Sermon Notes,
April 14, 2019 AM
What Held Jesus To The Cross?
Steve W. Reeves
stevewreevessermons.blogspot.com
INTRODUCTION:
A.
As a college student I worked for one year as a youth minister for a church in
west central Arkansas. The preacher was a man named Arlis Thomas (A.T.) Oliver. I
learned a great deal about ministry by observing this older man. On one occasion he
preached a sermon with an interesting title. “What Held Jesus to the Cross?”
Although I do not remember the entire message I certainly remember its overall
theme.
B. How would you answer the question, “What held Jesus to the Cross?”
1. Was it the long, iron nails, five to seven inches long that were driven into His wrists
or feet? Jesus said, “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will
at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53)?
No, it was not the nails that held Jesus to the cross.
2. Was it the Roman soldiers who had stripped Him of his clothes, nailed him to the
cross and cast lots for His outer garment? No. Mathew wrote, “when they saw the
earthquake and the things that were happening, they became very frightened and
said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God’ (Matthew 27:54)!
3. Was it the crowds who taunted Him with their insults and threats?
4. It was none of these things. In a few moments I will tell you what held Jesus to the
cross.
C. Why the cross? Wasn’t there some other way Jesus could have redeemed us?
Couldn’t God have devised another plan that would not have been so brutal? Why
did God choose the cross?
I. IN THE CROSS WE SEE THE SUFFERING CAUSED BY SIN
A. Crucifixion was intended to provide a death that was particularly slow and painful
1. The word excruciating, literally means "out of crucifying".
2. It was gruesome and humiliating.
B. Crucifixion was practiced to terrorize and deter its witnesses from perpetrating
crime. Victims were usually left on display for days as they slowly died and even
following death as warnings to others who might attempt dissent.
C. Why did Jesus go through such humiliation and pain?
1. It was not something He wanted to do. As He prayed in Gethsemane,
“Let this cup pass from me.” The humanity of Jesus dreaded the physical pain
and suffering just as much as you would.
2. The cross is a vivid reminder of every sinful act, every murder, every lie, every
deceit, every immoral action, every act of unbelief and rebellion against God. If
there had been any other way to forgive men don’t you think that God the
Father would have used it?
3. It was only at the cross that these things could be forgiven. Jesus had no sin of
His own. His blood was the atonement for our sin.
a. We could never be good enough ourselves. Human wisdom could never
devise a means or method to atone for sin.
b. All of the sacrifices under the Old Testament could not forgive sin (Hebrews
10:4).
c. It took the blood of Christ to make our forgiveness possible.
II. IN THE CROSS WE SEE FORGIVENESS OFFERED BY GRACE
A. As Jesus hung on the cross the crowd of onlookers and curiosity seekers began to
taunt him.
1. In Luke 23:34 we read, “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do
not know what they do.’”
2. Peter wrote, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no
sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not
revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to
Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on
the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose
stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:21-24).
B. We do not deserve forgiveness. We cannot deserve it. It is a gift. It is grace.
1. Jesus did not die on the cross because you and I are good people or because
He owed us something.
2. Listen to Romans 5:6-9, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ
died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though
perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God
demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall
be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”
C. Suppose you received a letter from your Automobile Insurance Company stating
that your policy is being cancelled because of your poor driving record. One
speeding ticket after another and careless, reckless driving habits. You call your
agent. There is nothing they can do. You set up a meeting with the president of
the company and offer to pay more money. He says there is not enough money to
pay for your driving record. Then he looks at you and says, “I have the solution.”
He calls a young man into his office. “This young man has a flawless record. He is
willing to take your penalties and exchange His spotless record for yours.” You are
amazed. Who would do such a thing? The president says to the young man, “Son,
you may go.”
1. This sounds “too good to be true.” It is true.
2. A woman in India, hearing a missionary tell about the death of Jesus, began
crying. The missionary stopped and asked her if she was in pain. “I can’t
believe he died for me,” she said. Can you believe He died for you?
CONCLUSION:
A. Daveon Scott, a young boy in a rough inner city, stood at the counter of his local
McDonalds. His stomach was pained with hunger. He looked at the menu and wished
he had enough money to buy something. Reaching into his pocket he realized he had
no money. About this time a young police officer named Jeremy Henwood entered
the McDonalds. He saw the young boy standing nearby and quickly guessed the
situation. He often saw hungry children in the neighborhood. He called the child
over and asked him if he wanted something to eat. “I have no money, sir,” Henwood
smiled and said, ‘it’s on me today.” The boy placed his order of chocolate chip
cookies and sat down to eat. Henwood took his order to his patrol car. As he sat in
his car someone pulled alongside and fired a shot at the policeman shattering the
window in his car and striking him directly in the head. He never recovered. Daveon
Scott will never forget the man who, as his final act in this life, bought him what he
could not afford himself.
B. What held Jesus to the cross? It wasn’t the nails. It wasn’t the soldiers or the crowd.
It was love. Specifically, His love for you.
C. He said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Will you do that
today as we stand and sing?
