It was to redeem us that Jesus lived and suffered and died. He became "a Man of Sorrows," that we might be made partakers of everlasting joy.  God permitted His beloved Son, full of grace and truth, to come from a world of indescribable glory, to a world spoiled and ruined with sin, darkened with the shadow of death and the curse.  It was the burden of sin, the sense of its terrible nature, the separation of man from God--it was this that broke the heart of the Christ.

"God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son."  He gave Him to live among men, to bear their sins, and die their sacrifice.  He gave Him to the fallen race.  Christ was to identify Himself with the interests and needs of the human family.  Jesus has linked Himself with the children of men by ties that are never to be broken.  Jesus is "not ashamed to call them brethren."  Hebrews 2:11.  Jesus has done all this that man might be uplifted from the ruin and degradation of sin, that he might reflect the love of God and share the joy of holiness.

We must gather around the cross.  Christ and Him crucified should be the theme of contemplation, of conversation, and of our most joyful emotion.  We should keep in our thoughts every blessing we receive from God, and when we realize His great love we should be willing to trust everything to the hand that was nailed to the cross for us.  This study will open to us the endless theme of the cross of Christ.

1.  Did Jesus do anything worthy of death?
Luke 23:13-15 __________________________________________________________

2.  What was the response of the people when Pilate wanted to release Jesus?
Luke 23:20-23 __________________________________________________________

Note:  The priests, rulers, and people called out “crucify Him.”  It is clear that they had another purpose.  For it is written “cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree.”  Galatians 3:13  Deuteronomy 21:22, 23.  The people’s desire was that He be cursed of God; and for their sake He was.  “Christ bore our sins in His own body on the tree.”  1 Peter 2:24.  As it says “He became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21.

3.  Who was the subject of the prophecy that the Ethiopian eunuch was trying to understand?
Acts 8:32-35 ____________________________________________________________

4.  When Jesus came to take away our sin how did we respond?
Isaiah 53:2-3 ___________________________________________________________

5.  Who was responsible for putting Christ on the cross?
Isaiah 53:4-6 ___________________________________________________________

Note:  The shameful cross has been lifted up, the nails have been driven through his hands and feet, the cruel spear has pierced to his heart, and the redemption price has been paid for the human race.  The spotless Lamb of God bore our sins in his own body upon the tree; he carried our sorrows, our grief, our pain, and was bruised for our iniquities.  They are now His; do not keep from Him what He bought with His own life.

6.  What price did Jesus pay to purchase our sins?
Galatians 1:4 ___________________________________________________________

Note:  His death has secured pardon and life for all.  Nothing can keep us from salvation except we decide to keep what has been bought on the cross.  Jesus paid it ALL!  Suppose you were to save and buy a brand new car; but upon delivery time it did not come.  So you called about the matter and they said “What car?”  Would you let the matter rest?  No, you would go after it, right?  Why?  Because you paid for it.

7.  Why was Christ crucified on the cross?
Romans 6:6-7 __________________________________________________________

Note:  Destruction of sin is the only way of salvation.  “You shall call His name Jesus for He will save His people from their sins."  Matthew 1:21.  So when I receive Him into my heart I can know that “if I died with Him I shall also live with Him.”  2 Timothy 2:11.  So this is the object of the cross, the destruction of sin.

8.  After having died with Christ what will he now do?
Hosea 6:1-2 ____________________________________________________________

Note:  “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.”  Romans 6:5.  If we receive Him into our hearts we can know that the body of sin was put to death in the grave on the first day; and on third day He raises us to ‘newness of life’ in Him.  Romans 6:4

9.  What was put to death on the cross?
Ephesians 2:15-16 _______________________________________________________

Note:  That which is destroyed is the body of sin, and it is destroyed only by this personal presence of the life of Christ.  It is destroyed in order that we may be freed from its power and no longer need to serve it.  It is destroyed for everybody, for Christ in His own flesh has put to death "the enmity," the sinner's carnal mind.  Our sins, our weaknesses, were upon Him.  For every soul the victory has been gained, and the enemy has been disarmed.  We have only to accept the victory which Christ has won.

10.  What does the Bible declare the “Power of God” to be?
Romans 1:16 ___________________________________________________________

Note:  Therefore the Gospel simply reveals to us the power which was used to bring the worlds into existence, now exercised for the salvation of men.

11.  What is the “Power of God” to those who are being saved?
I Corinthians 1:18 ________________________________________________________

Note:  The cross of Christ is the great truth around which all other truths cluster.  In order to be rightly understood and appreciated, every truth in the Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation, must be studied in the light that streams from the cross of Calvary.  To the world the cross is the indisputable message that God is truth and light and love.

12.  What is given up in order to gain Christ?
Philippians 3:8 __________________________________________________________

Note:  As we are crucified with Him the world becomes dark and we count everything else as rubbish.  Heaven, eternal life, is worth everything, and Christ has died that we might come into possession of the eternal weight of glory.


The cross of Christ is to be so distinctly presented before the world that every other power will be eclipsed, and the human race be drawn in homage to Christ Jesus.  The Father has given everything into the hands of Christ,--all power, dominion, and glory have been bestowed upon the Son of God.  When the eye is directed to Calvary, the soul beholds Jesus, the royal Sufferer, dying for the sin of man.  When Jesus Christ is evidently set forth before the sinner's eyes, manifest in the flesh and crucified for him, the result will then be transformation of character for the sinner has become a new creature in Christ Jesus.