The Rev. Herbert G. Hand

Faith Anglican Church

Cordova, Tennessee

Good Friday

March 21, 2008

 

 

Title: The Purpose of Christ’s Passion

Text: Isaiah 52:13-53:12

 

 

I.       A Monologue of Simon of Cyrene (Performed by the Faith Drama Team)

 

Simon talks about the symbol of the cross, then says, “But like any other symbol, it’s not what it is that’s important.  It’s what it makes you think of.”

 

Simon retells his experience of entering Jerusalem for the Passover, then seeing Jesus and the two criminals being led to the cross.  He sees Jesus’ wounds from his scourging.  As Jesus’ falls, he looked straight into Simons’ eyes.  When asked to carry the cross of Christ, Simon thought, “I won’t do it for them—but I’ll do it for you, whoever you are.”

 

After Jesus’ crucifixion, Simon said, “I thought I was doing something for him that day, but it turns out he was doing something for me.  He suffered on this cross, and dying on it, for me.  When I understood that, it made a disciple out of me.  He died for you, too, that day.  What does that do for you?”

 

II.      Christ’s Sufferings—Our Sufferings

 

“I thought I was doing something for him that day, but it turns out he was doing something for me.”

 

When you bear the cross of Christ, when you suffer for the sake of Christ, you are not earning your salvation, but you more clearly understand the passion or our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

In First Peter chapter four, St. Peter said,

12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
1 Peter 4:12-14 (NIV)

In Philippians chapter three, St. Paul went a step further when he said,

10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)

American culture continually tries to seduce us into “the pursuit of happiness,” to flee from suffering, to drown our sufferings, to medicate our sufferings.

 

Holy Scripture demands that you reflect on your sufferings, and as you do, you will better grasp passion of your Lord Jesus.

III.    The Purpose of Christ’s Passion

 

What is the purpose of Jesus’ passion?

 

The purpose of His passion is what theologians call “Penal Substitutionary Atonement.”

 

 

Penal

The first word “Penal” has to do with penalty.

 

All sin is an offense to God and deserves a harsh penalty.

 

As Romans 6:23 reminds us:

23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Romans 6:23 (NIV)

When you work all week long, you deserve your wages.  You’ve earned your wages.  You expect your wages.

 

“The wages of sin is death.”

 

By your deeds – little sins, big sins – you’ve earned death, you deserve death, not just physical death, but eternal death, eternal separation from God in suffering.

 

You and I deserve the penalty for our sins.

 

 

Substitutionary Atonement

 “...But [thanks be to God] the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

In “Penal Substitutionary Atonement,” Jesus takes the penalty for your sins upon the cross.  He is your substitute.

 

Our reading from Isaiah 53:5 says,

5But he [Jesus] was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

You and I deserved the penalty for our sins, but “God so loved the world, that he gave” Jesus to be our substitute.

 

The 12th verse goes on to say,

12For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

 

Isaiah 53:12 (NIV)

Jesus literally bore your sins in his body.

 

When he hung on the cross, he bore the sins of every man woman and child, past, present, and future in his body.

 

 

IV.     Conclusion

 

Rejecting Christ’s Substitutionary Atonement

Yet, many throughout this world, refuse to accept the gift of his substationary atonement.

 

Many Christians, who’ve made a profession of faith in Jesus, neglect to accept Christ’s sacrifice for their recent sins.

They fail to take the time to examine their hearts.  As St. Paul reminds us in First Corinthians chapter 11:

28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
1 Corinthians 11:28 (NIV)

 

 

 

Accepting Christ’s Substitutionary Atonement

Tonight, on this Good Friday, as you gaze into the eyes of our suffering Lord Jesus:

May you examine your heart.

 

May you confess you sins.

 

May you receive Jesus’ gift of taking the penalty for your sins upon the hard wood of the cross.