Sunday Sermon

Beyond the Passion Dave Shaner March 20, 2005

Text: Matthew 27:45-54

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah." Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him." And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

Introduction: What was God trying to say at the cross of Christ? The Father spoke no words, but heaven said a lot above the earth, on the earth, & under the earth..

What are some signs of life as we look at the Passion of the Christ?

I. The signs express God's own ________________ of the cross.

A. They are God's announcement about the significance of the cross.

B. Jesus was handed over by God's set purpose & foreknowledge.

1. The death of purpose was the plan of God.
2. No one can interpret the cross better than God.

II. The Signs:

A. The ____________ ______________ in the middle of the day.

1. The wrath of God had been poured out on Jesus.
2. At this moment, Jesus became sin. - II Corinthians 5:21

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

3. I Peter 2:24

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

4. Galatians 3:13

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

5. There is no double jeopardy in regard to your sins.

B. The ____________ of the ____________ was ____________ in two.

1. The curtain symbolized man's separation from a holy God.
2. It shows that our debt to God has been paid.
3. Hebrews 1O:19-22

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

4. Hebrews 10:11-12

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.

C. The earth ____________ the __________ came from the __________.

1. Death, itself, has been put to death.
2. The cross of Jesus is the answer for sin both BC & AD.
3. I Corinthians 15:56-57

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

III. The signs suggest God wants to make a ____________ out of you.

A. Because of Jesus, God can repair our hearts.
B. God still preaches to us through these miracles.
C. Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

D. The cross means God made the first move to reconcile us to Him.

	Home Page		Prayer Requests
	About Us		Services & Classes
	Church Bulletin		Sunday Sermon
	Missions & Outreach		Youth Group

Comments and suggestions:
webmaster@dgchurch.org