The Cross Equals Life
Sermon Notes
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did. Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
- John 19:23-27
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
- Psalm 22:1
Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.
- Psalm 22:16-18
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” All that are in Hell, choose it.
- C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
- Galatians 3:28
Table Group Resources
Mixer
John 14:2 tells us "My Father's house has many rooms ..." What would your heavenly room be like?
Sermon Questions
Scriptures: John 19:23-27, Psalm 22:1, 16-18, Galatians 3:28, Isaiah 61:10
Can you have Easter without the cross? Why do we avoid acknowledging it? Pastor Jared said that the cross is a symbol of our faith and it is so familiar that it becomes unfamiliar. What does he mean by this?
Sin takes you away from the presence of God. If the cross has already taken the burden, why do you stay in it?
Pastor Jared said, “Your soul is made for God.” Think about that: If God is your soulmate, what lengths would you go to to encourage and nurture that relationship?
While Jesus hung from the cross, in his nakedness and shame, how does He help us discard our fig leaves and accept His gift of a robe of righteousness? Read Isaiah 61:10.
Jesus called upon John to care for His mother. John saw what happened on the cross and he accepted this request without hesitation. When you sit and really see what happened on the cross on Good Friday, are you open to what Jesus may ask of you?
Serve
As we enter the 3rd and final month of our Youth Wellbeing focus, we’re excited to continue inviting Heaven to Earth by actively serving our community one week at a time. One way to actively serve is Good Neighbor Day (GND) which is coming up quickly on 3/16 - click HERE to register.
Pray
Join us in prayer for good energy as we prepare for our upcoming Good Friday and Easter Services. Pray that your invitation to someone will change their life and relationship with Jesus.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Matthew 28:10
