Why Did Jesus Have to Suffer and Die?

Harvest podcasts between Pastor Greg Laurie are brought to you by harvest partners to receive pastor Greg free online daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org (now Lord, we acknowledge that you are righteous then we think about the sacrifice Jesus made for us and as we focus on that today. Help us to gain a new appreciation of it and for it. So we commit our time.

A Bible study to you now in Jesus name we pray. Amen. You can be seated. Let's turn our Bibles to Matthew chapter 27 before we dig in. I would like for a few moments to start with a moment of absurdity as we consider some of the worst inventions of all time, came across as the other day I found it fascinating the worst inventions of all time and I want to underscore the fact that these are actual inventions. These really were produced and I just used by people. Number one, the detectable dog sack. That's the name of this product what it is, according to their ad copy is that something you attached to the side of your car at the bag.

Their slogan says that you enjoy your drive with man's best friend, but hate the hair he leaves behind the detectable dog sack is for you, so your poor little pooch rides on the outside of your car in this little device. No problem with his tongue the side of his mouth and that that's kinda cool. Poor dog. Everyone of this act came loose or something but anyway, the detectable dog tech then some annex.

He came up with this cat way the cat way. You know it's a way to actually put on a Kathy of photographs of the various Whigs. The cats where because they don't really like cats. I have no problem with this whatsoever because my feeling is if you can humiliate a cat it's a good thing overall. Then there was to tell the dog lovers job then living as a cat so stupid. It does even though it's been humiliated that the problem with then there is that I love this one an actual invention, the inflatable dartboard. What genius came up with that the inflatable dartboard claim to fame of this basically worthless object. Is it completely collapsible, very good use in tight spaces and so forth for a quick single player game, but there's no need to worry because it comes with a puncture repair kit which I would imagine you would need to use quite immediately. Unless you're a bad dart player. But then there's another one in actual invention wasn't on the market very long, a battery-powered battery charger just doesn't make any sense does it battery-powered battery charger.

There's another one for those that have a problem with overeating. They actually came up with what they call the anti-eating facemask. Basically this is a metal cage that attaches to your faith that you will lock so you can eat food that are not successful. That was one of my favorites was the prankster fire alarm/and coming straight out of the February issue of modern mechanics magazine prankster proof fire alarm traps ahead of any offender in the middle here in Cobb and until the fire department arrived to release it probably is what one of its real fire. Well then your track and you take one for the team.

I suppose it I will teach you to pull a fire alarm, even if it's necessary. Segueing from some of the worst inventions of all time to the worst ideas of all time. According to Time magazine.

These were submitted by their readers. The worst ideas of all time, in no particular order, here are some of them telemarketing. I would agree with that leisure suit company of you actually bought a leisure suit razor. Reasonably what to believe.

I don't believe that your insurance company if you bought, and wore a leisure suit razor. Thank you. Yes I I had 10. I don't know why really. Newco is another one of the worst ideas of the century, according to the readers smell vision. I'm not quite sure what that was but that sounds a little bizarre chain email.

I totally agree with that. George Lazenby is James Bond to be a little bit older to even understand what that's about the stiletto heel. One of the worst inventions of all time or ideas of all time. I think eels in general make no sense to me but you girls. You know you've mastered them in and I'm just glad I don't have to worry about infomercials. That's typically one of the worst ideas of all time. Barney just says Barney. Now I don't know what they mean Barney the purple dinosaur or Congressman Barney Frank with a safe morning. It's certainly not Barney fine because I I like morning fog. One of the worst ideas of all time. The Titanic come back to errors. Birds shoot how many of you ever bought a pair of shoes. It did you wear with your leisure suit. I had her shoes third. This ugly shoes supposedly better for your foot aerosol cheese. One of the worst ideas spray on hair. I think the right about this.

Remember those commercials of the guys brand the and you know it didn't work that well I can tell you from experience I know I spray on here and then another one with a here club men.

