The Cross ~ the Ultimate Submission

Text:         Matthew 26:47-56

Thesis:      Jesus’ submission to God’s Will defeated the devil and brought salvation to all who would believe in Him.

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I.  Jesus’ death was His own choice.

A.     Jerusalem had become a very dangerous place for Him, but He came to the Passover feast anyway.

B.      Jesus could have slipped through the angry mob just as He did in His home town.  (see Luke 4:14-30)

C.     Jesus would not allow resistance.

1.       According to John’s Gospel, Peter was the swordsman that cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant.  Matthew did not mention Peter’s name because at the time of his writing it was still too dangerous.

D.     Jesus stated that He could call on His Father and at once have twelve legions of angels at His disposal.  (vs 53)

According to Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary, a “legion” in Roman times comprised between 4,200 and 6,000 men.  This would mean Jesus had 40,400 to 72,000 angels.

              E.  The scripture prophesied of His willingness (see Isaiah 53:6-7)

II.  Jesus chose to die because it was the purpose of God.

A.     Jesus took this way because love is the only way  (see Roman 8:5)

B.      Jesus was compelled to die for us.

C.     Jesus knew it was necessary to save you and I.

III.  We must choose to die with Christ.

A.     To die out to the world is to live for Christ.

Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.

But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”  John 12: 23-25