Introduction
Today I want to take a look at the Cross and how it fits into being a disciple. We will be looking at a rundown of the events after the last supper to the road to Emmaus. These events took place in a three-day span.
After the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples started making their way to the Mount of Olives. It was on this path that we see Jesus praying for Himself, praying for His disciples, and praying for you (John 17).
Here is an excerpt from The Composite Gospel that Sean Boisen brought together with Faithlife.
- 307: Jesus tells the disciples to prepare for his arrest
- 308: Jesus again predicts Peter’s denial
- 309: Jesus agonizes in the garden
Jesus’ Test Begins
“I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.”
“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
“My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
Luke 22:44 (CSB)
44 Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Jesus started pouring out His blood.
- 310: Jesus is betrayed and arrested
- 311: Jesus identifies himself to those who have come to arrest Him
- 312: Peter strikes the high priest’s servant
- 313: Jesus questions why they have brought weapons to arrest Him
- 314: The last follower runs away naked
- 315: Jesus is bound and taken to Annas
- 316: Peter denies knowing Jesus a first time
- 317: Annas questions Jesus
John 18:21–23 (CSB)
21 Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.”
22 When he had said these things, one of the officials standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”
23 “If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit me?”
- 318: Caiaphas and the council of religious leaders question
- 319: Jesus’ captors mock him
- 320: Peter again denies knowing Jesus
- 321: The council of religious leaders condemns Jesus
- 322: Judas kills himself
- 323: The chief priests use Judas’ money to buy a field
- 324: The religious leaders accuse Jesus before Pilate
- 325: Pilate questions Jesus
- 326: Pilate answers the religious leaders
- 327: Jesus stands trial before Herod
- 328: Pilate answers the religious leaders a second time
- 329: Jesus is flogged
- 330: The crowd calls for crucifixion
- 331: Pilate questions Jesus again
- 332: Pilate hands Jesus over to be crucified
Jesus, up to this point has been both verbally and physically abused. He is in the transition of going from bad to worse. Yet at the same time, I am reminded of what Peter reveals about the economy of the kingdom.
1 Peter 2:19 (CSB)
19 For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly.
Jesus was definitely suffering unjustly at the hands of the religious and the politicians.
Jesus’ Crucifixion
- 333: Roman soldiers mock Jesus
- 334: Simon of Cyrene carries Jesus’ cross
- 335: Jesus speaks to those who follow and mourn
- 336: Jesus is crucified
Luke 23:34 (CSB)
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”, And they divided his clothes and cast lots.
Jesus continues to walk in God’s way. He lives, even in death, in the kingdom of God.
- 337: Pilate puts a sign on Jesus’ cross
- 338: Jesus is mocked on the cross
- 339: A criminal asks Jesus to remember him
- 340: Jesus dies on the cross
- 341: Events accompany Jesus’ death
- 342: Women watch the crucifixion from a distance
- 343: A soldier pierces Jesus’ side
- 344: Joseph of Arimathea asks Pilate for the body of Jesus
- 345: Jesus’ body is laid in the tomb
- 346: Guards are posted at the tomb
At this point what was Jesus up to? Paul reminds the Ephesians that it is written – when He ascended on high, He took the captives captive. Was Jesus preaching the kingdom to those who had previously died?
1 Peter 3:19 (CSB)
19 in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison
Jesus’ Resurrection
In Matthew 27:50-53 the Bible mentions some resurrections that occurred at the resurrection of Christ. When Jesus died, “the earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open” (verses 51–52). Those open tombs remained open until the third day. At that time, “the bodies of many holy people . . . were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people” (verses 52–53). On the day that Jesus was raised to life, these saints were also raised and became witnesses in Jerusalem of the life that only Jesus can give.
347: Some women find the tomb empty
348: The women tell the disciples about the empty tomb
349: Peter and another disciple go to the empty tomb
350: Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene
351: Jesus appears to the women
352: The religious leaders bribe the guards
353: Jesus appears to two believers traveling on the road
Luke 24:26–27 (CSB)
26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
Luke 24:32 (CSB)
32 They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”
Jesus had told them this before His resurrection, all Scripture points to Me.
The Accomplishments of the Cross
The cross accomplished everything necessary to break open the kingdom. Full reconciliation was made available for every human. Jesus made a way for us to have peace with God.
Colossians 2:13–15 (CSB)
13 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses.
14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.
15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.,
The enemy thought he had beaten God. He destroyed the king of glory on a wooden cross. But he didn’t realize that it was this instrument of death that would bring about the completion of God’s plan. Humanity could now be rescued and restored. In fact, the process to rescue and restore all of creation had begun.
Jesus disarmed, disgraced, and publically shamed the enemy.
The Message of the Cross
1 Corinthians 2:1–2 (CSB)
2 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, announcing the mystery of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom. 2 I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Paul was announcing the mystery, the testimony of God. He wasn’t trying to win them over with how great a speaker he was or through all that he had learned and connected through Scripture. He brought them the message that Jesus came, He loved, and He died for them as the perfect sacrifice. This message he brought wasn’t through man’s wisdom but through a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.
To those who couldn’t see they needed a Savior, this was utter foolishness. But to those who were poor in spirit and knew their need to be saved, it was the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:17–18 (CSB)
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.
Paul Gloried in the Cross
Galatians 6:14 (CSB)
14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world.
Paul states that he had died to the values of the world: selfishness, ambition, and pride. It no longer had influence or power over him. The world had lost its appeal. “Give me Jesus!”
He considered himself dead to the world.
Galatians 2:20 (CSB)
20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
He had died to himself and now Christ was living in him. His interests became Christ’s interests. He surrendered and gave over his plans for God’s plans. It was his body, but Christ’s life.
How About You?
Have you surrendered fully to God’s plan for your life? Can you see how Christ’s initial call to those fishermen is the same call He has for you?
This is the life of the disciple. The more we die to ourselves, the more Christ can live through us. The more we can experience His love as we serve Him and others.
This circles us back to the call of Christ.
Matthew 4:19 (CSB)
19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”