So I guess of the spring on here didn't work. He went to the hair club for men and you could before that you bought one of those little Whigs you know there are little small Lily to give this much space. Still, this little Dork that didn't work. You go back to the spray on cheese you know you can view the top of your hungry works ideas of the century will listen to the worst idea of all time was when God himself was put on trial here was the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world God in human form conduits and then has this idea, let's put them to death, but check this out man worst mistake was at the same time God master plan because the Bible says it leaves the father to bruise him with another translation puts it when God the father sees all that is accomplishing the anguish of Jesus. He will be satisfied and because of Woody's experience my right to serve.

It will make it possible for many to be counted righteous or he will bear all of their sins. Is he that is why the Bible says Jesus was crucified from the foundation of the world doesn't mean that means that the crucifixion of Jesus was not a mistake nor was it an after thought it was part of the plan of God from the very very beginning before there was a solar system, much less a planet called Earth or a garden called Eden or a couple known as Adam and Eve, a decision was made in the councils of eternity.

God himself would come to the earth as a man, and would go to across dying in the place of all sinners. Why so men could be put in the contact with God now in our last message in this series were calling essentials with every Christian needs to know we talked a little bit about Jesus is the first thing we pointed out Jesus is God. Jesus is God. There was never a moment when Jesus became God know was there a moment when Jesus sees to be God he was God in heaven God in the womb, God going to across God rising again from the dead. Secondly, we pointed out that Jesus was God became a man, he did not void but brother failed his deity and he also asked.experience human traits as we do paren since we learned that Jesus became tired like we become tired to experience physical hunger, physical thirst, physical weakness. Jesus even knew anger, though it was not the kind of anger we would know what it was like this indignation. Jesus also felt deep sorrow and now, let me add another one to the list that might surprise some Jesus according to the Bible was tempted, he was tempted.

You might say, wait a second. How could God be tempted. Doesn't the Bible say God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does he himself tempt any man.

Yes, it's true. The Bible says that but yet the Bible also clearly teaches that Jesus was tempted. We read about it in Luke four you remember that after Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist in the spirit of God came upon them in the form of a dove and the father said this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

We read this spirit led him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil and there after a 40 day fast Jesus face this onslaught of attacks from Lucifer. Remember Lucifer started out by saying if you are the son of God. Why don't you turn this walk into a piece of bread and Jesus of course refuse that temptation and said it is written mentioned not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Satan also took Jesus to the pinnacle of the edge of the temple and he said why don't you jump off a pier because it is written," Scripture and in this case he quoted Psalm 91. His angels charge over you to keep you in all of your ways, and Jesus came back and said it is written, you shall not tempt the Lord your God. So Jesus clearly was tempted but listen, he did not have bent inward vulnerability to get in to the temptation because the Bible says Amanda tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and he is in times is either tempt or needs cooperation with the temp T that would be. And for that temptation to work.

We have the desire and want that thing that's been offered to us. And so the devil knows is no Jesus did not have bent inward vulnerability that combustible sinful nature that we have. Therefore, we might protest and say with any wasn't really tempted because of Eden of the ability to fall and that temptation was not genuine. While I don't think that's true, he basically resisted it. Let me ask you a quick question. How many of you have ever been tempted to sin razor. How many of you have given in the those temptations.

Thank you very much okay now if there was it. How many of you have ever been tempted and you've resisted the temptation razor with all could see that. Listen when you resisted this I mean that you were not tempted. No, it means that you made the right choice right Jesus resisted it. No, we did not have the inward vulnerability get into it but at the same time he felt the pressure and presence of temptation.

So Jesus was tempted as we are. But why, why did he even go through this yearly answer. Hebrews 217, it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect. Like his brothers and sisters so he can be our merciful and faithful high priest before God, since he himself was adopted.

Temptation and suffering is able to help us when we are being tempted to listen.

