Wednesday, December 13, 2023

The Prophecy of the Cross

 Temple Baptist Church - 12-13-2023

John 12:27-34

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Last week, we saw the ultimate rejection of Christ by His own people and the blindness of the Nation of Israel.  Today, Israel remains spiritually blinded.

 

John 1:10-11  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  (11)  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

 

2 Corinthians 3:13-16  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:  (14)  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.  (15)  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.  (16)  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

 

B.  The goodness and severity of God expressed in the rejection of Israel and the desire of the Greeks (Gentiles).  The Age of the Church.

 

Romans 11:17-24  And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;  (18)  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.  (19)  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.  (20)  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:  (21)  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.  (22)  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.  (23)  And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.  (24)  For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

 

C.  This verses that we read tonight makes for a great Christmas Message as it gives both the prophecy and purpose of the cross of our Lord Christ Jesus.

 

D.  I thank God that Christ Jesus, our Lord, came to this earth.  The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.  What a wonderful event to be celebrated!

 

E.  But the “Cradle” without the “Cross” is worthless to sinful man as it does not resolve his issues in either this life or the life to come. 

 

1.  The issues of sin, separation, and destruction.

 

2.  The issue of death and eternal punishment.

 

3.  The issue of reconciliation and eternal restoration.

 

F.  Let us just break down these verses and see what our Lord did that all men could be saved.

 

1.  Verses 27, 32 – The Right Person.  “save me” in verse 27 and “and I, if I” in verse 32  The Person of the cross had to be the right one as the Innocent could only be the Propitiation for the sinner: the Righteous for the unrighteous!

 

John 11:49-52  And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,  (50)  Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.  (51)  And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;  (52)  And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

 

John 14:1-6  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  (2)  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  (3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  (4)  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.  (5)  Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?  (6)  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

Acts 4:10-12  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.  (11)  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  (12)  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

Romans 5:8-9  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  (9)  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

 

 

2.  Verse 31 – The Right  Perpetrator “the prince of this world”  As the child of God loves the Lord, the unsaved love the world with all its sinfulness.  The perpetrator is Satan, Lucifer, the Dragon, the Devil. 

 

2 Corinthians 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

Ephesians 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

 

Ephesians 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

3.  Verse 31 – The Right Punishment  “cast out”  Lucifer will pay the ultimate price for sin as hell was prepared for the Devil and his angels.  His punishment will be just!

 

Colossians 2:15  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

 

Hebrews 2:14  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;

 

Revelation 12:7-9  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,  (8)  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.  (9)  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

 

Revelation 20:1-3  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  (2)  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,  (3)  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

 

Revelation 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 

4.  Verse 32 – The Right Period “lifted up from the earth”  The Right means of death found only under Roman rule. The Jews stoned but the Romans crucified!  Christ Jesus was born at the right time, in the right place, the right way so as to die at the right time, in the right place, and in the right way!

 

Galatians 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

 

Luke 2:1  And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

 

John 18:31-32  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.

               

Acts 10:39  And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

 

Galatians 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

 

5.  Verse 32 – The Right Product  “will draw all men unto me”  Paul said, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”  (Galatians 6:14)

 

John3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 

Galatians 3:26-28  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  (27)  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  (28)  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

 

1 Timothy 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

1 John 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

6.  Verse 33 – The Right Price “the death he should die” From that day in the Garden of Eden where nothing died but the Lord slew an innocent animal for a sinful man, the wage of sin has been death.  Someone had to die for sin and Christ Jesus knew that He had to die “the death”.

 

Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

 

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

 

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

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