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June 28, 2015
Series: Discovering the Life Changing Gospel
The Old Rugged Cross

John 19:16b–30 (HCSB)
16 So then, because of them, he handed Him over to be crucified. Therefore they took Jesus away. 17 Carrying His own cross, He went out to what is called Skull Place, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him and two others with Him, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. 19 Pilate also had a sign lettered and put on the cross. The inscription was: JESUS THE NAZARENE THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’ ” 22 Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.” 23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took the tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24 So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see who gets it.” They did this to fulfill the Scripture that says: They divided My clothes among themselves, and they cast lots for My clothing. And this is what the soldiers did. 25 Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. 28 After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, “I’m thirsty!” 29 A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop and held it up to His mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

1. THE JOURNEY TO THE CROSS. (19:16-18)
• Jesus carried His own cross, bearing the WEIGHT of the sin of the world.
Hebrews 13:11–13 (HCSB) 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that He might sanctify the people by His own blood. 13 Let us then go to Him outside the camp, bearing His disgrace.
• Jesus was crucified between two thieves.

2. THE SIGN ABOVE THE CROSS. (19:19-22)
• His SUFFERING was public and humiliating.
• His title was meant to shame, but declared the truth.
• His RECOGNITION was disputed.

3. THE CLOTHES AT THE CROSS. (19:23-24)
• PROPHECY was carried out to the last detail.
• He left this worldly realm in the same way He came into it.

4. THE WORDS FROM THE CROSS. (19:25-30)
• Jesus speaks to His FOLLOWERS .
• Jesus speaks to the soldiers.
• Jesus speaks to the FATHER.

The earthly ministry of Jesus in summed up in this very moment—the cross. He could have STEPPED down, He didn’t. He could have taken over—He didn’t. He SURRENDERED to the Father and took on the sins of the world.