Weekly Sermon Notes..."He Did It For Us"

This week's passage picks up from where we left off last week in Mark 15, continuing with Mark 15:15-29, which is the actual crucifixion of Christ...from the time of being crowned with thorns, being clothed with purple (for royalty) and being mocked, struck on the head with a reed and spat upon...then being led to Golgotha, with Simon the Cyrenian carrying his cross for him...and then being crucified on that cross between two robbers.  This passage stops there, just prior to the gruesome details of His actual death.

(Free Internet Photo)

Without going into all the details, I would like to share with you some of the highlights that stood out for me...and perhaps you can apply these scriptures and thoughts to your own life as well...

1.  As Jesus is crowned with thorns, mocked and treated with such scorn we see that He knows what it means to feel small...to be humiliated...  When we feel small, humiliated and scorned, we know that Jesus has already been there...He knows how we feel...He can truly feel our pain.

2.  Jesus volunteered to take the punishment that was meant for you and me...He willingly suffered the shame and humiliation...He literally died for me.  How many others do you know who willingly died for you...suffered for you, so that you would not have to endure such pain and sorrow?

3.  While Jesus hung on the cross the disciples fled...wondering who would be next...
     Judas betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver...Peter denied him three times...Pilate washed his hands...

4.  We have all been guilty of such things...we have all been broken and in need of forgiveness...
Romans 5:8 tells us :

  "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, 

in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us."

"Christianity is the only religion where the leader took the punishment for His followers on the cross..."

"Jesus took the Roman instrument of torture and transformed it to an instrument of deliverance..."

Jesus stood up for us on that day, when He went to the cross in our place...

Isaiah 53:3-6

3.  "He is despised and rejected by men,

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4.  Surely He has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken, 

smitten by God, and afflicted.

5.  But 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.

6.  All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

What am I supposed to do with this knowledge?  I can never repay Christ for all He has done for me.

There is one thing I can do...I can share the love of Christ with everyone I meet...I can share His story of love and sacrifice and salvation wherever I go...

I can live for Him Who died for me...

During this service we sang the following old hymn.  My husband remarked to me later that this song brought back such memories for him, and I responded back to him that it did for me also...so many years ago we sang this song and committed out lives to serve God, and we have striven to do so ever since. It just seems that since we've retired, our "service" has been limited...but our heart is still there.  Living for Jesus doesn't stop when we retire...it is a life long commitment that carries us into heaven.

Living for Jesus

By Thomas O. Chisholm

1. Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
   Striving to please Him in all that I do;
   Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
   This is the pathway of blessing for me.
   • Refrain:
     O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
     For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
     I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
     My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
2. Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
   Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace;
   Such love constrains me to answer His call,
   Follow His leading and give Him my all.
3. Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
   Doing each duty in His holy Name;
   Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
   Deeming each trial a part of my cross.
4. Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
   My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
   Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
   Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.
5. 
   

   Refrain:

   O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,

   For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;

   I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;

   My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
6. 
   

(I had a hard time finding a good video of this song, but at least this one has all the words with music.)

Question for me and for you:  What will YOU do with this message?  Will you share Christ's love with everyone you meet?  Will you live for Him, Who gave His life for you?

Sermon notes and thoughts are based on the message given at FUMC, Interlachen, Florida, Pastor A.C. Myers 3/11/18