GOD’S PURPOSEFUL YOUTH (G.P.Y.) ONLINE TEACHING THE MYSTERY OF THE CROSS (Fifth Session)

GOD’S PUROSEFUL YOUTH (G.P.Y.) ONLINE TEACHING

THE MYSTERY OF THE CROSS (Fifth Session)

TEACHING BY: BRO SEGUN MAUTON

PRAYER: Let's Pray!

Father, tonight we receive your word with clarity, we've understanding and by your Spirit we receive revelation knowledge of your truth.

We see Jesus glorified and we're edified

We wrap up the teaching tonight, thanks to everyone that has been following

We've established that God revealed to the men in the Old Testament through prophets His will (salvation) for humanity, by His Spirit. He inspired the scriptures (Genesis to Malachi) so that men would know His will...

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Heb. 1:1

Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1 Pet 1:10-11

So we'll find God's will for humanity in the scriptures, that is, the Old Testament prophets all talked about the death and resurrection of Jesus...

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Rom 1:1-4

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: Luke 1:68-70

We've also learnt this will of God was perfected by the Son at the "fullness of time". The Son came at just the perfect time in human history to fulfill God's salvation plan...

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Gal 4:4-5

This shows us that God had predestined Jesus to be the lamb that'd take away the sins of the world through His death on the cross.

Truly, the prophets revealed that Christ would die, Moses even revealed specifically that Jesus' death would be on the cross, that He would be hung on a tree!

But please listen carefully, God wasn't the one that designed HOW Jesus would die, It wasn't God that determined HOW Jesus would die.

God has FOREKNOWLEDGE.

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain Acts 2:23

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.  1 Pet 1:2

Through foreknowledge God knows about events that are yet to happen and through His knowledge of future events He revealed the things that are yet to happen to the prophets

This is how Moses knew that "cursed is he that is hang on the tree".  Moses saw a man bearing the sin of the world hung a tree, a cursed man.

To clearly get this we've to go back in time and check on Moses....

22 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: 23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. Deut. 21:22-23

According to Moses a person who had sinned and worthy of death had to be hung on a tree and such is perceived cursed of God.

This is the same thought the prophet Isaiah shares...

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Isa. 53:4

Here Isaiah is talking about the Christ, and he says because of His suffering, it was reasoned that He's been smitten, stricken and afflicted by God.

But this is what we'll realize, God knew that at the time His Son would come, that is, at the fullness of time, the legal punishment for anyone worthy of death will be "death on the cross"

This is what Moses saw, He knew Christ would die on a tree...

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Heb. 11:24-27

Historically, Roman Empire that was ruling Israel at the time the Son of God walked the earth (at the fullness of time) sentenced those worthy of death to the crucifixion tree, death on the cross.

God already knew this by foreknowledge, Moses saw it through visions and he incorporated it into his Law.

Is that clear?

Now recall that....

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6:23

Pay attention here;

Romans 6:23 shows us why Jesus had to die, to pay off the wages of death for humanity. Death entered into humanity through sin (the sin of Adam).

But that's not all, it also shows us that it was through Jesus that the gift of God, eternal life was made available...

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

For God to achieve this, Jesus had to taste death for everyone and then also defeat death. He was the only that could do it...

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Heb. 2:9

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" Heb. 2:14-15

He conquered and abolished death, so now, in Him there's immortality...

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Tim 1:10

That's why Jesus made this kinds of statements a lot when He preached during earthly ministry...

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24

See how He talked about the Father's will...

"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day" John 6:38-40

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" John 11:25-26

So, the reason Jesus died on the cross was because His own people charged Him before the Romans who condemn anyone worthy of death to the cross.

Let's read the narrative of this event patiently.

They wanted to make sure Jesus was killed, so after they forcefully abducted him in Gethsemane, they got false witnesses to accuse Him before Jewish council...

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; 60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, Matt. 26:59-60

Since they didn't want to kill Him by their own hands since it was Passover and they had to ceremonially clean to partake of Passover, they took Him to Pilate, the Roman governor...