Jesus knows what it's like to walk in your shoes, so don't say no one knows what I'm going through right now no one is ever suffered. Like I'm suffering right now and no one is ever faith the kind of temptation I'm facing right now because someone happens in its Jesus, though there may be no one else who can say I know exactly what you're going through Jesus did or have, and now he is here with you and your times of temptation as well. One other temptation that the devil offered to Jesus there in the wilderness was when he showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. Interesting because we wonder if those were just the kingdoms of their day, or if they were the kingdoms of the past, present and future. I did Satan merely show Jesus Jerusalem and Roman African part of the show him also Los Angeles and Paris and Las Vegas.

Hey, here's all the kingdoms of the world and then Satan goes on to say these kingdoms are under my control.

All this authority I will give to you and their glory of Richmond delivered to me and I can give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, you will worship performing all will be your interestingly, Jesus did not refute this statement.

In other words, he didn't say devil, you're wrong. You can't do that. And the reason he didn't say this because for once Satan was telling the truth. Though we have the father of lies. In this particular situation.

He was stating that because the Bible says that the devil is the God of this world was blind the eyes of people, the Scripture describes Lucifer as the prince of the power of the air.

This spirit at work in the hearts of those that refuse to obey God. You see Jesus income to the hearers to purchase back which was lost in the garden of Eden, and here was a battle that is been raging going back to the book of Genesis. You remember that after Lucifer betrayed or accuse me a deceived out of any God told him that he would crawl on his belly all the days of his life in the dust and so forth.

And then the Lord said to Satan, the first messianic passage. He warned one that was coming who would bruise his head, speaking of the serpent and then he said to Satan, you will bruise his heel. In other words, a battle line was being drawn and got a thing there is coming once Satan is going to cross you, he's gonna bruise your head, but you will bruise his heel first messianic test so the devil knew this one was coming and he tried to stop going back to the book of Exodus. When Pharaoh wanted to kill all of those Jewish baby boy knowing Messiah would come through the line of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

He tried to stop it. But of course that failed then you fast-forward to the book of Esther and the wicked plot of Mordechai to destroy the Jews. But that plot was foiled also. Then fast-forward to the New Testament we see Herod trying to kill the Messiah when he is told by those mysterious visitors from the East that they had come to worship the one that was born is the King of the Jews killed those baby boys. There in him all these attempts by the devil and failed, he knew Messiah was coming. So here's what he say that Jesus I know why you're here, why don't you come to do.

I know that you come to die for the sins of the world and reclaim back that which was lost in the Garden of Eden. So I have a deal and good and make you enough for you cannot refuse very bad godfather imitation that very bad Jared. It all give you what you wanted a silver platter.

No cross, no suffering, no bearing the sin of the world, not up drop of blood has to be shed all give it to you now say the same if you will give me the momentary satisfaction of worshiping me, worshiping the devil says that Jesus give it to you right now. And Jesus says it is written, you shall worship the Lord God and him only shall you serve no Jesus refuse that temptation because he knew there was no other way to satisfy the righteous demands of God apart from the cross. Which brings us to the reason that Jesus came.

Why did our Lord come to this earth.

Why was there an incarnation why was there the birth of a baby in a manger in Bethlehem.

Why did he come why did Jesus walked this planet and breathe our air and experience life here.

Some would say well he came to give the ultimate teachings ever. No question. Jesus was the greatest teacher who ever lived. But that's not the primary reason he came others and say he came to give us an example of how to live life at its highest level what Jesus was the ultimate example without question without some of the primary reason he came. Someone else might say Willie came to do miracles in the heel people.

Yes he did that and gently touched many lives.

But again that is that the primary reason he came, Jesus came to buy back the title deed of your became to die on a cross for our sin. The Bible says in Hebrews 29 became the taste death for everyone. He came to give his life. Our Lord said as a ransom for many. In the word ransom conveys the idea of offering yourself in the place of another another waiter stated he was born to die, that we might live lesson. The purpose of the incarnation was for the atonement, the birth of Jesus was for the purpose of the death of Jesus. Again, the incarnation was for the purpose of atonement, the birth of Jesus was so that there would be that death, Jesus. One of the wise men had it right when he brought the insightful gift of murder to the child murder and embalming element. That's why Jesus came.

