What Jesus Accomplished on the Cross | Season 04, Episode 06 | Simple Truth Podcast

What if the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was even more important than you thought? Christians are supposed to believe Jesus died on the cross. We talk about the cross at Easter and many people even wear it as a symbol of their faith. But many Christians aren't aware of what Jesus actually accomplished there. So remember this, the cross was an attempt by the powers of darkness to destroy the Messiah. Crazy, right? But God turned it into the very place where sin was dealt with once and for all, where the path of forgiveness was opened, where evil was defeated, and every person could be brought back into a relationship with God. This is important to know because when we misunderstand the cross, we end up living with guilt that Jesus already paid for. We end up with fear that Jesus already conquered and distance from God that Jesus already removed. In this episode, we're going to walk through Jesus's betrayal, his rejection, his suffering, the crucifixion, and his final words on the cross. We'll see why Jesus chose not to come down from the cross, why his suffering was not weakness, but love and power, and what exactly he meant when he said, "It is finished." By the end, you'll understand why the cross changed everything, and what Jesus accomplished for everyone who believes the gospel. Let's get into it in this episode of The Simple Truth. Welcome to the Simple Truth Podcast, where we open the Bible to uncover simple, biblical, and essential truths that can transform your life. And now, here's your host, Ted Ross. Hi, my name is Ted Ross and this is the Simple Truth Podcast. Your home for biblical truth clearly taught and freely given. Welcome to season 4, episode 6 on what Jesus accomplished on the cross. And I warn you now, this is going to be a bittersweet episode. Bitter in the sense that we're talking about pain, suffering, and torment that Jesus experienced on the cross, but sweet. He experienced it so that we didn't have to. And he did it for you folks. He did it for you. So, let's get into this episode. Why does this episode matter? Well, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is the central event of the entire Bible. And honestly, it's the most important event in human history. Jesus willingly chose the cross to save you and to save me from sin through his death, his burial, and his resurrection, also known as the gospel. Many Christians, they know Jesus died on the cross, but they don't fully understand what he accomplished through it. Without understanding the cross, you and I, we miss the depth of God's love, the seriousness of sin, and the power of the gospel. Through the cross, Jesus accomplished forgiveness, peace with God, reconciliation, and salvation for every Christian. So, let's see what really happened at the cross, which brings us to our first simple truth of the episode. Simple truth 55. Jesus was betrayed and abandoned by humanity. Let's take a look at Luke 22:47 and 62. There's going to be a lot of scripture and a lot of reading in this episode. Thank God. Luke 22:47 and 48. We're going to see if the son of God came to save humanity. Yet, humanity responded by abandoning and betraying him. Luke 22:47. And while he was still speaking, that's Jesus, behold a multitude. And he who was called Judas, one of the twelve went before him and drew near to Jesus to kiss him. Verse 48. But Jesus said to him, Judas, are you betraying the son of man with a kiss? Betraying Judas handed him over for punishment. Judas went ahead created an agreement with the Pharisees and the captains of the temple, the military, the security, if you will. He came up with an agreement for a price tag on when and where and he would identify them. And he went over and he betrayed Jesus. He handed him over for punishment. And he did so with a kiss. A kiss in the New Testament, it's a sign of affection. It's a sign of friendship. Men and women kissed each other more often in that tradition. And by doing so, it shows the deception. This is something a friend, a close friend would do. You would kiss you on the cheek to greet you and to welcome you. And Judas does this as a part of deception and a part of betrayal. We were not physically there, folks. But one thing I want you to understand through the course of this episode, our own sins show that we're no different than the people that betrayed him. So as we read this, we don't look at this and says, "Well, Judas did this or Peter did that or that's what the Sanhedrin did or that's what the captains of the temple would do." We're really describing ourselves. We're describing humanity. These were a group of characters through the course of the death, burial, and resurrection that describes humanity in general, all people. And you'll see this as you read through it. This betrayal begins the final path to the cross where Jesus willingly suffers for the sins of the very people who rejected him. Amen. Luke 22:49. Here we're going to see that even as humanity came to arrest, mock, and abandon Jesus, he still responded with mercy instead of violence. Luke 22:49, quote, "When those around him saw what was going to happen, they said to him, Lord, shall we strike with the sword, the disciples were ready to fight." Verse 50, "And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear." That's Peter, as we see, right ear specifically. Verse 51. But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this." And he touched his ear and he healed him. Wow. He says, "Permit even this." Jesus said, "That means allow." That means let this happen. That's a bold statement to do. They're about to do something terrible. And Jesus knows exactly what they're about to do. And Jesus said, "No, allow this. Let this happen." He tells his disciples. And Jesus touched the ear of the servant who was struck, the servant of the high priest, and he was healed. And that means he was restored. He was cured completely. The contrasts of the crucifixion is what you see over and over again. You see such humiliation and such rejection and such aggression matched with such mercy and such love and such desire to sacrifice for you and for me. It is something that just strikes you to the core as you read it. Jesus was not overpowered against his will. He willingly permitted his betrayal and he suffered to accomplish God's plan for reconciliation. Luke 22:52, we're going to see that humanity treated the sinless son of God like a criminal while the powers of darkness moved against him. Luke 22:52, quote, "Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to him, quote, "Have you come out as against the robber with swords and clubs?" Verse 53, "When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize me, but this is your hour and the power of darkness." The chief priests, the captains, and the elders, that's three groups of people who quite honestly represent Israel's religious leaders. These would be like the leaders of your church. So the leaders of the church and the rulers of that city, they all got together and they got