Jesus: The Sacrificed
Bible Study
The Critical Questions... And More
Three Pre-Easter Bible Studies
Object:
Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them.
Lesson Objective: At the end of this lesson, each of the participants will have a greater understanding of the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus and how it was viewed by those who were there.
Prayer Focus: Pray that each member of the group might have an opportunity to reflect upon the cross and what it means to them.
Lesson
A brother and sister were visiting church for the first time. The brother, a little younger than his sister, was singing, giggling, and talking out loud. His sister was embarrassed and couldn't take any more. "You are not supposed to be talking so loudly in church," she admonished him. "Why not? Who said?" he replied. "See those guys back there," she said, pointing to the men standing by the door at the back. "They make you be quiet. They're the hushers."
Palm Sunday is this week. Jesus entered Jerusalem on this day many years ago. The crowds were anything but hushed. He was hailed as a king. "Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord!" In just a few, short days, the crowds would be moved again, against Jesus. They would clamor for his execution. In this series, we've seen different aspects of Jesus' life and ministry. Today, we look at what happened at the climax of this week. "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Who do you say he is? He is the sacrifice.
Our text for this morning is the familiar crucifixion text of John's gospel. Normally, this week focuses on Palm Sunday and Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. You hear how he rode into the city. Next week, you'll hear about his glorious resurrection. Not much time is spent on Friday. Today, we'll spend a little time there. Many people were there that day. They all had different views. What did they see?
The chief priests' view: a king?
We see in verses 19-22 the view of the chief priests. Pilate had a notice prepared. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." It was written in all three common languages of the day. The chief priests saw it and were not happy. They complained, "Don't say he was the king of the Jews, but that he claimed to be." Pilate turned a deaf ear to what they pleaded.
A king -- not according to the chief priests. They wanted nothing to do with Jesus in that way. He wasn't their king. In fact, they cried out, "We have no king but Caesar!" The "king" of these folks was one of power and position. He was not a "king" of hearts. They rejected Jesus' kingship. His kingdom was not visible, powerful, or wealthy enough for them. It isn't for many today, either.
A salesman visited a company one day, hoping to make a sale. This was a big company with lots of assets. He was met by a man in coveralls pushing a broom. The man smiled and greeted the salesman, but the salesman hardly responded. He was eager to meet the boss. The "janitor" continued sweeping and tried to make conversation, but the salesman wasn't interested. After a while, the salesman rudely told the janitor that he didn't have time to talk, he was waiting to meet Mr. Jones, the boss. "Oh, sure," the custodian replied. "I'll check on him." Pretty soon, a secretary called out, "Mr. Jones will see you now." The salesman was surprised to see Mr. Jones sitting at his desk, dressed in coveralls with a broom leaning in the corner.
Sometimes we make the mistake of judging things on the surface. Jesus didn't look like a king on this day, but looks were deceiving. Don't make that same mistake. Some dismiss Jesus today with that same wave of the hand and shrug of the shoulders. "He's not relevant." "He's not powerful." "He's not special." Don't miss him like the chief priests did.
The soldiers' view: a criminal?
There were soldiers at Jesus' cross, too. They also provide an interesting view. They took charge of Jesus. They were actually responsible for crucifying him. After he was hanging from the cross, they divided his clothes among themselves. They cast lots for his seamless robe. To these men, this was a routine event in a regular workday. Jesus was just another criminal, condemned to die.
Was Jesus a criminal? No and yes -- No, he wasn't guilty of any crime. But we say, "Yes," too. How can that be? He was a criminal in the sense that from God's perspective, he bore my sins and yours. He was the Lamb. Jesus took the full force of the punishment for my sins. I am the criminal. I am the guilty one. That cross was mine. Jesus took it for me. He carried my sins to the cross so that I could spend eternity with him.
He sits on death row. He knows that tomorrow he will die. It will be a painful, public death. He is guilty. He killed a man. Sleep doesn't come easily. The hours drain away quickly on his last night. The sun peeks over the horizon. The day has come. He hears scuffling in the hall. There is a rattling of keys and chains. This is it. The guards enter the room. He is roughly and quickly snatched away. There is no pretense of kindness. There never is for the guilty. He is led to the judgment. He awaits his sentence. Then, it happens. He is told, "You are free to go. Another will die in your place." "What? -- Who? -- How can this be?" This is Barabbas' story.
