Golgotha

This is in reference to a sermon this past week given by my Sr. Youth pastor, PDG (again, I don't want to breach any crazy privacy laws or anything). These are my rough notes along with some additional commentary on the crucifixion of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and the history of crucifixion altogether.

-Via Delorosa = the Road to Golgotha that Jesus walked with a 100lb cross on his back. Approximately 650 yards (or 6.5 football fields).

What really happened at the cross (Physically and Spiritually)?
The History of Crucifixion...
-Invented by Persians 500 years before the birth of Jesus.
-Perfected by the Romans
-Hitler crucified Jews
-Still happens today
-It's quite possibly the worst death consequence

What would people endure during crucifixion?
-Intense beating and flogging
-Ridicule and mocking
-Made to carry cross
-5-7 inch through hands, wrists and/or feet
-Intense convulsions, defecation and urination (basically total loss of bladder and bowels), weeping
-They wouldn't die from blood loss or beating, but asphyxiation (or suffocation)
-The word "excruciating" was invented to describe crucifixion and it literally translates to "from the cross"
-Eventually, the victim would stop holding their body up and suffocate to death on the cross
-The Romans put up a board for the victim to sit on so that they couldn't suffocate, but suffer longer
-Men would bend their backs in such a way so that they would either break their own backs and die quicker, or they would get off the chair and suffocate. To prevent such things, the Romans would take a spike and nail the men to the wooden blocks by their penis so that they couldn't escape.

How is this a good thing?
1) Jesus is alone without sin (John 8:46, Hebrews 4:15)
2) We ALL have sin (Romans 3:23)
3) The result of sin is death (Genesis 2:16-17)
4) Jesus didn't just die for our sin... Jesus became our sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)- For God made Christ, who never sinned, to become our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

In that moment on the cross, Jesus became the worst in all of us. He became the worst of us and had it put to death.

Martin Luther- The Great Exchange: Jesus became the sacrifice, the spotless lamb to the slaughter (in reference to the animal sacrifices done to be forgiven of sin before Jesus Christ came to be the ultimate sacrifice). He died in our place for our sins.

Jesus lived the life that we could never have lived, and he died the death that we all deserve.

In these next passages, if you do end up reading them (strongly recommended), note the keyword "for."
-Isaiah 53:5 (*Note: this verse is prophetic, as it was written many years before Jesus came to earth)
-Romans 4:25
-Romans 5:8
-1 Peter 3:18

However, all of this in no way is your "get to Heaven free" pass... we must personally accept Jesus into our hearts, minds, souls and lives. He did this for us!!!

The cry of my heart is the same as that of the thief who died next to Jesus...
"God, as you enter your Kingdom, remember me."

That day, my Father, my Friend, my God was put to death. How can we believe this and not be moved? The cross is horrific. The problem is sin, and the answer is Jesus.

The bottom line is, He did this all just because he loves us... you, me, everyone. He just wants us to be able to spend eternity with Him. To be able to hug Him, chill with Him, talk with Him, and all that amazing stuff in Heaven! He died quite possibly the worst death just so that us, dorky little screwups could be with Him. All we have to do is listen to Him, acknowledge Him in our day to day living, and be His friend, His co-worker, His employee. Accept Him... He has already accepted you, and He's calling you to Him.

All for us. (8)Your body's the bread, and your blood is the wine because you traded your life for mine(8) (Sea of Faces, Kutless).

Anyways, this is incredibly long... regardless, I hope this means something to someone else other than myself out there. Take the time to read this. It's worth it ;)

Thanks PDG for this amazing sermon and an awesome evening (Sunday, March 16th, 2008)

God Bless!!!!
Love is the movement!
TSharr