together to arrest him. And they came at him as if he was some form of robber. And they came with weapons. Jesus revealed that his arrest was not merely about human offense and about rejection, but the powers of darkness moving against the Messiah. Remember Genesis 3:15 that we saw in our previous episodes? It foretold the conflict between Satan, who is described as the serpent in Genesis 3, and the Messiah, described as the seed of the woman. Humanity, here's the worst part of it. We knew there would be a conflict. God prophesied there would be a conflict between the seed of the woman, seed singular, as we saw in Galatians, and Satan, that serpent. And he prophesied it. And yet, who did humanity side with? Unfortunately, folks, as we see through the course of this episode, humanity sided with Satan and rejected the Christ. So, we knew there would be a conflict. And yet, we us people, we sided with Satan, with the serpent in the conflict and not with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The contrast throughout this episode, they will astound you. Let's take a look at Luke 22:54-56. says, "Jesus moved through the cross alone, even his closest disciples began distancing themselves from him." Luke 22:54, "Having arrested him, they led him, that's Jesus, and brought him into the high priest's house, but Peter followed at a distance." Verse 55, "Now when they kindled the fire in the midst of the courtyard, and sat down together, Peter sat among them." Verse 56. And a certain servant girl seeing him as he sat by the fire looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with him." So Peter, who was once bold in his loyalty to Jesus, now he distances himself. And why would Peter distance himself? Because he started to feel the pressure of the persecution. Both physical pressure. He was concerned for his own life as well as spiritual persecution. Remember this was the power of darkness. This was the powers of darkness moving against the Messiah, right? And so as that pressure of persecution rises up, the disciples start to abandon him. Humanity abandoned Jesus Christ in his darkest hour, leaving him to face suffering and the cross alone. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Luke 22:57-59, we see that as Jesus remained faithful on the way to the cross, humanity continued abandoning and denying him. Luke 22:57 says, "But he denied him, saying, and this is Peter," woman, I do not know him. That's a lie. He spent three years with him. He was very close to him. But he looked at that woman and he lied to her. That pressure caused him to sin. woman, I do not know him," he said. Verse 58, "And after a little while, another saw him and said, "You also are of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not lies again." Verse 59, "Then after an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, Surely this fellow also was with him, for he is Galilean." When he says that he denied him, that means Peter rejected. He refused association with he disowned Jesus. Amen. Peter repeatedly denied being associated with Jesus as fear and pressure began to overwhelm him. And as I mentioned before, folks, Peter was bold. Peter was strong. Peter did many mighty works before this event even happened. More mighty works than you and I probably ever have accomplished. And yet through the course of that pressure, Peter abandoned Jesus. These verses, they reveal the weakness of humanity, our weaknesses, your and mine, and the deep abandonment that Jesus endured on his way to the cross. This was no small thing. Let's take a look at Luke 22:60-62. We're going to see that as Peter denied the Christ three times, Jesus continues walking faithfully toward the cross alone. Luke 22:60. But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying." Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. Verse 61. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord. How he said to him, quote, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." In verse 62, so Peter went out and wept bitterly. Amazing. So it says in verse 61 that the Lord turned and looked at Peter, right? The spirit of God moved in Jesus while he's being accused, while he's being beaten, while he's being humiliated. He had the presence of spirit to be led by the spirit to then turn towards Peter and look at him because scripture was being fulfilled because God's word was being fil because this abandonment was going to be complete from top to bottom. Jesus was paying the price for our sin and he was taking on our humiliation. And it says that Peter remembered, he recalled, he brought back to memory the word of the Lord and how he said to him before that rooster crows, you'll deny me three times. And Peter went out and wept bitterly. Wept bitterly is not a small word. That word means deep crying with intense grief and intense sorrow. He denied the Christ. He denied the Messiah. That is a painful, painful experience that I could only imagine. This moment reveals the frailty, the weakness and the fear of humanity in contrast to Jesus's perfect faithfulness, his presence of spirit, his inner strength. By the way, that spirit is in you and it's in me. We have the spirit of Christ in us. We have that strength. We have that presence of spirit. Thank you, Lord Jesus. But Jesus remained faithful on his path to the cross for us. Which brings us to simple truth number 56. Humanity condemned Jesus even though he was innocent. We're going to take a look at Matthew 26:59-68. And in the beginning, we're going to see here that religious leaders, they searched for false testimony, sin. They sinned against Jesus, right? Because they were determined to condemn him despite his innocence. Matthew 26:59, quote, "Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put him to death." Unbelievable. Again, we're not talking about a group of people who were different than us. Folks, if you were I in that situation, I am confident to say that we would done many of the same things that they were doing. Humanity is all alike. We may be different skin colors. We may come from different backgrounds. may live on different continents, but the reality is we all have much more in common than we have different. This is us. This is us rejecting our Christ. This is us finding false testimony. This is us trying to eradicate what we thought was a problem and doing it by any means necessary. And it was wicked when they did it and we've done in things in our lives that was wicked when we did it. Amen. Amen. Okay. And he says, "But they found none." Verse 60. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. They found no false testimony with which they could put him to death. Verse 60, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. They tried to identify witnesses who could provide false testimony with which to put him to death, but they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward, verse 61, and said, "This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days." False testimony. It's lying testimony. It's a dishonest accusation. It didn't happen. You knew it didn't happen, but you came before them. You said what they wanted you to say, and they did it as a pretext to murder him. And that's ex completely unacceptable, especially to somebody who is Jewish in this era. These are things that they have been taught quite clearly. You know, we live in the United States. I live in the United States. And sometimes we we have this gray area. Well, I didn't really lie. I just kind of omitted a bunch of things. These are the kinds of things we do in our nation, unfortunately. And so, we don't necessarily have the strongest ethics anymore. But if you were a Jew and you lived in this time, you were taught from an early age what testimony is, what honesty is, what truth is, and what false testimony was. This was a group of people who chose to provide false testimony. You may remember in John 2:19, Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." These witnesses were false. They said that Jesus said, "I am able to destroy the temple of God." Jesus never said that. Jesus never said, "I'm going to go destroy the temple of God." Jesus said, "Destroy this temple," which was his body, and in three days I will raise it up. Humanity went so far as to reject truth and to reject righteousness in order to condemn an innocent son of God who was on the path to the cross. Amazing. Thank you, Lord Jesus. In Matthew 26:62-64, we're going to see that Jesus remained silent before false accusations until he was directly asked if he is the Christ, the son of God. And then Jesus boldly confirmed it. Matthew 26:62, "And the high priest arose and said to him, do you answer nothing? What is it these men testify against you?" Remember what we saw in that previous verse? That was hardly a capital offense. They even if you believed their false accusation, they said, "This one said he could destroy the temple and raise it up in three days." That is not something to kill a person over. And yet the high priest took it and ran with it and said, "Do you answer nothing? What is it these men testify against you?" But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to him, "I put you under oath by the living God. Tell us if you are the Christ, the son of God." By the way, that wasn't what these these two men gave false testimony over. But this is what was burning at him. Verse 64, Jesus said to him, "It is as you said, nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the power and coming on the clouds of heaven." He didn't just say he's Christ, the Son of God. He boldly confirmed it. Jesus was condemned not for wrongdoing, but for openly declaring the truth about who he is, the promised king. He's quoting Daniel 7 verses 13 and 14. So for Jesus to say this again to Jews in the first century. Then they knew what he was referencing. He says, "I am that promised king from Daniel 7:es 13 and 14." Amen. Which brings us to simple truth number 57. God's own people rejected their king. We're going to take a look at John 18:28-4. God's people, we're going to see here condemn Jesus. the innocent son of God while preparing to celebrate Passover, the very feast that points to him. John 18 verse 28. Again, the contrasts are incredible. I thank God. It's a privilege to be able to read these verses along with you and for for us to be able to tune in and to share in this together because we are describing something that is the greatest literary work ever known. I mean, the reality is you couldn't sit down and write this if you tried. It's incredible. The contrast is incredible. There's such power in it. And you understand why when you see what Jesus did for us. How you can put your faith in it. How you can put your trust in it. How you can put your confidence. You can build a life on what Jesus did. You can build it on his words. You can build it on the wise things that he said. But most importantly, you could build on the fact that he died for your sins. He restored you to the father. He was buried. And even hell couldn't hold him down. The grave could not hold him. And on the third day, he rose from the dead. And you know how I know he rose from the dead? Because 2,000 years later, I experienced him and millions of other people are experiencing him. That's incredible. Okay, let's get back into the verses, though. John 18:28. Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. That was the high priest. And they took him to the praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. Verse 29, Pilate then went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" Verse 30, they answered and said to him, "If he were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered him up to you." That's not really answering Pilot's question, now is it? The praetorium, that's the Roman governor's house specifically. It's the judgment hall in the house. It's the place where judgment was passed by the Roman authority. Humanity's spiritual blindness was revealed right here in these verses as they focused on outward religious symbolism while rejecting the true Passover lamb. So they chose not to go into the praetorium lest they thought they may be un- ceremonially defiled. Right? They thought they couldn't eat the Passover if they stepped into the praetorium. All the meanwhile they are declaring false witness. They are falsely accusing and they're rejecting their Messiah. That is clearly what we call straining out a net and swallowing a camel. Right? Incredible. John 18:31 and 32. We're going to see here that the spiritual leaders, right? These are like church leaders. These were leaders of the temple. These were leaders of the religion. The spiritual leaders. They brought Jesus to Pilate because they wanted him executed. fulfilling many earlier prophecies about Jesus's death. John 18:31, "Then Pilate said to them, "You take him and judge him according to your law." You could say Pilate smelled something fishy. Therefore, the Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death." Verse 32, that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what death he would die. Under Roman rule, the Jews could not execute Jesus, right? You couldn't go out and execute somebody in your town or in your city. You have to answer to the authorities if you did. So when the Romans established rule, the Jews knew that they could not execute Jesus. So they delivered him to Pilate for crucifixion, which is publicly lifting a criminal, a thief, someone who did a terrible offense that you publicly lift them up on a wooden cross. And that was as the for as the prophecy foretold this scripture says. But what looked like the devil's victory, remember this was the powers of darkness moving against the Messiah. What looked like the devil's victory through God's own people on top of that was actually God's plan for reconciliation as told from the very beginning. Satan thought the cross was victory, but the cross actually became Satan's defeat. Praise God. John 18:33-35. Here we're going to see that Pilate acknowledged the tragic reality that God's own people rejected their own king. John 18:33 then Pilate entered the praetorium again. Remember that's the Roman judgment