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The Death of
Christ
Introduction
John 13:1 sets the tone for our lesson: “Now before the feast of the
Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should
depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were
in the world, He loved them to the end.” Today we will focus on that
love. Jesus endured unimaginable suffering for us, and by reflecting
on His death we will better appreciate His sacrifice. Once we see
the agony and the victory of Calvary, it will remain in our hearts
forever.
The Final
Week Leading to the Cross
The death of Christ was not an isolated event. It was the
culmination of His final week, sometimes called the Passion Week. On
Sunday, He entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, hailed as king
while people waved palm branches (Matthew 21:1-11). On Monday, He
cleansed the temple, driving out the money changers (Matthew 21). On
Tuesday, He taught in the temple and denounced the hypocrisy of the
scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 21–26). Wednesday was quieter, but a
woman anointed Him with costly oil, an act that has been remembered
ever since (Matthew 26). Thursday was filled with activity: the
Passover meal, the institution of the Lord’s Supper, His betrayal by
Judas, and His agonizing prayers in Gethsemane (John 13–18). It was
in the garden that His sweat became like great drops of blood (Luke
22:44). This condition, known as hematidrosis, occurs under extreme
stress when capillaries rupture and blood mingles with sweat. It
left His skin fragile and tender, making the suffering to come even
more severe.
The Jewish
Trials
On Friday, Jesus endured a series of trials. Before the high priest
and the Sanhedrin, He was mocked, blindfolded, and struck on the
face (Luke 22:63-64). This fulfilled prophecy written centuries
earlier: “I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to
those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame
and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6). Already weakened, His face became
bruised and battered. The suffering had begun before He even reached
Pilate.
The Roman
Trials and the Scourging
Jesus was then brought before Pilate, the Roman governor (Matthew
27:11-14). Pilate found no fault in Him, yet to appease the Jews he
had Jesus scourged (John 19:1). Roman scourging was designed to
bring victims to the brink of death. Jesus was tied to a post, His
back and legs exposed, and beaten with a whip laced with sharp bone
and heavy iron balls. His flesh was torn into ribbons, bleeding
profusely. Isaiah’s prophecy spoke of this: “He was wounded for our
transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement
for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed”
(Isaiah 53:5). Peter echoed this truth: “Who Himself bore our sins
in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might
live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter
2:24).
The Crown
of Thorns
After scourging, soldiers twisted a crown of long, sharp thorns and
pressed it onto His head, striking Him repeatedly (John 19:2-3).
Blood streamed down His face. The mocking cry, “Hail, King of the
Jews,” added insult to injury. Yet Jesus endured silently. His love
for us carried Him through.
The Journey
to Golgotha
Jesus was forced to carry the crossbeam, weighing 75–125 pounds,
toward Golgotha. His body was so weakened that He collapsed, and
Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry it for Him (Luke 23:26).
Arriving at the Place of the Skull, Jesus was offered sour wine
mixed with gall, a mild pain reliever, but He refused it (Matthew
27:33-34). He chose to face the cross clear-headed, fully conscious
of His suffering and mission.
The
Crucifixion
Nails five to seven inches long were driven through His wrists and
through His feet. The pain was excruciating—literally, for the word
“excruciating” comes from “out of the cross.” Hanging there, lifting
Himself to breathe, every movement shot waves of agony through His
torn body. Yet in this condition He prayed, “Father, forgive them,
for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). The psalmist had
foretold this suffering: “I am poured out like water, and all My
bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; it has melted within
Me” (Psalm 22:14).
The
Finished Work
After hours of unimaginable pain, Jesus cried out, “I thirst” (John
19:28). Offered sour wine, He received it, then said, “It is
finished,” and gave up His spirit (John 19:30). This was the
declaration of completion. Like an artist examining his masterpiece,
He proclaimed His mission fulfilled. The Hebrew writer explains,
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for
the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”
(Hebrews 12:2). Jesus endured because of the joy of our salvation.
The Meaning
of His Death
Sin has always demanded sacrifice. In the Old Testament, lambs and
bulls were offered. But Christ’s death was the once-for-all
sacrifice for our sins. His death reconciled us to God, His stripes
healed us, His blood washed us clean. The cross was agony for Him,
but it was grace for us.
Sermon Outline: The Death of Christ
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Introduction
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John
13:1 introduces the theme of Christ’s love.
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Focus:
His love, His agony, His sacrifice.
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The Final
Week Leading to the Cross
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Sunday:
Triumphal entry (Matthew 21:1-11).
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Monday:
Cleansing of the temple (Matthew 21).
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Tuesday:
Confrontation with leaders (Matthew 21–26).
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Wednesday: Anointing with costly oil (Matthew 26).
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Thursday: Passover meal, Lord’s Supper, betrayal, Gethsemane
(John 13–18).
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Hematidrosis in the garden (Luke 22:44).
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The Jewish
Trials
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Mocked,
blindfolded, struck (Luke 22:63-64).
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Prophecy
fulfilled (Isaiah 50:6).
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The Roman
Trials and the Scourging
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Pilate
questions Jesus, finds no fault (Matthew 27:11-14).
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Jesus
scourged by Roman soldiers (John 19:1).
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Prophecies: Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24.
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The Crown of
Thorns
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The Journey
to Golgotha
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Jesus
carries crossbeam, Simon of Cyrene compelled to help (Luke
23:26).
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Offered
gall and wine, refuses (Matthew 27:33-34).
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The
Crucifixion
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The Finished
Work
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Jesus
says “I thirst” (John 19:28).
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Declares
“It is finished” (John 19:30).
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Hebrews
12:2 explains His endurance and victory.
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The Meaning
of His Death
Call to
Action
We must never take lightly what Jesus endured for us. His suffering
was personal, His sacrifice intentional. He died for our sins, not
just as an event of history but as a gift of eternal life. The cross
compels us to repent, obey His gospel, and live faithfully in
gratitude.
Key
Takeaways
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Jesus
endured physical and emotional agony out of love for us (John
13:1).
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His
suffering fulfilled prophecy, proving His identity as the
Messiah (Isaiah 50:6; Isaiah 53:5).
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His stripes
bring our healing and forgiveness (1 Peter 2:24).
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His death
was the perfect and final sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 12:2).
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His victory
on the cross secures our hope of salvation (John 19:30).
Scripture
Reference List
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John 13:1 –
Jesus’ love to the end.
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Matthew
21:1-11 – Triumphal entry.
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Matthew
21–26 – Teachings and confrontations.
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Matthew 26 –
Anointing with oil.
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John 13–18 –
Passover, Lord’s Supper, betrayal.
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Luke 22:44 –
Hematidrosis in Gethsemane.
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Luke
22:63-64 – Mocked and beaten in Jewish trials.
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Isaiah 50:6
– Prophecy of beatings and shame.
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Matthew
27:11-14 – Before Pilate.
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John 19:1 –
Scourging.
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Isaiah 53:5
– By His stripes we are healed.
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1 Peter 2:24
– He bore our sins on the tree.
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John 19:2-3
– Crown of thorns.
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Luke 23:26 –
Simon carries the cross.
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Matthew
27:33-34 – Jesus refuses gall.
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Luke 23:34 –
“Father, forgive them.”
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Psalm 22:14
– Prophecy of suffering.
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John
19:28-30 – “I thirst” and “It is finished.”
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Hebrews 12:2
– Endured the cross, sat at God’s right hand.
Prepared by
Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO |
The
church of Christ
