Dec 26, 2021 |The Apostles Creed

The Suffering of Jesus

12.26.21 | The Apostles Creed

The Suffering of Jesus

Tony Pyle

Luke 23

The suffering of Jesus is good news because it tells us that God understands suffering. Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins? Pastor Tony Pyle reminds us that our belief in God does not protect us from suffering, but it does give us a greater hope to hold on to. God knows your brokenness and hurt and we are understood and seen in our pain by our suffering savior Jesus.

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I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of the saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

Then their whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds for charging this man.” But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he started even to here.”

Luke 23:1-5
 

Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people. But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds to charge this man with those things you accuse him of. Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.” Then they all cried out together, “Take this man away! Release Barabbas to us!” (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.” But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices won out. So Pilate decided to grant their demand and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.

Luke 23:13-25
 

As they led him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.

Luke 23:26
 

Two others — criminals  — were also led away to be executed with him. When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots. The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” An inscription was above him: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three, because the sun’s light failed. The curtain of the sanctuary was split down the middle. And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit. ” Saying this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous!” All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests. But all who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. There was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, who had not agreed with their plan and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God. He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed. It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how his body was placed. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

Luke 23:32-36
 

If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone.

Romans 5:17-18
 

Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Hebrews 9:22
 

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared.

1 Peter 3:18-20
 

For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell and delivered them in chains of utter darkness to be kept for judgment

2 Peter 2:4
 

The atoning work on the cross reveals the fullness of God’s nature and character. In the crucifixion, humanity observes the the depth of God’s hatred toward sin. In Christ’s death, God’s people view the tragic consequences of our rebellion. In the cross God’s people also learn the depth of God’s love. He does not leave his people in their sin damned to an eternity in hell. He comes to rescue them from the grip of Satan by delivering his own Son. In the cross God acted out of his perfect nature and character. Thus, God revealed in Jesus’ sacrifice the overwhelming intersection of his divine love and justice.
– Al Mohler

 

The Bible does not speak of a Father abandoning a child to the cross. It describes, rather, a Son who willingly gave up his life for his people. He laid down his life for the sheep. He set his face toward the cross, enduring its shame, obeyed the will of his Father, and accomplished salvation for all God’s people.
– Al Mohler

 

What was the most encouraging part of celebrating Christmas this year? What was the most challenging?

How does the crucifixion of Jesus show us God’s love and his justice? How do both of those character qualities of God impact your life today?

Where in your life are you suffering? How can you trust Jesus in the midst of what you are going through? What does it look like to worship him right now?

Take time to reflect on the lengths Jesus went to rescue us from our sin. As you think and reflect on who Jesus is and what he has done, take time to pray together as a life group.

Youth