The Death Of Jesus
Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You this morning with grateful hearts, acknowledging that we are gathered in Your presence by Your grace alone. As we open Your Word together and discuss the profound truths of Christ's sacrifice, we ask that You would open our hearts and minds to receive what You want to teach us today. Help us to be humble learners, ready to be challenged and changed by Your truth. May Your Holy Spirit guide our conversation and draw us closer to You and to one another. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.
Summary
This sermon examines the death of Jesus Christ as recorded in Mark 15:33-41, focusing on how this moment changed everything for humanity. The pastor explores three key gospel realities that make Jesus' death the climax of God's redemptive plan: sin was judged, access was granted, and truth was revealed. During the three hours of supernatural darkness, God poured out His judgment and wrath on Jesus for our sins. When Jesus cried out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He was experiencing the abandonment we deserved so we could be accepted by the Father. At the moment of His death, the temple curtain was torn from top to bottom, signifying that access to God was now open through Christ's sacrifice. Finally, a Roman centurion became the first human in Mark's gospel to declare Jesus as the Son of God, demonstrating that the cross reveals truth and breaks down all barriers to salvation.
Key Verses
Mark 15:33-34
Mark 15:37-38
Mark 15:39
2 Corinthians 5:21
Psalm 22:1
Key Takeaways
Jesus experienced God's judgment and abandonment on the cross so that we could be accepted and adopted into God's family
The tearing of the temple curtain from top to bottom signifies that we now have direct access to God through Jesus Christ alone
Jesus' death was not defeat but victory - He willingly gave His life and declared "It is finished," meaning our salvation is complete
The cross breaks down all barriers and offers salvation to people from every background, as demonstrated by the Roman centurion's confession
We need Jesus plus nothing and minus nothing for salvation - it is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone
Ending Prayer
Father God, we are overwhelmed by the magnitude of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Thank You that our sin was judged in Him, that access to You has been granted through His sacrifice, and that the truth of His identity as Your Son has been revealed. Help us to never take for granted the great exchange that took place - our sin for His righteousness. May we live each day in the reality of our direct access to You, worshiping You in spirit and in truth. Give us boldness to share this good news with others, knowing that the cross is powerful to save anyone who believes. Transform our hearts to reflect the love and grace we have received. We pray this in the precious name of Jesus, who gave His life for us. Amen.