Matthew's account...

"When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: (2) And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor." Matt. 27:1-2

Let's also see John's account...

"Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. (29) Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? (30) They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. (31) Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: (32) That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die" John 18:28-32

Please read carefully...

But Pilate didn't find Him guilty of anything worthy of death...

Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. Luke 23:4

And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. Luke 23:22

Pilate wanted to even let Him go.

Even Pilate's wife persuaded her husband to let Jesus go....

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. Matt. 27:19

But the Jewish elders insisted on having Jesus killed and even used blackmail to get Pilate change His mind and sentence Jesus to death...

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. Matt. 27:20

Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Luke 23:20-21

And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will. Luke 23:23-25

12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. 13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. John 19:12-13

They used Caesar's position to threaten the governor, from there he changed his mind about letting Jesus go

At this point Jesus didn't speak again.

Jesus allowed all these to happen, He endured quietly without revolt or protest, because He knew it was time.

12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly. Matt 27:12-14

Even when Pilate wanted to use his authority to set Jesus free, Jesus insisted....

10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. John 19:10-11

All these the prophets saw and wrote down in the scriptures....

The Prophet Isaiah spoke of this....

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. Isa. 53:7

This is the same passage the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 was reading when the Holy Spirit led Philip to him...

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. Acts 8:32-35

Can you that it was Jesus the prophet spoke of. This again proves the foreknowledge of God, having seen all the Son would go through ahead of time.

Jesus would have been killed before now, but He always escaped, until the fullness of time was come...

And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way, Luke 4:28-30

Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. John 8:59

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him John 10:31

Jesus fled all their attempts to kill Him because His hour had not yet come, it wasn't yet the "fullness of time".

Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. John 7:30

That's why we'd even see that He urged Judas to hasten up his betrayal act.

And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. John 13:27

Jesus was telling Judas here to quickly go and meet the Pharisees who already paid him to betray Jesus.

So, it was Jesus that willingly gave himself over to be killed. It was in the determinate counsel of God that the Son would die, He was born to die.

But it wasn't a dead end, He trusted that He would lay down His life, that Father would also raise Him back

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. John 10:17-18

Let's also note that though He died on the cross, His true suffering wasn't on the cross, it was DEATH, He was being held in hands of death.

Hear how Jesus describes it...

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matt 12:40

The "heart of the earth" is a figurative term that refers to "the grave/the place of the dead"

But He defeated and conquered the grave. Death couldn't hold Him down...

Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. Acts 2:24

Jesus already told His disciples this would happen...

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18

Matthew 16:18 is about the resurrection of Jesus from death. The "gates of hell"* is also a figurative term for the "hold of death".

The Prophet Hosea saw it and describes it like this...

I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. Hos. 13:14

David also uses the same language...

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Ps. 16:10

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. Ps. 49:15

So the cross simply signifies the sacrificial offering of Christ as the lamb for the remission of our sins.

We can say the cross is like the altar upon which the lamb was slain.

He died there for us, His physical death happened there on the cross.

However, salvation is beyond the cross.

Everything Jesus did, He did for us, He didn't die for Himself but for us. In the Son, God paid our ransom from sin and death. Christ was the payment of our redemption.

The Father bought us from sin and death through the blood/life of His Son. The Son, was as willing as the Father, to be the lamb that would deliver us from our offences.

He died in our place, He paid the debt we could not pay. Now in Him we've eternal life, death has been defeated for us.

Now here's our testimony...

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 15:54-57

We've been saved from sin and death For Ever.

"Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:9-11

GLORY TO GOD!!!!

Thank You Father for giving us your Son,

Thank you for reconciling us to you in the Son.

Thank you for delivering us from the wages of our offences.

Thank you for letting your Son taste our death.

GLORY TO GOD!!!!

Let this words dwell in you richly.

Thanks everyone for following.

King_Hosanna cares

From Awotiku Akinlayo David

G.P.Y. ADMIN

#ISTANDFORTHETRUTHOFTHEWORDOFGOD