Transcript of “Wonderful Cross” - written by Leigh Riches

- mpeg video presentation available for download
(c) 2003 Oakden Baptist Church



It was nine-o-click on Friday and Jesus was already close to death. Since the sun had set the evening before, Jesus had been arrested on false charges, bound and made to face a mock trial, declared innocent by governor Pilate and then flogged with a lead-tipped whip. He was blindfolded and beaten, spat upon, and had thorns pressed into his head. Finally, He was made to carry a heavy cross through the streets and onlookers mocked Him. At the place called “The Skull” Soldiers nailed his hands and feet to an instrument of torture that man had intended for evil, but today, God would use for good - A Cross, A wonderful cross.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”
As he hung upon that cross Jesus first words were for those around Him - His enemies who had taunted Him, lied about HIm, and who had whipped and tortured Him mercilessly. Jesus asked His Father to forgive them. God’s plan of forgiveness had culminated on this day, on these very hours. Forgiveness was not only for the soldiers and the crowd that day, but it was extended to every person from that day on. To each and every undeserving person, God offers forgiveness through His Son Jesus Christ.

“Today you will be with me in Paradise”
There were two men that day who were also being crucified - one one His left and one of His right. But unlike jesus, these criminals were deserving of their death. While one hurled insults, the other suddenly saw Jesus for who He was. As this Criminal admitted his guilt and believed in Jesus, he received God’s gift of salvation, and the promise of eternity with God in heaven. Two men so undeserving of forgiveness, just as each one of us is today, and yet Jesus extended forgiveness and eternal life to the one who confessed his sin and believed in the Son of God.

“My GOD, My God, why have You forsaken me?”
Just before 3-o-clock after many hours of physical pain, Jesus experienced an even worse spiritual pain - The pain of sin. God’s plan to have Jesus bear all the sins of all men for all time must have weighed heavily on Jesus. For the first time, God the Father - being unable to look upon sin - turned His back on his only Son. Christ had become sin for us. He took the penalty that was ours and paid the price for our sin.

“It is finished.”
At 3-o-clock the temple trumpet sounded, announcing the sacrifice of a lamb, and at that same time Jesus - the sacrificial lamb was about to breathe His last. This cry was not a remorseful cry of sorrow, rather is was a victorious cry of completion. his life’s purpose was completed, sins’s dept had been paid in full, and God’s plan for forgiveness was available to all mankind. “IT IS VICTORY” - was what Jesus was saying, the battle of the ages had been fought and won - By God sacrificing His only Son, on an old rugged cross - a truly, wonderful cross.