Submitted by Pastor Richard Boettner, Rock Port Baptist Church

For this week’s article I will summarize some teaching from Scripture about Jesus’ death on the Cross, and how His sacrifice is essential for us to receive a correct understanding of God’s plan of salvation. A true spiritual maturity can come if we identify our own sufferings as part of experiencing Jesus and the fellowship of His sufferings (Phil. 3:20). In John 18 & 19 we can see some teaching to help us during this time:

1) Jesus’ physical suffering was real and undeserved. Included in John’s Gospel is a list of events: a betrayal, an arrest and being bound, a beating by soldiers, being forced to carry his own cross, and a crucifixion on the Cross, leading to his death. Words such as “I thirst” (John 19:28) reveal the physical strain.

2) Jesus suffered spiritual and emotional anguish that exceeded the mere physical suffering. This is why we use the word “passion” to describe the Cross. The ultimate moment was when Jesus asks the great unanswered question of Scripture with “My God why have you forsaken me?”. Even Jesus demonstrates sinless confusion about God’s ultimate plan in His suffering.

3) Jesus experienced joy in the midst of the Cross because of the greater work being accomplished. His ultimate cry of triumph was to speak “It is finished” (John 19:30), which means that all payment for sin has been accomplished, and anyone who believes can receive His gift of salvation. The writers of Scripture look back at the Cross and see Jesus’ endurance as sufficient for us to endure trials and hardships in this life (Hebrews 12:1-3). Also in Hebrews 10:10: “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” His burial and resurrection guarantee a real death but also a real supernatural new life, which we are promised too, when we believe in Jesus.

4) Jesus demonstrated concern for others even while dying on the Cross. Jesus committed his mother to another disciple (John 19:26). He forgives those who hurt him, who did not know what they were doing (Luke 23:34). He speaks hope to a thief on another cross that “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Please accept an invitation to join our Good Friday service sponsored by the Rock Port Ministerial Alliance Friday, April 18, at 12:00 noon at the First Christian Church in Rock Port.

I pray as we have shared this article together that you might also feel welcome to share any “cross-like” experience in your life at this time. Please contact me at rpbaptistchurch@gmail.com with any questions or comments.