Was The Cross Meant to Be

1 Cor 1:18-25

For many people, accepting the fact that the cross was planned and purposeful is really hard to accept. The cross as the “salvation instrument of mankind” is like thinking of the gas chamber being the salvation instrument of mankind. How can God use the criminal execution of his son as a way to save man?

The Unification church teaches that the cross was Plan B. Plan A was to marry and raise the perfect family and establish the kingdom of heaven here on earth.

The Docetics of the second century taught that Jesus was just a human and God entered his body at his baptism and left it before the crucifixion. That way God isn’t humiliated by the whole cross thing.

Moslems teach that God put a spell on the Jews and switched Jesus for Judas Iscariot just before he was crucified.

All those ideas seem good on face value, but they don’t match up with what our text says. Paul indicates that the cross has always been a part of God’s plan.

PRAYER

I. Jesus Knew About the Cross the Week Before He Died

A. The last week in the book of John

1. In Jn 12 we read about a woman who came and began pouring perfume on the feet of Jesus. Judas objects to what she is doing, but listen to the reply of Jesus.

a) "“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. ”It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial." (John 12:7, NIV)

b) Why would he say this unless he knew his time was very near?

Look at vs. 27-28 of chapter 12 - "“Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”"

2. Jn 13:1 again shows us that Jesus is aware that it was his time to die. That this was planned by God, not man –

a) " It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love."

b) Throughout the rest of John we see several times that show he was very aware that his death was about to happen.

B. The last week in the book of Matthew

1. John wasn’t the only author to record the fact that Jesus knew his death was coming soon. Let’s look at a couple of passages in Matthew.

2. Matthew 26 deals with the Last Supper.

3. In these verses Jesus makes it clear he knows what Judas is about to do.

4. He also knows that Peter will deny him 3 times while he is on trial.

5. These aren’t lucky guesses; he knew his future very clearly.

C. Jesus knew!

1. So for at least a week before his death he knew it was going to happen.

2. And with this knowledge, he didn’t run and try to avoid it, but knew that it was to be.

3. Even though he feared the act of dying as we all do he marched resolutely towards it.

II. Jesus Knew About the Cross Throughout His Ministry

A. Matt 16

1. In Matthew 16 Peter makes his great confession as he finally realizes that Jesus is the Messiah.

2. This is a bout six months to a year before the death of Jesus, but look what he has to say after this statement from Peter.

3. " From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." (Matthew 16:21, NIV)

4. Peter is looking for a Messiah to reclaim Israel as a nation. Jesus has to spend the rest of his time teaching the real redemption Jesus has planned, redemption not only for Israel but all mankind.

B. Jesus knew all along

1. Back in Matt 12 Jesus refers to the sign of Jonah, a signal of his own death and resurrection.

2. Every time he healed on the Sabbath he knew where it would lead.

3. Every time he rebuked the religious leaders, he knew it would mean his eventual death.

4. Every part of his ministry was a precursor to his death.

5. Jesus knew all this and still did what he knew he must do.

III. Jesus Knew About the Cross Since the Beginning of Time

A. Jesus referred to the prophecies concerning the cross

1. He told the men on the road to Emmaus that his death had been foretold in the prophecies in Lk 24

2. Also in Luke 24 he told the same thing to those in the upper room with Him.

B. He quoted the Prophets

1. He used Zech.13:7 that was written 500 years before his death.

2. He quoted Isa 53 that was written 800 years before.

3. In fact of the 12 verses in Isa 53 the NT attribute 11 of those verses to being fulfilled in Jesus.

4. He used several of the Psalms that were written 1000 years before.

C. He knew and still went

1. No matter how hard you may try to look find a better way for the Son of God to fulfill his mission you have to come back to the cross.

a) As ugly as it was

b) As humiliating as it was

c) As common as it was

d) It was always in God’s plan and Jesus knew it.

e) He knew it and understood it.

f) He understood it and never avoided the cross.

2. But the question still lingers on our lips. Why? Why would Jesus come knowing he would have to face the cross?

3. The answer is found in Jn. 10:11-18 READ

4. He did it because he loves you. He did it because he loves me. He did it not for mankind, but for every individual who makes up mankind.

5. It was a personal act of redemption for those he loves so much.

6. That’s why he came to the cross.

7. Why do you come to the cross?