The Cross

II Corinthians 5:17-21

The cross cannot be glamorized. There is no way to make it a pretty sight. A brutal, bloody execution took place there. To the Roman soldiers that took part in it, it was a form of entertainment.

In my mind's eye, I can picture Jesus being shoved to the ground, to end up sprawled in the dirt and gravel atop Calvary to the jeers and laughter of the soldiers. Then they would grab Him with their rough hands, drag Him to his place on the cross, stretch out His hands, and drive the nails through His flesh into the rough timber. Finally, they would lift the cross and drop its base into the hole prepared for it, causing the body of Jesus to pull at the nails.

There, Jesus hung exposed to the elements, unable to shield His eyes from the sun or wipe away the sweat and blood that ran down His face. But why, why the cross? In the next few minutes I would like to attempt to answer the question of "Why the cross?".

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

I. Who Was On The Cross?

II. Why was Jesus on the Cross?

III. What Did He Accomplish?

Now we come to the one last question. "What does God expect us to do with these facts?"