Even The Death Of The Cross

Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Here was the Lord of Glory, God manifest in the flesh.

Very God and very man.

What a contrast - Being in the form of God and then – being found in fashion as a man.

Made in the likeness of men.

He made Himself of no reputation.

He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death.

Even the death of the cross.

Consider… His journey there…

The Garden
• As He prayed.
• The agony of the cup.
• Sweat like great drops of blood.
• The betrayal - by his close friend of three years.

As time went by…
The sleepless night
The pretence of three mock trials.

The Mockery
• The purple robe.
• The crowning with thorns.
• He was reviled.
• Struck by sharp blows.
• The spittle.

And people mock Him still.
• Some fools even try to pretend that He never existed.
• The One from Who all history is dated.

One day all the mockers will be ashamed.

No one can honestly deny the fact of His existence. The fact of… the eyewitness accounts - the veracity of the record…

The scourging
• His bruising.
• He was torn.
• His visage – his face was marred - more than any man

He was hated - without a cause.
• The reproach.
• The abuse.
• The rejection.

The Curse

Galatians 3:13 …Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Literally - it tells of the curse of God. The vilest thing in God’s sight.

• The curse of the cross. He bore it.
• The shame. He wore it.
• The carrying of the cross for almost 2 kilometres. All the while subject to cursing and wounding.
• The agonising death march. He walked it, all the way to that rugged Hill.

Behold, The Lamb of God.
Who takes away the sin of the world.

Even the death of the cross.
• The death reserved for the most wretched of criminals.
• There He hung - suspended between heaven and earth.

The Mediator between God and man.

It was, and is God’s plan. The only way we can be saved.

• The penalty.
• The remedy
• The spotless lamb.
• The just for the unjust.

He who knew no sin was made to be sin for us.
• Made a curse.
• Bearing the sins of many.

The unfathomable suffering.

Even the death of the cross.

The Brutality.
• The Shame.
• The Humiliation.

The Nails.
• The stabbing pain
• Every breath was painful.
• One doctor has called the cross “a symphony of pain” produced by every movement, with every breath...
• Spasm
• Convulsions
• Cramp

The thirst
He was offered – but He refused – the bitter cup of gall, that could have brought Him some sedation of the pain.

Gangrene
• Tetanus
• Fever
• The torment of flies

Abandoned.
• Alone.
• God forsaken.

Yet hear His victory cry – it is finished!

At that moment…

The Veil - it was torn.

It was at the ninth hour – the time at which a sacrificial lamb was killed every day in the Jewish temple, and the Lord Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying,

“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated,

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

He died, after saying “It is finished.”

About this moment is probably the time when the temple’s priestly ram’s horn would have been blown that day, announcing that the priests had completed the sacrifice of the lamb for the sins of Israel.

Also at that moment, the great, thick curtain that closed the Holy of Holies room from view, ripped open from top to bottom.

The veil - this thick curtain of separation - was torn. The veil of His very flesh was torn.

After He was pierced, it appears to show that His very heart was torn, in His travail of soul, from a cardiac rupture.

The way was made open.

Christ was the victim of divine wrath.

All that was evil, that offended the holy God, was laid on Him. Imputed to Him.

God’s awesome anger was fully vented and poured out. The Judge took the full sentence for us.

Greater love hath no man than this.

It is finished - was His victory cry.

But wait - there’s more. More victory!

Because He is risen.

(9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

He was raised! But wait - there’s more! More victory!

(10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.