#134 Welcome Home #3

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Matthew 27:32-56
32 As they went out, they came upon a man of Cyre′ne, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Gol′gotha (which means the place of a skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots; 36 then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land[a] until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, la′ma sabach-tha′ni?” that is, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “This man is calling Eli′jah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Eli′jah will come to save him.”[b] 50 And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; 52 the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, “Truly this was the Son[c] of God!” 55 There were also many women there, looking on from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him; 56 among whom were Mary Mag′dalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zeb′edee.

1 Peter 3:18  (NLT)
“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God.”

Galatians 6:14
“As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Forced To The Cross
Matthew 27:32 (NIV)
“As they were on the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and they forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.”

Foolish At The Cross
Matthew 27:39  (NLT)
“And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery.”
The game player  The passer by   The self righteous

1 Corinthians 1:18
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

1 Corinthians 1:25
“This “foolish” plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, …”

Psalm 14:1
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.”
Forgiven At The Cross
Some are at the cross by chance others come by choice.
Matthew 27:54
“…they were terrified, and exclaimed,”Surely he was the Son of God!”
Thief / Centurion / Followers

1 Peter 3:18  (NLT)
“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God.”

Romans 4:7-8 (NLT)
“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.
Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

“The gospel is not an invitation to engage in soul-searching and fault-finding. The gospel is the emphatic declaration that you have been completely and eternally forgiven through the blood of the Lamb.”     Paul Ellis

Luke 24:46-47 (RSV)
“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 4and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations,…”

On the cross God treated Jesus as if he lived your life. So that he could treat you as if you lived his.

The creator being sacrificed for the creation.

All I know is that he died to make room for you in the final family portrait.

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