An event that is the culmination of God’s plan is that of Jesus Christ giving His life on Calvary’s cross for us. This fundamental truth is one of the two largest points that separates Christianity from any other world religion. The other is that same Jesus raising from the dead. No other world religious leader has ever made such sacrificial gift and testament to His power over death… many have claimed it… but they all sit in the grave.
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
This tree as it was called has become a symbol of this event. A symbol of this sacrifice, a symbol of our beliefs and burden we often might carry. It it not the glamorous cross that the world chooses to display, the clean and shiny jewelry that people wear or the beautiful artwork with the glow behind it… it was a symbol of a vicious death and suffering… so much as this old rugged cross we are told to remember each day.
A Life Changing Event Foretold
Psalms 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Account of the Cross
The account of the cross is told in these 4 places to give us a few different points of view of the same event. Remember you can have 4 people standing in 4 different places while witnessing the same event and testify of that event from different perspectives. This accounts do not conflict, but rather give a broader scope of the events.
Matthew 27
Mark 15
Luke 23
John 18-19
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Note:
John 3:16 tell us that God so loved the world (love put to action) that He gave… God’s desire to fellowship with His creation (you and me) that it pleased Him to see His Son suffer… because He knew what would happen because of it… That finally there would be a clear path to Him and His fellowship.
Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.