Pastor: David Higa
Understanding the Cross
Matthew 27:27-56
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21
“Matthew and the other Gospel writers recorded the historical account of our Lord’s suffering and death. It
remained for the writers of the New Testament Epistles to explain its theological meaning. History records ‘Christ
died,’ but theology explains that ‘Christ died for our sins’ (1 Cor. 15:3).” – Warren Wiersbe
This evening we are going to get the record of the Cross. We will read that Jesus was mocked and beaten by the
Roman soldiers, crucified, and scorned by his own people [the Jews]. Matthew recorded that “he gave up his
spirit” and at that moment “the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” All of this is the historical
record. But do we understand its significance? Do we comprehend the theological meaning?
The Epistles explain the doctrine behind the Cross, that Jesus paid the price for sin when he died. “It is finished,”
He said. What was finished? The work of redemption that entails the removing of sin “as far as the east is from
the west.”
Jesus finished that work by taking upon Himself “the thing ‘sin’ itself” as one commentator put it. And then Paul
theologically explained it best in one verse, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we
might become the righteousness of God.” [2 Cor 5:21]
I would encourage you to meditate on that scripture this evening, on this Good Friday. Because that is the good
in Good Friday; your sins are removed.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” [Ro 3:23] “There is none righteous, no, not one” [Ro 3:10].
“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.” [Ro 3:21-22]
Therefore, ‘believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” [Acts 16:31]. It is a profound work rendered
by faith, faith on the historical account of Christ’s death and resurrection.
But with faith comes Spirit-filled understanding and the super-natural response of growing and serving.
