Lesson
7-4
Christ
Died For Us
IV. Christ Died
For Us
The crucifixion of
Jesus is the central event in the entire history of the human race. On the
cross Jesus took upon Him all the sins of the world. "He, Who knew no sin,
was made sin for us" (II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:22; Romans 5:8-10).
A. Jesus Mocked by
the Soldiers
After Jesus had been
scourged, the soldiers took Him into the common hall. A whole band of soldiers
were gathered together. They stripped Jesus and placed a scarlet robe on His
wounded, bleeding back. They then platted a crown of thorns and placed it upon
His head, placed a reed in His right hand and bowed before our Lord and mocked
Him. They cried, "Hail, King of the Jews!" The soldiers then spit
upon Him, took the reed from His hand, and beat Jesus upon the head. They
replaced the scarlet robe with His own clothing, and led Christ away to be
crucified.
B. Simon and the
Cross
As they made their way
to Calvary, they found Simon, a man of Cyrene, and forced him to bear the
cross. The procession arrived at Golgatha. There they offered Jesus vinegar
mixed with gall to drink. After tasting it, Jesus would not drink it. The
soldiers then crucified Jesus, placing His cross between those of two thieves.
Over the cross of Jesus was the accusation: THIS IS
JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Soldiers divided garment of Jesus casting
lots for them.
C.
Jesus—Mocked on the Cross
As Jesus hung in agony
on the cross, people passing by mocked him, wagging their heads, saying,
"Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save
thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross." The chief
priests, scribes and elders joined the jeering, saying, "He saved others;
himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from
the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now,
if he will have him: for he said, I am the son of
God."
D. The Thief on the
Cross
One of the criminals
which was crucified by Jesus railed against Him, saying, "If thou be
Christ, save thyself and us." The other thief, however, rebuked his
fellow-sufferer saying, "Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the
same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our
deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss." This same man then said to
Jesus, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." Jesus
answered, "Verily 1 say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."
E. Forgiveness on
the Cross
A statement of Jesus
on the cross reveals His compassion for even those who crucified Him. He said,
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
F. The Happenings
after His Death
After Jesus died, the
vail in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. There was a great earthquake, and the rocks ripped apart. In a
graveyard outside the city, many graves opened. The Roman centurion, and his
soldier, took note of these unusual occurrences, and were smitten with fear.
They said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" Many women, stood a great
distance away, carefully observing all these things.
G.
Jesus is Buried
Joseph of
Arimathaea, a rich man who was a secret disciple of Jesus, asked Pilate for
permission to take away the body of Jesus. Pilate granted his request.
Nicodemus, the same man who came to Jesus by night, and who had been told of
his need to be born again, helped Joseph and they wrapped Jesus in a clean
linen cloth, and placed Him in Joseph's personal tomb, where no one had ever
been buried. What looked like defeat, was actually a great victory
for the Kingdom of God. Jesus had accomplished His purpose in coming into the
world. He had taken the place of sinful men, and had made it possible for them
to escape the wages of sin, which is death (Romans 6:23).