PATH TO THE CROSS
Crown of Thorns – What does this represent?
Mockery
Shame
Rejection
Not being taken seriously
Disregard
Not accepted
Not important
Irrelevant
Hated
In the way
Public spectacle
Disgrace
Unloved
Add your own ______________________________
Ponder where have your sensed or felt things like these.
Name the most prominent ones and carry them with you to the cross.
And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand;
and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
Matthew 27:29 (NASB)
The Blood of Jesus
Ponder the mystery of the power of an eternal God/Man shedding his holy blood for the likes of us.
How do we treat this incredible act on our behalf?
“He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”
Isaiah 53:2, 3 (NASB)
Do you hold back from accepting this radical act on your behalf? Do you turn your face away and carry your sorrows and sin on your own? Confess you disregard of him and carry it to the cross.
” …without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22
“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus… let us draw near …” Hebrews 10:19-22
“…but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
1 John 1:7
His Body Broken
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written,
“Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” Gal. 3:13
He took on any curse we’ve been cursed with. What names, labels, scripts, or unspoken attitudes have you been designated with or held over yourself that need to be shed, let go of or renounced? Write down the ones coming to mind and carry them to the cross.
“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5
“…having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Colossians 2:14
Exchange at the Cross
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10
What has the thief stolen from you?
What has Jesus done about this?
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind. 2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of God’s favor to them has come, and the day of his wrath to their enemies. 3 To all who mourn in Israel he will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness. For God has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory. 4 And they shall rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities long ago destroyed, reviving them though they have lain there many generations. Isaiah 61:1-4
Jesus took our sins, wounds, poverty, shame, rejection that we might be forgiven, healed, made righteous, accepted (List your pains, rejections, failures, pain, shame to lay before him…)
Lay down the things you carry and make an exchange at the cross!
Exchange at the Cross (adapted from La Rucher Ministries)
On the cross a divine exchange took place. All the evil that was due by justice to the human race (and to us individually) was poured upon Jesus so that all the good that was due the sinless obedience of Jesus could be made available to us who believe!
Jesus was punished – that we might be forgiven. Is. 53:4,5
Jesus was wounded – that we might be healed. He carried our sorrows and bore our griefs.
Is. 53:4,5; Is. 61:1-4
Jesus was made sin with our sinfulness – that we might be made righteous with His righteousness.
Is. 53:10; 2 Cor. 5:21
Jesus tasted death for us – that we might share His life.
Heb. 2:9; John 10:10
Jesus was made a curse – that we might receive the blessing. Gal. 3:13, 14; Deut. 21:22,23
Jesus endured our poverty – that we might share His abundance.
2 Cor. 8:9 & 9:8
Jesus endured our shame that we might share His glory.
Matt. 27:35, 36; Heb. 2:10
Jesus endured rejection – that we might share His acceptance.
Matthew 27:45 – 51; Ephesians 1:3-6
What do you lay down and what do you take with you?