Jesus, Was The Ultimate Sacrifice

On the Christian Holy Day known as Good Friday, observed the Friday before Easter, Christians commemorate the passion, or suffering, and death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Many believers spend this day in fasting, prayer, repentance, and meditation on the agony of Christ on the cross.

Jesus Christ, died on a Roman cross as recorded in Matthew 27:27-56, Mark 15:21-38, Luke 23:26-49, and John 19:16-37. Christian theology teaches that Christ's death provided the perfect atoning sacrifice for the sins all mankind, thus making the crucifix, or cross, one of the defining symbols of Christianity.

The biblical account of Jesus' death on the cross, or crucifixion, his burial and his resurrection, or raising from the dead, can be found in the following passages of Scripture: Matthew 27:27-28:8; Mark 15:16-16:19; Luke 23:26-24:35; and John 19:16-20:30.

Jesus clearly understood his mission on earth involved laying down his life as a sacrifice. Jesus knew it was His Father's will for him to die. He proves his anticipation and understanding of his death in these passages from Scripture: Mark 8:31; Mark 10:32-34; Mark 10:38; Mark 10:43-45; Mark 14:22-25; John 10:17-18

The professional religious leaders - the chief priests, elders and scribes - were the driving force behind the death sentence. Judas, Pilate, the crowd of people who called for Jesus to be crucified, and the Roman soldiers all played a part.

He angered His opponents with a bitter denunciation (Matthew 23). Some of the Jewish leaders hated Jesus because He condemned their sins. They did not want to believe the truth He preached, as He urged them to repent and turn back to God.

He offered no resistance when the chief priest's mob came to arrest Him. He refused to defend Himself before Pilate. Jesus, Himself, said those responsible for His death were doing God's will, even though they didn't know it (Matthew 26:53-54, Mark 10:33-34, John 12:24-28, 18:11, 19:10-11).

Jesus' death was an essential part of God's plan for our salvation. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice to atone for the sins of all people. Through His death, we are freed from the deadly grip of sin. Death on the cross was Jesus' destiny. Once the right time had come, Jesus did what was necessary to be sure it happened as planned.

Additional Scripture: Isaiah 5:16; Romans 5:12; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 35:8; Romans 6:23; Romans 5:21; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Hebrews 2:14-17; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 1:30.

Let us pray:

Lord, by the suffering of Christ your Son
you have saved is all from the death
we inherited from sinful Adam.
By the law of nature we have borne the likeness of his manhood.
May the sanctifying power of grace help us to put on the likeness of our Lord in heaven who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen

God bless you,

The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry