What Does the Passion Show Me?

Message Notes
Special Easter Message
What Does the Passion Show Me?
April 4, 2004

1) The Passion shows me that sin has a really harsh consequence
From John 19:1-24 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face…Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others--one on each side and Jesus in the middle…When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
²⁴"Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it."

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

2) The Passion shows me that Jesus paid the price for MY sin.
Romans 3:23 …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Isaiah 53:4-6 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 was 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.

Romans 5:6-9 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 3:25a God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement… He did this to demonstrate his justice

3) The Passion shows me that I can be pardoned and spend eternity with Jesus
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Luke 23:39-43 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
⁴⁰But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
⁴²Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
⁴³Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--

Jesus Christ, I admit to you that I am messed up. I realize today that I am not living my life for you. I turn from my sin. I realize my sin has offended you. I ask for the forgiveness that you freely give. I turn to you, Christ, and ask you to take control of me. I give you everything I am and everything I will be. Please take charge of my life. Amen.

4) The Passion shows me that I can have a different life right now!
Ephesians 1:19-20 [I pray that you will know] his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, ²⁰which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…

My sins can be forgiven
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

I can have peace right now
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

I can have strength right now.
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

I don’t have to worry about my future
2 Corinthians 5:5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.