Message Notes

Experience the Passion

What the Passion of Jesus Tells Us About God

 

1.   THE TRIAL OF JESUS SHOWS US GOD’S PURPOSE

John 10:18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.

 

Matthew 26:36-42 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.  ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

⁴² He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

John 12:27 “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

 

What reason?

 

John 12:47 Jesus said, ‘I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.’

 

Matthew 26:59-66 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.  ⁶⁰ But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

Finally two came forward  ⁶¹ and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”  ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent.

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

⁶⁴ “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.  ⁶⁶ What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,” they answered.

 

Daniel 7:13-14 (400 BC) "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. ¹⁴ He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.  

 

LIAR LUNATIC OR LORD

You hae already made a decision about Jesus

He claimed to be God….

 

Phillipians 2:6-11 …who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷ but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

EVERYONE WILL ADMIT IT, every arrogant scholar, rock star, business person, etc. It’s not "if" you will acknowledge God but "when", now in LOVE or LATER in REGRET

 

 

2.  The death of Christ shows us the depth of GOD’S LOVE FOR US

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Isaiah 53:4-6 (700 BC) Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. ⁵ But he as pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. ⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 

He never wanted us to forget how much he loves us so he gave us a symbol, the LORDS SUPPER

Why did Jesus have to die?  I’m going to explain it to you as simply and as clearly as I possibly can.  This is Christianity 101.  Listen as if your life depends on it!  Because it does!

 

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

 

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

John 19:30b  Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Ephesians 1:7-8 (CEV) Christ sacrificed his life's blood to set us free, which means that our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because God was so kind to us.

 

THERE IS NO OTHER WAY!!!!

 

Dear Jesus Christ, thank You for dying for me on the cross.  Thank You for paying for my sin.  Thank You for making a way to heaven for me.  Thank You for loving me.  Thank You for accepting me.  Today I accept You and Your free gift of forgiveness. Please forgive me for my sins. I want to follow You and I want to love You and I want to get to know You.  In Your name I pray.  Amen.

 

3. The resurrection of Jesus shows us GOD’S POWER

If the story ended at the cross we wouldn’t be here!

Acts 1:3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

 

Isaiah 53:11-12 (700 BC) After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. ¹² Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

 

Romans 1:4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Ephesians 1:18-23 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,  ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,  ²⁰ which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,  ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

 

 

HOW SHOULD I RESPOND TO HIS DEATH FOR ME?

 

1) I ought to LOVE CHRIST
1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.

 

2) I ought to HATE SIN
Romans 6:6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin…

 

3) I ought to TELL OTHERS
2 Corinthians 5:19 …that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

ITS WASTED IF WE DO NOT OTHERS!!!!