The cross was Jesus goal and destination from the very beginning. He spoke about often.

He spoke of it in graphic detail. He warned his disciples it was coming, he broke it down to them. Somehow it went right over their heads, until it actually happened so let's think for a few moments about what happened on the day that Jesus died, our Lord takes Peter James and John in the garden of Gethsemane. He's under tremendous pressure.

I don't know if we fully grasp what Christ was going through in the garden.

Dr. Luke tells us that he sweat, as it were great drops of blood and some medical experts have weighed in on that and suggested that may have been a first century description of what we know today as Kemah trig process Kemah trig process takes place. I've talked to some doctors about this when there is a unique mixture of blood and sweat when you're under the greatest pressure imaginable. So Jesus is sweating… Drops like blood and he says this to Peter, James and John, my soul is exceeding exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.

Stay here and watch that phrase exceedingly sorrowful could be be translated. He wasn't terrified amazement. In other words, in the face of the dreadful prospect of very God's fury against sin. Jesus was in the very grip of terror. The inner circle watches Jesus as he gets down in his knees and he falls inany praise repeatedly.

This prayer father. If it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not your will, but my be done and he didn't say it quietly why this prayer out because were told over and Hebrews 57 during the days of Jesus life on earth. He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one that could save him from death, he cried out to the father.

Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass, why because Jesus was omniscient.

Remember what that word means all-knowing. He knew everything he knew everything that was happening. I'm glad I'm not omniscient. I'm glad I don't know the future. There are things that I look back now, in my past that it would not help me if I would've known they were coming. I don't think I could've born, Jesus knew exactly what was coming. He knew that Judas Iscariot was coming with the temple guard. He knew that he was going to appear before Annis and then client first and then pilot and number four Harwich and then back to Pilate.

He knew they were gonna rip the beard out of his face. He knew that there was a punch him in the face. He knew that there were going to take a Roman candle line 9 Dales Ter. back open.

He knew that they would nail and do a cross. But worst of all, here's what he was recoiling from the knew he was getting up to bear the sin of the entire world and that's why he pray father if it's possible let this cup pass from me what cup cup of the wrath of God. The cop of God's judgment that should have come upon each of us. Isaiah called the cup of his fury. You drink dregs of the cop of trembling in down.

Have you ever eaten something that was so disgusting it turned your stomach all imagine looking into this, and what it represented. Imagine contemplating the horrors of bearing all of that sin can't use road and I quote the greatest display of obedience. It will ever be known. Jesus took the full chalice of man's sin and God's wrath look shuddering deep into it. Step in and a steel activists will drink at all."

You can be sure that the devil was there in full force as Judas approaches with a kiss of betrayal. Interestingly, we read that Jesus said to do this friend, why have you come I mean, that would be the last thing I would've said the Judas Patterson dock fun going down you're going down with understand what I'm saying you betray after all the time I spent with you know Jesus reaches out to him and one last act of mercy.

But sadly, unbeknownst to Judith though he was given an opportunity to repent his heart was too hard and let me just add as a footnote, Judas was not some pond that was moved about who really had the best interests of Jesus set in in mind. Judas was a betrayer and he was a wicked man whose heart the devil himself and entered at this point.

So Jesus is taken away.

He appears before Annis and Caiaphas, and ultimately ultimately before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Pilate was a powerful man. He was also a hard man, a man who did not like to be trifled with.

He was also a man in hot water because you see he had had a number of run-ins, according to history with the religious Jewish leaders at this point, any that didn't need another conflict was clearly given that they wanted the execution of Jesus and though he effectively gave them for permission to do it themselves going to take care of them according to your law, which was Pilate's way of saying if you guys want to go storm. I could care less just take this away from me, but they said no, no, you need to deal with this because they wanted not just to death but a Roman death. They wanted crucifixion. Pilate was looking for a way out of this.

He tried to offer Barabbas in the place of Jesus and EE was hoping if he would give them a choice of who to release because it was Passover, the people would pick Jesus over Barabbas on horrible criminal, but instead the people cried for Jesus.

So on one last ditch effort to appease the bloodthirsty crowds. Pilate has Jesus scourged and as you know, that was, not just the Commonwealth but it was the Roman cat of nine tails are usually a base made out of wood multiple strands of leather embedded with pieces of metal and glass and every time the last of this with would come on the back of the prisoner.

It would rip into the skin. Taking up the skin.

Opening up the blood vessels, even exposing vital organs. Many men did not survive the scourging Jesus takes the full 39 lashes and then pilot parade them out before the crowd looking for mercy. Behold, the man he says still they cry, crucify him. So he gives the command for Jesus to be taken away and that's we pick the story as we come to Matthew 27. Jesus now having to carry his own cross collapsing beneath its weight taken to the place of the skull also known as Golgotha, verse 35 about the 27 after they nailed him to the cross to soldiers gambled for is close by throwing guys and they sat around in Guard as he hung there a signboard with passing the cross above Jesus said, announcing the charge against him and read.

This is Jesus, the King of the Jews to criminals are crucified with them their crosses on either side of his and the people passing by shouted abuse shaking their heads and mockery so you can destroy the temple and build it up again in three days.

Can you weld and if you're the son of God, save yourself and come down from across the leading creeds and the teachers of religious law and the other leaders also mock Jesus saying he saved others, but he can't save himself if he is the king of Israel, why doesn't he let him come down now from across and we will believe in him. He trusted in God. Let God show his approval by delivering him, for he said I am the son of God and the criminals were crucified with him also shouted the same insult Adam at noon, darkness fell across the whole land until 3 o'clock and about 3 o'clock. Jesus called out with a loud voice, Eli, Eli Lama suboptimally which means my God, my God, why have you forsaken. There verse 35 says after they nailed him to the cross. No detail or explanation is given about crucifixion because it was far too common in this day the Romans viciously crucified thousands and thousands of people to become their favorite method of execution throughout the Empire, and especially in Judeo.

It was usually reserved for the rioters and insurrectionist. In other words, those that specifically wanted to overthrow Rome. They said you will face death by crucifixion.

According to this Josephus after the death of Herod the great, the Roman governor of Syria crucified 2000 men in order to quell an uprising. Josephus also tells of the tightest crucified so many people when he sacked Jerusalem in A.D. 70. There was no more love for crosses and no place left to set them up so crosses with dead or dying men was a common site in Israel saw all that we read here is they crucified him, everybody knew what that meant. And here hung Jesus fulfilling the plan and purpose of God because the Scripture is specifically prophesied that not only would Messiah die but he would die.

Death on the cross.

Zechariah 13 six says they will say on the him one of these wounds in your hand, and he will answer these with which I was wounded in the house of my friend. Interesting Old Testament passages written hundreds of years before the arrival of Jesus on earth are saying Messiah will be wounded in his hand. Isaiah 53 is so vivid description of the crucifixion. You would think he was an eyewitness, another of those famous words in Psalm 22. They cares my hands on my feet and interestingly Psalm 22 was written up thousand years before the first crucifixion ever took place. I think it was the persons that created crucifixion in which they would raise a person above the earth in order to not file it. Alexander the great introduced the practice to eat Egypt and Carthage in the Romans probably learned from the Carthaginians and so it is have some of the Romans.

That sort of up the ante if you will raise the stakes and made it even more barbaric than it'd been under the Persians but yet hundreds of years before any man it ever been crucified.

Scripture said this is how Messiah would die. But this was not just another man being crucified. This was God in human form. This was not a man being taken against his will. This was a man who willingly went with one word of the father could have been delivered from his dilemma. They said let him cry out to God, he saved others, let them save himself if he is the son regardless you don't think he could've gotten out of this, but here's what you need to know if he had chosen to save himself. He could not of saved others, but because he chose to lose himself to die in our place.

We all now can be saved as a result from our sin. So there hangs Jesus back ripped open Tom's swollen hydrated death by crucifixion is essentially death by suffocation, if not the nails in the hands and feet to kill the man. It's the inability to bring there is a little base put on the bottom of the cross a little foot rest of you will and so the crucified person pushes himself up to get air into their lungs. Jesus pushes himself up on that base he get air into his lungs and he gives seven statements from top the first one father forgive them for they know not what they do now, Karen Matthews gospel we read that both of the thieves were probably guilty of a far worse sin than theft. Because the word that is user described them as a more severe were the original language, but these two criminals. No doubt deserve what they got. Join the chorus of mockery of the onlookers until Jesus is father forgive them for they know not what they do right there on the spot. One of these thieves believe in turns to Jesus and says, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom, bringing Christ to a second statement which is, verily, verily I say unto you today, you will be with me in paradise. Jesus looks now at the foot of the cross standing there. Mary, the woman who bore him. The woman who nursed him the woman who loved him and he saw the apostle John standing next to her. He said woman behold your son and then no doubt, nodding to John he said son behold your mother effectively entrusting the care of kids mother to the apostle have to this mysterious darkness falls on the earth for three long hours.

Remember those rolling blackouts.

We were having a number of years ago here in California.

I remember one night when all the power went off everywhere. It was kind of.

That there was no light on it just kids dark and this was a rolling blackout but it was in the middle of the day it's 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the sun is still out. Suddenly it's pitch black. There's no light anywhere and then the darkness is pierced by the words of Jesus crying from the cross, Eli, Eli Lama suboptimally which is to say, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me what was going on there. Jesus at that moment, I believe, was bearing the sins of the world. He was dying as a substitute for others to him was imputed the guilt of our sins, and he was suffering the punishment for those sins on our behalf in some mysterious way that we can never fully comprehend during those awful hours on the cross for father was pouring out the full measure of his wrath against sin and the recipient of that wrath was God's own son. God was punishing Jesus as if he had personally committed every wicked deed committed by every wicked sinner and in doing so he can forgive and treat those redeemed was as if they had lived Christ's perfect life of righteousness. Then repeat that.

Think about this God was punishing Jesus as if he had personally committed every wicked deed committed by every wicked center and in doing so he could forgive and treat those written deemed lines is they had lived Christ's perfect life of righteousness.

This is what we call justification is not merely the removal of sin.

It is the imputing of the righteousness of Christ into our spiritual bank account.

That's what happened when Jesus hung on the cross in Scripture clearly teaches that there was a moment when the sin of the world was placed on the sun. Second Corinthians 521 says God made Christ to never sin to be the offering for our sin. Peter wrote he himself bare our sins in his own body on the tree, listen what is Jesus said, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me.

We think a crisis of faith. No a declaration of war you say the godforsaken innocence yes Jesus was forsaken, so I don't have to be Jesus entered the darkness so I can walk in the line. Jesus was forsaken that I might be forgiven that when we say Jesus was first taken. Verse eight is a sin of the world was placed on Christ, the father who is holy and cannot look at sin turned away as he became the recipient of the wrath of God but because this happened, no one will ever have to think will be forsaken of God.

From this moment forward who calls out to him.

Jesus was simply declaring what was taking place in the given moment, but I want you to notice. This was not a crisis of faith on the part of our Lord. He was crying out to the father also for billing Scripture from Psalm 22, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me notices my God, what's can happen when crisis hit your life and it will what can happen if tragedy comes to your home and it may are you going to cry out to God, are you going to ignore God's history, and said character is not meeting crisis it's revealed it shows what you really are and some people say climatic God. I'm not talking to God I never want to even communicate with God. Again, you can cry out to God.

You can even say Lord I don't get this. I don't understand this. I don't even like that but I'm looking to you my God, my God, to the emphasis is not a forsaken. It's on my God and he called out to his father as he bore the sin of the world. After this we know that he said I thirst. The first mention of this situation physically and why did he say that this point because he was almost done now. He bore the sin of the world and now here's just a man. Okay, he's God, yes.

But he's a man he's Amanda feels pain.

He's a man who's the hydrated. He's a man of his body is literally hanging and shred any the man who simply says I first what's the meaning. The meaning is you thirsted something to help him and this just reminds us that Jesus not only died, but he suffered, and that is why have entitled this message. Why did Jesus have to suffer and die. Maybe we can understand why Jesus died. But why did Jesus have, to suffer, and indeed he did. I mean God can do whatever he wants.

Interviewer God, would you suffer if you didn't have to. Why suffer the answer is, so we will know that we serve a God who knows what we are going through. Was John started said in his book the cross of Christ.

Quote our God is a suffering God" and I think he's right. Listen to Isaiah's description of what Jesus was God went through at Calvary. He was despised and rejected by others, man of suffering, and acquainted with in committee or our infirmities. He carried our diseases yet we had counted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities and he died in our place. He was a man of suffering that was Jesus. But why did he suffer because the love and he loves, and therefore you need to know you're not alone in your suffering. Are you suffering today. Maybe you feel like you're the only person who's going through what you're going through what Jesus was called the man of sorrows, no matter how great your difficulty or need know that he understands.

The Bible says cast all of your care upon him for he cares for you is your body racked with pain so his sentence. Have you ever been misunderstood, misjudged or misrepresented so would see. Have you ever had those that are nearest and dearest to you. Turn away so is he.

So why did Jesus have to suffer and die like to offer for answers. I'm sure there are more things that could be said, but for now we will offer these for answers number one, Jesus suffered and died to show God's love for us. He suffered and died to show God's love for us.

Jesus said for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son.

Paul said in Ephesians 5 Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Paul also said he loved me and gave himself for me. It's a demonstration of love solicit if you're ever tempted to doubt God's love to go long look at the cross of Calvary.

There you see God's love and display for you he died to show you God's love number two.

Jesus died to absorb the wrath of God. He died to absorb the wrath of God because I've broken God's commandments and I've fallen short of God's standards and I've offended a holy God. There was a judgment that had to be meted out because the Bible says that soul that sins shall surely die.

So who's going to pay the price Jesus said I will all absorb the judgment and wrath of God in the place of you and me. That's exactly what happened. Listen of God were not just there would be no demand for us on the suffer and die of God were not loving. There would be no willingness rests on the suffer and die.

But God is just in willing and there is love is willing to meet the demand of justice and he took the full impact of the judgment of God in our place. Number three. Jesus suffered and died to cancel the legal demands against us and disarm the devil again. Jesus died on the cross to cancel the legal demands against us and disarm the devil, the 10 Commandments we've all broken. Some of us are broken. Many of them might be a future broken all I want to know who you are, but we broken these commitment.

The Bible says if you append in one point of the law, you're guilty of all of it and this shows the absurdity of the position or persons as well.

I don't really need Jesus Christ.

I live by the 10 Commandments know you don't, you do not live by the 10 Commandments and the commandment basically sentence you to judgment because you are broken them.

But Jesus died to cancel the legal demands against us and disarm the devil because were told over and Colossians 214.

He canceled the record that contain the charges against as he took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ's cross. In this way God disarmed evil rulers and authorities teaching them publicly by his victory over them on the Christ's cross of Christ sends power no longer needs to stand as a barrier between God mentally. Here's what it comes down to. Not only did he cancel the legal demands against us, but he disarm the devil. So here's what I mean.

The devil says your mom. I'm in a do it.

I want to do in your life and you're never going to be free. You're always good to be bound by this addiction always going to be trapped in this lifestyle. You're always going to be doing the same stupid thing over and over again is what you say you're a liar it's not true because Jesus died on the cross and dealt a decisive blow against.

I'm not saying devil is intolerable because the years and will talk about that will beget you the topic of who is Satan behind saying understatement of the century, no, Jesus is way more powerful. Okay. Greater is he that is in you, that he that is in the world so the power of Christ cancels out the power of Satan. And if you want to be free from that addiction free from that sin, free from whatever it is, a told you that you can be. If you choose to be. If you'll take hold of what Jesus purchased for you at the cross of Calvary. One final thing Jesus suffered and died to provide our forgiveness and justification were told him. Romans 59 we been justified by his blood, to be justified means you have been forgiven of the wrongs you have done, but it also means that God is we already pointed out, this place, the righteousness of Jesus Christ in your spiritual bank account if you will tell you you need everything while you are not worthy to go to prayer by not worthy to attend church, you know, you're right about that. You're not worthy, but you never work. Sometimes something will. I did pretty well this week I read the Bible and and you know I didn't cuss quite as much or you know I I was afraid her even though the lessons are great but listen on your birthday, you still fell short. Your approach to God never had anything to do with your worthiness. It has everything to do with what Jesus is done for you. So on that basis, I can come to God with access to his presence through a new and living way because of what Jesus did. There is nothing that should keep you from coming to God right now and trusting him and calling on him that maybe you've come here today with Alana Harding is come here with a tragedy come here with difficulty you call out to God he's been through what you're going through. He'll be there for you to help you through this. Maybe there some of you here that have joined us who have never called out to Jesus he's never seen real to you or even ever felt like you could approach God you care what I can understand God.

Well, I don't know anyone who can understand God. As I said you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus.

I just told you little bit about what Jesus did for you and he welcomes you with open arms and will forgive you of any sin you've ever committed. If you will turn from your sin and believe in him today and ask him to be your Savior and Lord. Because this same Jesus died on the cross rose again from the dead leaves here with us right now in this place, standing at the door of your life, and he is knocking anything, if you will hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in if you've never asked Jesus to come in.

You can do it right now as we close in prayer.

Okay, what's up our heads. Father, thank you for your word to us today. Thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus our Lord Jesus, I pray that you will speak to any person here that does not know you, and help them to see their need for you and help them to come to you this day. We pray on the heads of God are either close or praying. How many of you would say today. Greg, would you pray for me. I want Jesus Christ to come in the my life. I want him to forgive me of all of my sin.

I want to know that when I die I will go to heaven. I'm ready to say yes to Jesus. Pray for me about your desire.

If you want Christ to come into your life today if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to go to heaven when you die, whatever your city. Would you just stand your feet right now nominally join the prayer of commitment.

You want Christ to come in your life. Just stand your feet wherever you are up there in the balcony standard, bless you better standing. If you're out there in the amphitheater outdoors to stand your feet right now I can't see you, but the Lord sees you.

This is a way for you to say I'm serious about this. If you're in the corridor are basketball building. You stand your feet right now to stand up nominally join the prayer of commitment to Christ maybe fallen away from the Lord you want to come back to him again. You stand as well. Wherever you are, to stand up. God bless each one of you in understanding this final moment anybody else you want Christ to come in your life to stand knowledge in this prayer.

God bless you and the balcony. Anybody else out there in the courtyard.

There, the court stand up combustion all right all of you that are standing pray this prayer out loud after me.

This is where you are asking Jesus to come into your life again as I pray pray this out loud after me if you would, Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but I believe you died on the cross for my sins. I sure know from that sin. I repent of it. I ask you to be my Savior and my Lord and my God and my friend. I choose to follow you, Jesus. From this moment forward.

Thank you for calling me and accepting me and for giving me and justifying me in Jesus name I pray, amen