Title: I Do This for You

Text: Luke 22:39-23:49

I. The Passion Play (The Scripture, Narrations, and Music by Bill Huff)

 

II. Concluding Comments

Jesus was totally innocent of any wrong doing, and everybody knew it:

Both Pilate and King Herod found "no basis for a charge against" him.

The thief on the cross said, "this man has done nothing wrong."

The Roman Centurion said, "Surely, this was a righteous man."

Even the religious leaders – those who compelled Pilate to condemn Jesus to death – knew Jesus was innocent. They handed him over out of envy (Matthew 27:18).

Jesus, God incarnate, the personification of love and holiness, was condemned to death.

He got what he didn’t deserve: He was whipped, beaten, insulted, spit upon, and finally nailed to the hard wood of the cross.

Barabbas, an ungodly man who was guilty of murder and insurrection was set free.

He deserved death, but he too got what he didn’t deserve.

The same is true for you and me. In Christ, we get what we don’t deserve.

For the least infraction of God= s Law, we deserve death.

Regardless if it= s:

Murmuring or murder.

Deception or drunkenness.

Envy or idolatry.

The divine verdict is the same.

From Romans chapters three and six:

23...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (NIV)

23 ...the wages of sin is death...

Romans 6:23 (NIV)

Yet, when we put our trust in Jesus, we get what we don’t deserve.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was in deep anguish. Why?

Because he knew that he was about to get what he didn’t deserve:

He knew he was about to die a horribly painful death upon a cross.

Even worse, He knew he was about to bear in his body all the past, present, and future sins of every man woman and child.

Jesus chose to get what he didn’t deserve, that you could receive what you don’t deserve – eternal life.

Jesus did this for you.

Regardless of your past or presents sins:

Jesus bids you welcome.

He has taken your sins. Leave them at the cross.

 

Amen.