Cradle to The Cross
Below is the Message Audio followed by Typed Notes.
Cradle to The Cross
Jesus Christ was born around 4–6 BC in Bethlehem to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy-Micah 5:2. The
prophet Micah refers to Jesus having existed from eternity.
The birth of Jesus: Mary “was found with a child of the Holy Ghost”. Matthew1:18.
“The Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to take the young child and his mother, and flee to Egypt…for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him…Joseph took the child and His Mother to Egypt by night and departed to Egypt.” Matthew 2:16. The family returned to their home in Nazareth after the death of King Herod.
Jesus at age 12 goes to Jerusalem with his parents for the Jewish festival of Passover. Mary and Joseph head home mistakenly leaving Jesus behind thinking he was with family members. They return to look for him. After three days they find him in the temple, talking to the religious teachers. The Gospel of Luke, says ‘Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers’. Luke 2:47.
Jesus lived in Nazareth until he was about 30 when he began His ministry. Jesus’ first sermon is recorded for us in Matthew 5. It’s commonly referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. He began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled…”
He also healed people of a huge range of illnesses. At the start of this period, he recruited 12 men – known as disciples - to follow him and participate in His ministry of teaching people about God and Christ’s mission to redeem humanity. He also healed people of a huge range of illnesses. Later in His ministry He raised Lazarus from the dead. John 11:38-44.
The Jewish religeous leaders rejected Jesus during His entire ministry and sought to destroy Him.
Early ministry of Jesus was in Galilee. Jesus then begins His Judean Ministry.
In the later Judean ministry Jesus starts his final journey to Jerusalem through Judea.
Jesus’a prayers and agony in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest. Luke 22:42.
Judas Iscariot one of Jesus’s 12 Disciples betrays Jesus to the Jewish Chief Priests and Elders leading to Jesus’s arrest. Matthew 26:47-49. The Jewish Religeous trials consider Jesus a false prophet.
After His arrest Jesus undegoes 6 Trials.
First Religious Trial (Jewish): Annas, Jn.18:12-14… Decision: Go signal given to execute Jesus.
Second Religious Trial: Caiaphas, Mt.26:57-68… Decision: Death Sentence, charge of blasphemy, because Jesus proclaimed himself the Messiah, God the Son.
Third Religious Trial, Sanhedrin, Mt.27:1-2, Lk.22:63-71… Decision: Death.
Jesus’s Roman Civic Trials which declare Jesus innocent.
First Civil Trial: Pilate decision: Not guilty. Luke 23:4. “I find no fault in this man.”
Second Civil Trial: Herod, Lk.23:6-12… Decision: No guilty decision and sends Jesus back to Pilot.
Third Civil Trial: Pilate again, John.18:38-19:6. Decision: Not guilty. The Jews Religeous Leaders insist that Jesus is to be crucified (Mt.27:26). Jesus’s final trial ended with Pilate who delivered Him to be crucified. John 19:16-19.
Jesus on the Cross.
Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry the cross to Gogotha. Jesus is crucified with 2 thieves. Mark 15:21-28.
Golgotha is where Abraham was to sacrifice his son Isaac. Genesis 22:1-18. Isaac asks “Father, where is the lamb?”
Abraham replies: “God will provide himself the lamb.”
For Jesus there was no substitude. He was “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelations 13:8b.
Jesus was sacrificed on the cross. Hebrews 10:12: “When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.”
Crucifixion was a Roman form of execution and the Jewish leaders insisted Jesus be crucified. His sacrifice was therefore for Jews and Gentiles-for all humanity-to provide salvation for all who come to faith in Him.
A popular Christmas Hymn was written by Ron Hamilton titled, “Born to Die.” The the third verse with the chorus sums up the message of the Cradle and Cross.
From His throne Jesus came, laid aside Heaven’s fame
In exchange for the cross of Calvary;
For my gain suffered loss, for my sin He bore the cross—
He was wounded and I was set free.
Born to die upon Calvary, Jesus suffered my sin to forgive;
Born to die upon Calvary, He was wounded that I might live.
Below is the underlined link to the Typed Notes pdf