April 8-9, 2006, Selected

24!
CROSSWORDS!

The following events took place from 3 AM to 6 AM!
*** Luke 22:40-44 "On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." [NIV]
*** John 18:2-3 "Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons." [NIV]
*** Matthew 26:60b-64 "Finally two came forward and declared, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.' " Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." [NIV]

The following events took place from 6 AM to 9 AM!
*** Matthew 27:1-2 "Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor." [NIV]
*** John 18:33-38 "Pilate...summoned Jesus and asked, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?" "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?" Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." "What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again...and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him." [NIV]

The following events took place from 9AM to 3 PM!
***John 19:14, 16 "It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews. [16] Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified." [NIV]
*** Mark 15:25 "It was the third hour [JEWISH TIME] when they crucified him."
*** Matthew 27:45 "From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land." [NIV]
***Matthew 27:54 "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!" [NIV]

The following events took place from 3 PM to 6 PM!
THE CROSS IS WHERE HEAVEN'S LOVE SATISFIES HEAVEN'S JUSTICE!

1. THERE IS FORGIVENESS FOR US AT THE CROSS!
*** Luke 23:34a "Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." [NIV]

IT IS SIN, NOT NAILS THAT HELD JESUS ON THE CROSS!
*** Hebrews 10:14 "...because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." [NIV]
*** 1 John 1:7 "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." [NIV]

2. THERE IS SALVATION FOR US AT THE CROSS!
*** Luke 23:43 "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

SALVATION IS JUST THAT SIMPLE!

3. THERE IS LOVE FOR US AT THE CROSS!
*** John 19:26-27 "When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home." [NIV]
*** Romans 5:8 "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." [New Living Translation]

4. THERE IS ATONEMENT FOR US AT THE CROSS!
*** Matt. 27:46 "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?"
*** 2 Cor. 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." [NIV]

THERE IS A COST FOR OUR ATONEMENT WE MUST NEVER FORGET!

5. JESUS SUFFERED FOR US AT THE CROSS!
*** John 19:28 "Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." [NIV]

6. THERE IS VICTORY OVER SIN AT THE CROSS!
*** John 19:30a “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." [NIV]

7. THERE IS ETERNAL LIFE FOR US AT THE CROSS!
*** Luke 23:46 “Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.” [NIV]

REAL LIFE IS FOUND AT THE CROSS!