of the region. Matthew says: “Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.” Jeremiah 31:15 was cited.

Matthew 2:23 – Herod died. When Joseph heard that Archelaus was reigning in his father’s place, he was fearful. Being warned of God, he traveled into northern Palestine and settled in Galilee, in a city called Nazareth, “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene.”

Matthew 4:14 – After Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been delivered up, he left Nazareth and went to Capernaum, near the region of Zebulun and Naphtali in order that a prophecy “might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet,” namely that Galilee of the Gentiles might see a great light (Isaiah 9:1-2).

Matthew 8:17 – While Jesus was in the vicinity of Capernaum, many who were possessed of demons were brought to him. He cast out the evil spirits and healed the sick, “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, ‘Himself took our infirmities, and bare our diseases’” (53:4).

Matthew 12:17 – In one of the Jewish synagogues in which Jesus was visiting, the Jews taunted him by asking whether or not it was lawful for him to heal a certain man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. The Savior did heal the man and the Pharisees plotted as to how they might destroy him. Perceiving such, the Lord moved on, but continued to heal many, although urging the crowds not to publicize him. This was done “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet” (Isaiah 42:1ff).

Matthew 13:14 – As the antagonism against Jesus began to intensify, the Master began to teach in a more obscure manner by the use of parables. The disciples were mystified about the shift in teaching procedure, hence asked why he was teaching by means of these illustrations. Christ explained that such was due to the hardened nature of the people’s hearts, and that Isaiah’s prophecy of this stubbornness was being “fulfilled” (Isaiah 6:9-10).

Matthew 13:35 – In a subsequent context the Lord again emphasized that his parabolic teaching was that “it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, ‘I will open my mouth in parables. I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world’” (cf. Psalm 78:2).

Matthew 21:4 – On Sunday morning of the Passion week, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, thus demonstrating his humble station as a soon-to-be-inaugrated king over his spiritual kingdom. Matthew states that this happened “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet” (Zechariah 9:9).

Matthew 26:54, 56 – When Judas led Jewish officials to the garden in order to apprehend Christ, Peter attempted to defend the Lord with a sword, even cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Jesus admonished his disciple to put up his sword. These events must transpire in order that the plan of redemption be consummated. In so doing, the Scriptures “should” and “must” be “fulfilled.” No specific Old Testament passages are cited; rather, the references are to general Messianic texts pertaining to his death.

Matthew 27:9 – Finally, Matthew alludes to a passage that depicts Christ’s betrayal for the price of thirty pieces of silver, which “fulfilled” an Old Testament prophecy (see Zechariah 11:12-13).

But to summarize this it's just talking about Hope , It talks about Faith and It talks about salvation through Jesus . A mission where no man would never and I do mean ever want to be off or be with.

Question: If this prophecy will be given to you and if you are the man or the God that will be sacrificing His or Her own life for a person that you don't even know or meet in your entire life?

Scripture :

Isaiah 53:3
New International Version (NIV)

3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

- But instead we stripe Him with His clothes , humiliate Him , insult Him , mock Him , lashed Him , put a Crown of thorns onto His head and pierced Him to death on the cross . Jesus never quit on us , Jesus continued to love us, still continued His mission a nd He never abandoned us till the time that He died in order for us to be save.

Remember this brothers and sisters through His stripes we've been saved and healed.

Question: How do you intend to repay all the sacrifice and all the torment that He receive because of you.?

For some instead of showing their gratitude they repay the Lords sacrifice by doing sins like lust , idolatry, murders, stealing and using illegal drugs not because they do need to use it but they want to use it!!!

Scripture :

Matthew 15:19
English Standard Version (ESV)

19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

- Jesus already saved you from all of this but due to our Human Nature we're still coming back for it.

Scripture :

1 Peter 3:18
New International Version (NIV)

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

We often forget that the payment for sins is death .

Scripture :

Romans 6:23
New International Version (NIV)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

- But due to the love of the Lord and Christ all of our sins had been forgiven and all of our sins had been paid ...

Often people said it is foolishness that Jesus died for the our sins but Jesus is only showing us the true  manifestation of His love to us.

If God can raised Jesus from death then we shouldn't doubt our God that He can do anything and everything that needs to be done in your life.

The Cross gave us the power to become a new person.

You've been save my brothers and sisters due to the sacrifice of Jesus through on cross

Christ paid our sins in full that's the reason why Christ said the words "It is Finished "

Question :

But is it really Finished ?

Are we ready to changed our sinful Human Nature?

And lastly have you place completely your faith in Jesus ?

My Brothers and Sisters it is not to late  for us to change , it is not to late for us to repent and confess our sins to the Lord . If Christ showed His love by dying on the Cross because He loves us then there should be no reason for us to doubt Him that He can still forgive us once again.

My Brothers and Sisters God & Christ "Loves You & I'm Guaranteeing  You That They Will Never & I Do Mean Ever Stop Loving You."

Conclusion:

A mother of three children went to a counselor. In the course of the session he asked, “Which of your three children do you love the most?” She answered instantly, “I love all three of my children just the same.” The answer seemed too quick, too glib, so the counselor probed, “Come, now! You love all three just the same?” “Yes,” she affirmed, “I love all of them equally.” He replied, “But that’s psychologically impossible. If you’re not willing to level with me, we’ll have to end this session.”
With this the young woman broke down, cried a bit, and said, “All right, I do not love all three of my children the same. When one of my three children is sick, I love that child more. When one of my children is in pain, or lost, I love that child more. When one of my children is confused, I love that child more. And when one of my children is bad--really bad--I love that child more. But except for those exceptions, I do love all three of my children just the same.”

The cross says that God especially loves those who are hurting--those who are under the penalty and power of sin. If you will turn to Jesus Christ and put your trust in what He did for you in taking your just penalty for sin on the cross, He will deliver you from sin’s penalty and from its power. He wants to be your Shepherd and Overseer. He loves you just as you are, but He loves you too much to leave you that way. He wants to heal you from the devastating effects of sin. Will you turn to Him?