hall. Called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered him, quote, "Are you speaking for yourself about this or did others tell you this concerning me?" Verse 35, Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me. What have you done? Amazing. When Jesus went to Pilate and answered him and said, "Are you speaking for yourself?" Jesus actually challenges whether Pilate wants to know the truth or he's just repeating others accusations. What a powerful thing to say to him. Jesus is basically saying, "Do you really want an honest answer? Do you want to know the truth or you just repeating what someone told you?" Incredible. God's own people rejected their true king and delivered him into the hands of a worldly power that could never understand Jesus and was not worthy to even judge Jesus. And he was brought there by the religious leaders. He was brought there by the leaders of the temple, by the leaders of the church, you can say. And that shows you once again where humanity is, our weaknesses, our frailty, and how unfortunately you and I all too often in our old man and our flesh, we will side with the wrong thing. we will take the wrong side. And that is just once again, it's convicting. It's an indicator of what you and I need to repent from and what you and I need to be transformed from. Praise God. What we're seeing right here is a contrast in your life. You can walk like these religious leaders. You can walk like Peter. You could walk like people who abandon, reject, curse, and murder. Or you could walk like Jesus Christ, your example, right? You can walk like Jesus Christ, the one who's the firstborn among many brethren as the scripture said. Check out season two of the simple truth podcast if you haven't on really what it means to be a Christian. It's such a powerful thing to see that that is our example there. That is the person who's setting the path. That is our template. That is our foundation for us to follow. And it's powerful to know that that spirit that is in Jesus Christ, that spirit is in us. and that we can walk according to that spirit and we could reign and rule in this life and do the will of the father perfectly as Jesus did it perfectly. Not because we deserve it, but because he laid the path for us and that we can walk and submit ourselves and serve God and do God's will because Jesus did it for us. Thank God for a savior. Thank God for a high priest as it says in the book of Hebrews. Thank God that Jesus Christ leads us and guides us into all truth so that we can submit ourselves and do the will of the father for God's glory, not for our glory. We're just vessels. We're just submitting ourselves and letting him fill us and letting that be revealed from inside of us. What a powerful thing and what a wonderful honor that it means to be a Christian. Praise God. John 18:36, Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here. In verse 37, Pilate therefore said to him, "Are you a king?" Then Jesus answered, "You rightly say that I'm a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice." Jesus right here declared that he is king and that his kingdom is not rooted in the world in the fallen systems and the power structures of this world. Jesus wasn't trying to be king of this world. Jesus wasn't trying to rule Rome. Jesus wasn't trying to do any of those things. Jesus had a purpose that was far greater than any of those low-level earthly fleshly things that were being discussed by the religious leaders or by Pilate that was around him. Jesus came into this world to testify to the truth. Yet humanity rejected both his truth and his authority and chose instead to put him to death, to murder him. Again, another powerful contrast. Jesus spoke truth. Remember, this is the same Jesus that healed multitudes, fed people, um cast demons out, raised the dead, did so many powerful, wonderful works that everyone looked and said, "This must be from God." He spoke the truth. He walked in authority. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And yet people, humanity chose to put him to death. Wow. Praise God. And he allowed it. Thank you, Jesus. John 18, we're going to look at verses 38 through 40. Here we're going to see that the world stood before truth incarnate, before the truth in flesh, and we still chose darkness over that truth. John 18:38, Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no fault in him at all." Verse 39, "But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews? He's looking for a way out." Verse 40, then they all cried again, saying, "Not this man, but Barabbas." Now Barabbas was a robber. Wow. And he says, "What is truth?" Notice this response from Pontius Pilate with his Greek, you know, Greek training, his ancient Greek training, his philosophy that was commonly taught in Rome. Humanity's sinful condition is that we search for truth and we desire truth while we're rejecting the very source of truth. As we saw here with Pontius Pilate, you know, he's somebody who seemed philosophical, someone who probably was searching for truth and had a desire after it. Yet, when truth was standing right in front of him, he rejected him. Praise God. Barabbas was a notorious violent criminal. You can see in Luke 23:1 19 and Mark 15:7, he was a guilty murderer. So the guilty murderer, Barabbas, was set free and the innocent Jesus took his place. Praise God. So let's take a moment. What have we been going through? We've gone through so much. It's so powerful. Has so much meaning. And it has so much meaning for you and me. Here's why it's so powerful. When we come before the father and we pray, we say, "Father, thank you that Jesus did these things that he died for sins, he was buried, he rose again the third day, you know what the father does? He listens. That's God's word. That's a fact. That's truth, right? We're acknowledging the work his son did before him." And as we pray and we seek his face and we acknowledge the truth, God works in us. That's what's so powerful about this. You and I can sit down and we can make up all sorts of stuff. We could write all sorts of our own poetry. We could even try to write our own book of the Bible. It'd be foolish to do so, but we could try. God ignores all of it. In fact, oh, he only judges it. But if we come to God and we repeat back to him his word. If we go back to God and we repeat what his son did, now God goes, "I'm listening." And I don't know about you, but when I pray for something from God, I want him listening. Amen. Humanity betrayed, abandoned, and denied Jesus. But Jesus kept moving faithfully toward the cross. What else did we see? Jesus was treated like an evil criminal even though he broke no law and he had been doing good throughout Israel and they judged him and they wanted to murder him. Wow. The powers of darkness moved against Jesus causing those around him to break under pressure. But Jesus kept doing God's plan because he has that spirit spirit of the son of God in him. Praise God. Stayed on top of it. You know what? As we look at this, this is this is the reason why it was so hard in the garden of Gethsemane. It was so hard to pray. why the disciples kept falling asleep. The powers of darkness were coming against them because the devil knew. The devil knew it was about to happen. The devil was trying to stop. The devil was trying to kill the Messiah only for the Messiah to be raised from the dead and for the keys of hell and death to be granted to Jesus Christ. Wow. God's own people rejected their king. But what looked like a defeat to everyone who was there was actually God preparing the way for salvation. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Which brings us to simple truth number 58. Jesus bore humanity shame and our suffering. Praise God. We're going to take a look at Matthew 27:26-31. Thanks for bearing with us. Thanks for staying along with me. As we read scripture, we see what Jesus did. The most important topic in the Bible and the most important event in all of human history. We're going to see in Matthew 27:26-28 that Jesus was beaten. He was mocked. He was stripped of his dignity as he began bearing the shame caused by humanity's sin. Matthew 27:26. Then he released Barabbas to them. And when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Verse 27. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around him. Verse 28. And they stripped him and they put a scarlet robe on him. To scourge is to whip, to flog. It's to severely beat. This isn't just smacking around. This is a severe and disgusting beating. They beat Jesus Christ. And they said that they delivered him to be crucified. Again, fastened to a cross, executed by crucifixion. By the way, it was a capital punishment, a form of death that was held for just the worst of the worst criminals. Jesus did nothing to even get him to be imprisoned, let alone crucified. The Roman soldiers, they mocked Jesus. They mocked his kingship. They stripped him down till he was naked. And they placed a scarlet robe on him in an attempt to ridicule and to humiliate him. Note the depth, the suffering and humiliation he bore because of our sin. This wasn't just some kind of light thing. This was disgusting. This was brutal. If any of us were in the room, we would be horrified and we would want to leave the room. No human being deserves this treatment, let alone the innocent son of God. But he took it for us. Thank you, Jesus. Matthew 27:29-31. Here we're going to see that Jesus endured the shame, the rejection, and the suffering so that you and I could receive grace, forgiveness, and redemption. Matthew 27-29. when they had twisted a crown of thorns and put it on his head and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed the knee before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews." Verse 30, then they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. Verse 31, "And when they had mocked him, they took the robe off him, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to be crucified." They weren't just going to murder him. They were trying to humiliate him. The Romans mocked Jesus in his kingship. They dressed him up like a fake king. Humanity treated Jesus with such contempt. Even though he came to reveal the kingdom of God and to save them through his sacrifice, Jesus didn't come to receive money. Jesus didn't come to gain some kind of status or authority. What did Jesus get out of all this? Jesus came to reveal the kingdom to us. Jesus came to do the will of the father. And Jesus came to be our sacrifice. And here he was being sacrificed in a brutal and a disgusting way. But don't misunderstand this moment. Jesus is not going to return this way. I think that's something that you're going to we're going to want to repeat that and understand. Do not misunderstand this moment. This Jesus that we're seeing being stripped naked, being beaten, being humiliated, that's not Jesus Christ, the son of God. That is Jesus being a sacrifice for us. But when Jesus returns, it's not going to look anything like this. Simple truth number 59. Jesus's second coming will be very different than his first. Luke 23 verses 26-30. Here we're going to see that Jesus then started carrying the cross, an instrument of shame, suffering, and death that would become humanity's redemption. Luke 23:26. Now as they led him away, they laid hold of a certain man, someone who's just walking by, Simon, a Sirenian, who was coming from the country. and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. And a great multitude of the people followed him and women who also mourned and lamented him. Simon of Cyrene who's just walking by is required to help bear the cross while crowds follow in mourning witnessing the suffering and humiliation of Jesus. Jesus was beaten so badly. He was stripped down. He was flogged. He was scourged so badly that he could not carry this very heavy cross. So they compelled, they grabbed somebody and forced him to help carry it with him. As the crowds mourned Jesus's suffering on the way to the cross as though he were the cursed one, Jesus then suddenly warns them of a far greater judgment to come through him. Understand that these crowds are falling and looking at him and they're saying, "Oh, poor Jesus. Oh, how he's suffering. Oh, how sad this is." Jesus then looks up again. He had presence of spirit. Jesus's body was severely broken down. His soul was in anguish. But Jesus's spirit was the spirit of the son of God. It's so powerful. In the book of Proverbs, it describes the idea that a spirit of a man sustains him, sustains him. Jesus's spirit was sustaining him through this disgusting and terrible event. But notice the statement that Jesus is going to provide in Luke 23 verses 28-30. Jesus shifts the focus away from his own suffering. It was terrible. He was in such pain and such agony. And then he warns humanity about the coming judgment for all those who reject his gospel. As Jesus is fulfilling and performing the gospel, Jesus looks and says, "I must warn you for those who are rejecting this gospel, who are rejecting what I am doing for humanity right now. It's going to be very difficult for them." Luke 23:28. But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children." Verse 29, "For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed." Verse 30, "Then they will begin to say to the mountains, fall on us, and on the hills, cover us." Wow. A day is coming, Jesus said, that's so terrible that people will consider childlessness preferable because they don't even want their children to experience it. So notice as they're here and they're beating and they're stripping him down and they're flogging him and they're scourging him and the crown of thorns and hitting him with the reed and they're spitting on him. They're doing all these things, Jesus looks and says, "A day is coming. This thing that I Jesus am doing, this thing that's saving humanity for everyone who would accept it. This is not being done for not. A day is coming in which this will judge people. So be on the right side of it. Amen. His first coming, what we read about in scripture, right? What we saw in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It was marked by Jesus's sacrifice and by his mercy, but his