He died in your place. He became the criminal so that you could be the redeemed.
A mother's view: a son?
Jesus' mother stood near the cross, as did some other women and the apostle John. Jesus had hung on the cross for several minutes at this point. He sees his mother and his heart is moved. He speaks, "Woman, here is your son." He says to John, "Here is your mother." What is Jesus doing here? In one of his final acts, he is taking care of his mother. Mary, the woman who gave him birth, the one who held him close, the one who caressed him as a child, now watched as he died. He knew her heart was breaking and wanted to assure her everything would be all right.
Did you catch what happened there? In the middle of his pain and agony, Jesus was caring for his mother. He will do the same for you. There is not a time when Jesus is too busy to see to you. He always has time and always cares what happens. Even as he died for the sins of the world, he was still his mother's son. He cared for her and he cares for you.
Conclusion
As we stand around the cross, we gaze upon the scene. Soldiers are gambling for a robe. Priests are smugly watching. Women weep nearby. Somewhere in the streets of Jerusalem a guilty man is walking around free. Soak in what you see. It is an important night. Next week, we will visit a cave not far from here. But now, look at the cross. What do you see? Is he a teacher? Is he a miracle worker? Is he a healer? Is he angry? Do you see a Lamb? Do you see a Savior?
Suggested Songs And Hymns
"The Old Rugged Cross"
"Were You There?"
"Wounded For Me"
Thought/Discussion Questions
1. There were many who viewed the cross on the day Jesus died. Of those who viewed it, who most closely resembles you? Why?
2. How do people sometimes misread Jesus' kingdom? Why do you think they miss who he is?
3. Jesus as a criminal is hard to take, and yet, in God's view, he was (at least for a time). How is this so? What does this reveal to you about his love for you?
4. What does Jesus' interaction with his mother and John tell you? Why is that important?
So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them.
Lesson Objective: At the end of this lesson, each of the participants will have a greater understanding of the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus and how it was viewed by those who were there.
Prayer Focus: Pray that each member of the group might have an opportunity to reflect upon the cross and what it means to them.
Lesson
A brother and sister were visiting church for the first time. The brother, a little younger than his sister, was singing, giggling, and talking out loud. His sister was embarrassed and couldn't take any more. "You are not supposed to be talking so loudly in church," she admonished him. "Why not? Who said?" he replied. "See those guys back there," she said, pointing to the men standing by the door at the back. "They make you be quiet. They're the hushers."
Palm Sunday is this week. Jesus entered Jerusalem on this day many years ago. The crowds were anything but hushed. He was hailed as a king. "Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord!" In just a few, short days, the crowds would be moved again, against Jesus. They would clamor for his execution. In this series, we've seen different aspects of Jesus' life and ministry. Today, we look at what happened at the climax of this week. "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Who do you say he is? He is the sacrifice.
Our text for this morning is the familiar crucifixion text of John's gospel. Normally, this week focuses on Palm Sunday and Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. You hear how he rode into the city. Next week, you'll hear about his glorious resurrection. Not much time is spent on Friday. Today, we'll spend a little time there. Many people were there that day. They all had different views. What did they see?
The chief priests' view: a king?
We see in verses 19-22 the view of the chief priests. Pilate had a notice prepared. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." It was written in all three common languages of the day. The chief priests saw it and were not happy. They complained, "Don't say he was the king of the Jews, but that he claimed to be." Pilate turned a deaf ear to what they pleaded.
A king -- not according to the chief priests. They wanted nothing to do with Jesus in that way. He wasn't their king. In fact, they cried out, "We have no king but Caesar!" The "king" of these folks was one of power and position. He was not a "king" of hearts. They rejected Jesus' kingship. His kingdom was not visible, powerful, or wealthy enough for them. It isn't for many today, either.
A salesman visited a company one day, hoping to make a sale. This was a big company with lots of assets. He was met by a man in coveralls pushing a broom. The man smiled and greeted the salesman, but the salesman hardly responded. He was eager to meet the boss. The "janitor" continued sweeping and tried to make conversation, but the salesman wasn't interested. After a while, the salesman rudely told the janitor that he didn't have time to talk, he was waiting to meet Mr. Jones, the boss. "Oh, sure," the custodian replied. "I'll check on him." Pretty soon, a secretary called out, "Mr. Jones will see you now." The salesman was surprised to see Mr. Jones sitting at his desk, dressed in coveralls with a broom leaning in the corner.
Sometimes we make the mistake of judging things on the surface. Jesus didn't look like a king on this day, but looks were deceiving. Don't make that same mistake. Some dismiss Jesus today with that same wave of the hand and shrug of the shoulders. "He's not relevant." "He's not powerful." "He's not special." Don't miss him like the chief priests did.
The soldiers' view: a criminal?
There were soldiers at Jesus' cross, too. They also provide an interesting view. They took charge of Jesus. They were actually responsible for crucifying him. After he was hanging from the cross, they divided his clothes among themselves. They cast lots for his seamless robe. To these men, this was a routine event in a regular workday. Jesus was just another criminal, condemned to die.
Was Jesus a criminal? No and yes -- No, he wasn't guilty of any crime. But we say, "Yes," too. How can that be? He was a criminal in the sense that from God's perspective, he bore my sins and yours. He was the Lamb. Jesus took the full force of the punishment for my sins. I am the criminal. I am the guilty one. That cross was mine. Jesus took it for me. He carried my sins to the cross so that I could spend eternity with him.
He sits on death row. He knows that tomorrow he will die. It will be a painful, public death. He is guilty. He killed a man. Sleep doesn't come easily. The hours drain away quickly on his last night. The sun peeks over the horizon. The day has come. He hears scuffling in the hall. There is a rattling of keys and chains. This is it. The guards enter the room. He is roughly and quickly snatched away. There is no pretense of kindness. There never is for the guilty. He is led to the judgment. He awaits his sentence. Then, it happens. He is told, "You are free to go. Another will die in your place." "What? -- Who? -- How can this be?" This is Barabbas' story.
He died in your place. He became the criminal so that you could be the redeemed.
A mother's view: a son?
Jesus' mother stood near the cross, as did some other women and the apostle John. Jesus had hung on the cross for several minutes at this point. He sees his mother and his heart is moved. He speaks, "Woman, here is your son." He says to John, "Here is your mother." What is Jesus doing here? In one of his final acts, he is taking care of his mother. Mary, the woman who gave him birth, the one who held him close, the one who caressed him as a child, now watched as he died. He knew her heart was breaking and wanted to assure her everything would be all right.
Did you catch what happened there? In the middle of his pain and agony, Jesus was caring for his mother. He will do the same for you. There is not a time when Jesus is too busy to see to you. He always has time and always cares what happens. Even as he died for the sins of the world, he was still his mother's son. He cared for her and he cares for you.
Conclusion
As we stand around the cross, we gaze upon the scene. Soldiers are gambling for a robe. Priests are smugly watching. Women weep nearby. Somewhere in the streets of Jerusalem a guilty man is walking around free. Soak in what you see. It is an important night. Next week, we will visit a cave not far from here. But now, look at the cross. What do you see? Is he a teacher? Is he a miracle worker? Is he a healer? Is he angry? Do you see a Lamb? Do you see a Savior?
Suggested Songs And Hymns
"The Old Rugged Cross"
"Were You There?"
"Wounded For Me"
Thought/Discussion Questions
1. There were many who viewed the cross on the day Jesus died. Of those who viewed it, who most closely resembles you? Why?
2. How do people sometimes misread Jesus' kingdom? Why do you think they miss who he is?
3. Jesus as a criminal is hard to take, and yet, in God's view, he was (at least for a time). How is this so? What does this reveal to you about his love for you?
4. What does Jesus' interaction with his mother and John tell you? Why is that important?