future return. That's described also in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And it's very much described in the book of Revelation. It will include righteous judgment against sin and against rebellion. Revelation 19:11-16. We're going to see here the suffering savior will return as a victorious king judging all nations. Revelation 19:11. Now I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse. And he who sat on him was called faithful and true. And in righteousness he judges and makes war. Verse 12. His eyes, this is Jesus that's being described here in the book of Revelation. Jesus at his second coming. His eyes were like a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except himself. Verse 13, he was clothed with the robe dipped in blood and his name was called the Word of God. Jesus's humiliation at the cross. It was not weakness. It was part of God's redemptive plan before his ultimate kingdom victory. Humanity mocked and rejected Jesus Christ. But a day is coming where every eye will see Jesus return in glory, power, and authority. Revelation 19:14-16, we're going to see here that Revelation reveals, the book of Revelation reveals Jesus returning from heaven as a victorious king, leading the armies of heaven in righteous judgment. Revelation 19:14, "And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed him on white horses." Verse 15. Now out of his mouth goes a sharp sword that with it he should strike the nations, and he himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He himself treads the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Verse 16. And he has on his robe and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus first came as the suffering lamb. That's what we've been reading here at his crucifixion. He came as a suffering lamb to save humanity. But he will return as a conquering king to judge the world. Which brings us to simple truth number 60. Jesus was crucified so humanity could be saved. Luke 2:33 to 43, we're going to see that even while humanity crucified him, Jesus was making salvation available to the very people killing him through faith in the gospel. Luke 23:33. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified him and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do." And they divide his garments and cast lots. Forgive for Jesus to say during the course of this agony, this absolute terrible agony, he's hanging up on a cross. There's nails piercing his hand and piercing his feet. Crucifixion was so bloody. We have imagery that we could show you and it seemed inappropriate to show you. Not imagery of Jesus himself. No one has that. But we could show crucifixion. But I would like to describe it for you to imagine it. So Jesus's hands were nailed and his feet were nailed. And the way crucifixion works is it doesn't kill you through the nailing. It kills you by your inability to breathe. So, as your hands are nailed, if you can imagine, to your side, and your feet are nailed through with one big stake, you have to kind of stand up to breathe and you're standing up on your nailed feet and your nailed hands. But it's so painful and so agonizing that over time, you start to slump down. But as you slump down, you find yourself unable to breathe. So then you have to kind of stand yourself up on nailed feet and nailed hands. But then it becomes agonizing and you start losing your energy. So you start to slump down and you're unable to breathe. This is how crucifixion works. It's purposely done by the Romans to create a sign, a symbol, something for the public to see. Do not misbehave or we'll do this to you. It's it's meant to be brutal by the Romans. It's meant for the absolute worst of criminals, for murderers, for robbers, for insurrectionists, people who are revolting against Roman rule. And so they were crucifying them. Jesus was put through the most disgusting and most terrible of executions. And what does he do in the middle of it? While his feet are nailed, while his hands are nailed, while he's having difficulty breathing, he says, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do." Forgive means to pardon, release, let go, cancel their guilt. Jesus said, "Release them from this guilt. They may be murdering me, but let it go. Cancel it. Thank you, Jesus." He says they know not what they do. They don't understand. They don't perceive. They don't recognize. Because what Jesus is saying is if they really did perceive. If they really did recognize, they wouldn't do it. Jesus prayed for forgiveness for those crucifying him, revealing the mercy and the grace at the heart of the gospel. That's love. That's love. Which begs the question, when you sin and you ask for forgiveness, will God forgive you? Absolutely he will. that there's nothing you can do that God won't forgive you from. Now, the reality is you don't just go around doing crazy things. Those things all have an effect or an impact on your life. You don't want that. But when you ask for forgiveness, God forgives because Jesus Christ himself forgives. He forgave the people who were murdering him. That shows you, that gives you some insight as to how God is. And that is the love of God. Thank God for it. Understand this. Jesus willingly endured the torment of crucifixion. He willingly endured it so you and I could receive forgiveness and reconciliation with God. In Luke 23:35 through 37, we're going to see that the rulers and the soldiers mocked Jesus while he hung on that cross, demanding that he save himself if he was truly the Christ and King. Okay. Mark 23:35. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered the aggression, saying, quote, "He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ, the chosen of God. Verse 36, the soldiers also mocked him. Coming and offering him sour wine and saying, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." Their mockery, their mockery, it reveals their spiritual blindness. Because Jesus wasn't being forced onto the cross by them. They thought somehow they forced him. They they grabbed him with swords and clubs and they pushed him in and they forced him to it. Jesus chose it. Jesus chose the cross. Jesus could have actually gotten off the cross at any point, but he refused to come down. Jesus couldn't come down because if Jesus came down, then you and I still have our sins and we're not forgiven and we're not reconciled. Jesus came to pay a price and he wasn't going to die until the price was paid. Thank you, Jesus. As humanity mocked Jesus and he mocked, we mocked his identity as king. Pilate actually unknowingly proclaimed the truth by placing a public inscription upon the cross. Okay. Luke 23:38-4. We're going to see here that even while hanging on the cross, God made sure that Jesus was revealed to the world as the true king and our only hope of salvation. Luke 23:38. And an inscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. Amazing. three three of the main languages there. This was going to be clear to anybody who walked by. They didn't have Google Translate back then, folks. So, if you spoke Greek, if you read Greek, you read Latin, or you read Hebrew, all could see this. It said, quote, "This is the king of the Jews." Verse 39. Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us." But the other the other criminal answering rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you under the same condemnation?" Wow. One criminal joined the crowd in mocking Jesus in demanding rescue, while the other recognized both his own guilt and Christ's innocence. That man spoke it because that man knew that he deserved the crucifixion. He committed a crime that was worthy of this punishment, but he knew Jesus did not. And so he says, "Do you not even fear God?" seeing that you're under the same condemnation as this person. This reveals the dividing line of the gospel. We will either reject Jesus in our own unbelief or we're going to turn to him in faith for our salvation. Which criminal are you going to be? You could say, are you going to be the one who mocks him? Who says, "Save yourself and do something for me while you're at it?" Are you going to be the one who looks and says, "Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner, and I thank you that Jesus died for my sins and I could be forgiven." This is the contrast again. Again, another contrast to show which criminal are we going to be. Luke 23:41-43. The cross proves that no sin is beyond salvation when they repent and they believe in Jesus Christ. Luke 23:41. And we indeed justly, this is what this criminal goes on to say, right? This criminal says, we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man has done nothing wrong. This criminal said, "We're being crucified. You and me, criminal, we're being crucified because of the deeds that we did, and we know it, and we're getting the reward for the terrible things that we did." But this man, Jesus Christ, he did nothing wrong. He's being punished right alongside us. Verse 42, then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." This man received his kingship. Everyone else was putting on fake clothes and bowing a knee and mocking him and spitting on him and slapping him around. And this convicted criminal, this this person who did a terrible offense, he looked over and said, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He accepted his kingship. And he called him Lord. Verse 43. And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." Thank God. Hallelujah. Thank God. This is there's clear messages for you and me, folks. Clear messages for you and me, folks. This criminal recognized his own guilt and turned to Christ for forgiveness. What did Jesus do? He immediately responded with salvation. It's never too late for us. This man was This man was on a cross having a hard time breathing with a big stake, a big nail through his feet and through each of his hands. And he looks over at Jesus and he gets saved. Praise God. And that's how God responds. The gospel opens the way for every broken and sinful person, including you and me, to receive grace, to receive forgiveness, and to receive eternal life through Jesus Christ. The cross proved that Jesus did not only come merely to die. He came to save everyone who believes in him, no matter what they did, like that criminal who was sitting on that cross next to him. So, let's take a moment. Jesus endured shame, suffering, and humiliation that we deserved. So all people could receive what he deserved. Grace, forgiveness, and redemption. Praise God. The crowds mourned Jesus as though he were the one who had defeated. Jokes on them, right? Jokes on us. Amazing. When he was carrying the cross to become their redemption. Amazing. The contrast. It's just deep. The irony is so strong. Jesus first came as a suffering lamb, but he will return at his second coming as a conquering king in glory, power, and righteous judgment. He will come as someone to be feared. So, we should bow our knee now. We should submit to him now. We do not want to be those people that Jesus described where he says, "It would better if you were children-less. It was better if these mountains fell on top of you." Jesus said, "That is not who we want to be. So, submit now. Submit now. Even while crucified and mocked, Jesus extended forgiveness and salvation to others. Showed tremendous love, more love than I could ever see from anyone ever to provide. Jesus was was clearly all-star level of love. Agape love. He didn't do love. He wasn't giving to get. He did love because he knew it was best for us and he did what was best for us. And that will change your mind. That will cause you to repent. When you get an appreciation and a revelation of what Jesus did for you and me, that'll turn us away from our sins. Right? So, if Jesus, while crucified and mocked, could extend forgiveness and salvation to others, will he not show us that same mercy today? Yes, he will. Praise God. Which brings us to simple truth number 61. We're coming. We're coming into the final stretches, folks. Jesus finished the work of salvation. John 19:es 28-30. We're going to see here that Jesus declared the work the father sent him to accomplish through the cross had been fully completed. John 19 verse 28. After this Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished that the scripture might be fulfilled saying I thirst. Verse 29. Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there and they filled a sponge with sour wine put it on hyssop and they put it to his mouth. Verse 30. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished." And bowing his head, he gave up his spirit. "It is finished." It's a victorious declaration that the payment for sin and the work of redemption had been accomplished in full. Praise God. But it begs the question, what exactly was finished? So let's take a look at it. Well, so what exactly did Jesus accomplish through all of this on the cross? Right? We went through this in great detail. We read through the verses. You saw it in scripture. You saw how it is written. So what did he accomplish? Well, number one, he accomplished the forgiveness of our sins. Through the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for sin. So each of us could be fully forgiven by God through faith in what he did, his death, burial, and resurrection. You see, all of our wrongdoings needed to be punished. We remember what that thief said who was the criminal who was on the the cross. He says, "We're here getting our due reward. We did terrible things and we deserve this punishment." All of us in our lives have done terrible things. We have. And we're not going to receive that punishment because Jesus bore the punishment. So through the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for sin. He paid our punishment. for everybody who would believe and submit to him, who would submit to his kingship, who would submit to his rule, much like that criminal who was on the cross next to him, we would have our sins forgiven. Praise God. Number two, he accomplished reconciliation with God through the gospel. Jesus restored the broken relationship. In our last episode, we talked about God's plan for reconciliation, God's plan to bring us back. It's a powerful episode, a powerful topic, and it was done here through the cross. Jesus restored that broken relationship between a sinful humanity and a holy God. There was a big distance, right? There was a big gap between God's holiness, his righteousness, and our sinfulness. And Jesus create a bridge between that gap and reconciled us back to God. God can have a close and a wonderful relationship with us because Jesus died for our sins. Jesus paid the price and so that we could be forgiven. Number three, victory over sin and death. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus defeated the power of sin, defeated Satan, and defeated death for everyone who believes in him. We don't have time in this episode to go through all the scriptures related to this. We've gone through some of them in our earlier episodes in this season, and we'll cover some more in the episodes to come. You'll see this throughout the New Testament that Jesus defeated the power of sin, the power of Satan, and the power of death so that everyone who believes in him can overcome them. Number four, redemption. Jesus gave his life as a price to rescue us from our slavery to sin and to bring all Christians into God's kingdom. In other words, he paid our ransom so that we could be liberated. Praise God. That's what it means to be redeemed. Number five, peace with God. Through the cross, Jesus removed the hostility that was caused by sin. That hostility started in Genesis 3. We read about it where Adam and Eve sinned and it created a hostility and a separation. But through the cross, Jesus removed that hostility caused by sin. He paid the price. He removed it. He forgave it so that we could have peace and fellowship with God. Number six, salvation for all who believe the gospel. Salvation is much more than just going to heaven when you die, which is important. But salvation means being made whole, healthy, and sound spirit, soul, and body. This is something we experience here on earth and in the world to come. We experience this when we believe the gospel. So through the cross, Jesus has achieved for us salvation. That means to be made whole, to be made healthy, to be made sound, spirit, soul, and body. Sign me up. So what should I do now? Well, number one, repent from behaviors you know you shouldn't be doing. Okay? Lay aside the sin and these old behaviors that keep entangling you and slowing your walk with God. Don't you see what Jesus did for us? And this is a message for you and for me. I've got no business doing foolishness out there in the streets when Jesus went through such a terrible torment so that we could be reconnected back to God. I've got no business going back in the mud and in the dirt and dirtying myself when Jesus has made me clean. Okay. Put your faith. Number two, put your faith fully in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Don't put your trust in religious tradition or good works or or your own strength to save you. You don't put your trust in those things. Put your trust in the gospel of Jesus Christ, the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the son of God. Number three, don't resist. Don't dismiss, and don't ignore God's voice in your life. Apply the five disciplines. We learned about this in season three in your life. And intentionally build a closer relationship with God. Pray. Read the Bible out loud. Meditate on God's scripture. Fast. Be led by the spirit. Right? Do these things. Commit yourself so that you can hear God and have a close relationship with him. Do not let the work that Jesus Christ did be for nothing in your life. Don't get wrapped up in the things of this world and the cares of this world. Get wrapped up with God. Have a close, intimate relationship. Get to know your savior. Get to know and understand what it is he wants for your life and what is your purpose. When God speaks or God leads you, obey him. Jesus suffered and died on the cross so that you could be forgiven, you could be reconciled, and you can walk in a new life through him. So grab onto it. Seize the day. Next episode of the simple truth. So we've seen all that Jesus accomplished through the cross. Forgiveness and redemption and reconciliation and peace with God and salvation for all who believe the gospel. But this raises an important question. If Jesus did all this to save us from sin, then what exactly is sin? Why is it such a big deal? Don't miss next episode. We're going to see what sin really is, the types of sin, how it affects our lives, and what we could do about sin through the power of the gospel. Thank you for listening to this episode of the Simple Truth Podcast. Today, we saw that the cross was not Christ's defeat. It was God's victory. Jesus was betrayed, abandoned, condemned, mocked, beaten, and crucified. You and I weren't physically there, but our sins were the reason why he went to the cross. And through it all, he accomplished your and my salvation. At the cross, Jesus took what we deserved so we could receive what he deserves. being declared righteous, peace with God, victory over sin and death, and salvation for everyone who believes the gospel. This is great news. But what should we do about it now? Well, I challenge you to do this for the next seven days. First, make the choice to turn away from the sins and bad habits that you know are pulling you away from God. In other words, don't keep doing what Jesus died to set you free from. Repent and turn away from the sin that separates you from God. Second, this week, put your confidence fully in the gospel, in the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Don't lean on your own strength or your own goodness or your church activities to make you right with God. You are right with God because Jesus finished the work of salvation through his death on the cross and his resurrection. and you have received that gift by faith in him. And third, pay attention when God is dealing with your heart. Do not push his voice aside when you hear him speak. Listen, respond, and obey him as you walk in the new life Jesus purchased for you. Let us know in the comments how you're doing and if you need us to pray for anything. We are so glad that you are on this Christian walk with us and appreciate you taking the time to watch this important episode. Please share this episode with anyone you know that needs to understand what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Someone who's wrestling with guilt, fear, or condemnation. If this episode helped you, please be sure to like and subscribe. Next episode, we'll get into what is sin and how do you overcome it? Because if Jesus died to save us from sin, we need to understand what sin is, how it's working against us, and exactly how the gospel gives us power to overcome it. It's been a pleasure talking about the Bible with you. I pray God bless you, God keep you, and help you live every day in the freedom, forgiveness, and victory Jesus accomplished for you through the cross. Until next time, thank you for listening to the Simple Truth Podcast. For additional episodes, visit us at www.simpletruth.org.