The Significance of the Cross — Peter Brandon

The Cross as the Power of God

Now tonight we are going to look at the subject, it's vast, the significance of the cross. We are going to look at 1 Corinthians chapter 1 and we shall read from verse 18. 1 Corinthians chapter 1 reading from verse 18.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

Where is the wise, where is the scribe, where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

For the Jews require a sign and Greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called.

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world and things which are despised have God chosen.

Yea and things which are not to bring to naught things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

That according as it is written he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. And I brethren when I came to you came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified.

I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

The Cross at the Center of Christian Proclamation

Now the Lord will bless to us the reading of his word. If you were alive in the first century and you went to hear one of the apostles preaching like Peter or Paul. Right in the center of their message you would hear them preaching the cross.

And really preaching it from their heart. If you were alive during those great days in the reformation and you went to hear Martin Luther preaching there in Germany. You would hear that great reformer preaching with great power and then right in the heart of his message there would be the cross.

Should you be alive in that great period of the 18th century when Wesley and Whitefield were preaching. If you went to hear one of these men in an open field where there would be approximately 20 ,000 people.

You would be amazed that you could hear every word that they preached. And yet right at the center of their message there would be the cross. If you went through the churches tonight in this land at least those churches that believe in the Bible.

And you heard those men of God that had a real experience with God in salvation preaching. Irrespective what religion right in the center of their message there would be the cross. Now why am I saying that?

Empires have gone. The Assyrian Empire. The Babylonian Empire. The Medo-Persian Empire. The Greek Empire. The Roman Empire. The Spanish Empire. The French Empire. And even the British Empire. They have all gone.

But rising above the dust of antiquity there is the cross of Christ. More powerful, more relevant today than perhaps when the Lord himself hung upon the cross. Because when he died he died and became a once and for all offering for sin.

But many people when they first approach Christianity have a problem. One person who was definitely seeking to find God said this. I find the cross very difficult to understand. When Jesus was on that cross why did he say?

My God, my God why have you forsaken me? Would you forsake your son in his dying moments? Why did God forsake his perfect son in his dying moments? And I could see that lady had a problem. Now what I want to do just for a few minutes tonight is to show you how he died.

The Prophetic Necessity of Christ’s Sacrifice

And speak on the significance of the cross. Then who died? The dignity of the cross. And then why he died? The profundity of the cross. And then for whom he died? A revelation of the cross. And I do trust that this might become precious to someone tonight.

Now if you imagine that the Lord Jesus died upon the cross and became a martyr. May I say very emphatically but lovingly you are wrong immediately. Because Peter tells us that he was a lamb slain before the foundation of the world.

That meant before God created anything on the blueprint of heaven there was the cross of Christ. And therefore the Lord Jesus died a death that was predictive. Immediately sin found its birth in the heart of our first parents.

In the presence of Satan God told the story of the cross 4000 years before it happened. And this is how he put it. I will put enmity between thee and the woman. Between thy seed and her seed. It shall bruise thy head and thou shall bruise his heel.

And that simply means through the woman a man child would be raised that would be perfect. And at the same time the perfect son of God. When he died he would bruise the head of Satan. And in dying he too would be bruised.

And that was made roughly 4000 years before Jesus Christ came into the world. About 1800 years before the Lord Jesus died an old man was climbing Mount Moriah. He was going to the top in order to worship.

He had in his hand a bowl of fire and of course a sacrificial night. The son had upon his back a bundle of wood. And knowing that his father was old and forgetful he promptly said I must stop him for where is the lamb.

And turning to his father he said father I have got the wood. You have got the bowl of fire and the knife. But where is the lamb for a burnt offering. And that old man stopped and made a prophecy. And this is what he said.

My son God will provide himself a lamb. Now we know that it was not a lamb for Isaac it was a ram. And therefore he was looking on to Calvary. A king was writing in perhaps his own throne room. And he was writing a psalm.

And I feel quite sure he was writing something that puzzled him. He knew what he was writing was completely beyond his understanding. Because he was being moved by inspiration. And this is what he wrote.

My God my God why hast thou forsaken me. Why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring. Now we know from the scripture that King David was never never forsaken of God. What was he doing?

One thousand years before it took place. He was writing the very words that Jesus would utter upon the cross. Think of that amazing fact. About six hundred and fifty years before the Lord Jesus died. A man was writing on an old fashioned piece of paper.

A crude form of paper. And as he was writing he wrote such a vivid description of the cross. And I want you to note this. It is the greatest description of the cross that we have in the Bible. And that was written six hundred and fifty probably over seven hundred years before Jesus Christ suffered.

And right in the midst of that great vivid description of Calvary. He wrote these words. He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. And then the last man to write about the cross in the Old Testament was a prophet called Zechariah.

And he wrote this about five hundred and twelve years before Jesus Christ came. Awake O sword against thy shepherd. Against the man that is thy associate. Smite the shepherd. And the sheep shall be scattered.

And then the whole of inspiration went strangely silent. Until John the Baptist came into this world. And when he introduced the Lord Jesus to the people of Israel. He didn't say behold your king. Behold the Messiah.

What did he say? Note. Behold the Lamb of God. That taketh away the sin of the world. And when Jesus commenced his ministry. He didn't speak of his kingship. Didn't speak of his Messiah ship. He spoke of his death.

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. And as he came nearer to the cross. He could say this. I if I be lifted up from the earth. I will draw all unto me.

And just the week before he died. On five occasions he said to his own disciples. That he was going to die. He was going to be buried. And that he was going to be raised again from the dead. Now I want to ask a question.

Do you know of any other person in history. That was prophesied to come. And prophesied to die. Like Jesus Christ. I'm sure you don't. That is why the cross of the Lord Jesus. Is absolutely significant.

The Pain and Power of the Crucifixion

But secondly I want you to know. That his death was painful. The Lord Jesus probably was the only person. That was ever scourged and then crucified. The scourging was cruel. Intensely wicked. I do wish tonight.

I could make a scourge as the Romans did. And I do wish that I could bring it down. Just one stroke. Across this platform. You would see the platform splintering in all kinds of places. It would be devastating to watch.

The Lord Jesus was tied to a door post. And there would be a bowl of salt and a bowl of vinegar on each side of him. Standing at his chest there would be a centurion. And then the Syrian Roman soldiers who were picked for this.

Because of their heavy weight condition. Were told each to take a scourge. And then with all their might they would bring it across the back. Until the flesh was pulled from the back. And as the blow hit the back.

It was pushed into the centurion. Who even pushed him back into the other blood. And after each stroke. Salt and vinegar would be rubbed in. And therefore I say. After 39 strokes. It's amazing that the Lord Jesus was alive.

No wonder the prophet said. That his back was like a plowed field. And then after being scourged. He was crucified. However they did that I don't know. And crucifixion. Was the worst form of torture that man has ever invented.

It defies description. In fact dear friends. If I gave you a physical description of crucifixion. I believe that many would faint tonight. And the Lord Jesus on that cross. Was scourged first. And then crucified.

He suffered more physically than any other man. But his death was not languid. His death was powerful. When he had been on the cross for 6 hours. And please note this. Suffering 3 hours before men. And 3 hours before God.

And they were the atoning sacrifices. The atoning sufferings. He was able to perform 3 outstanding miracles. He cried with a loud voice. Now the loud voice in the original. So I'm informed by scholars.

Means literally very very loud. Probably it was the loudest voice that ever came from human lips. And that voice rang round about the mountains of Jerusalem. And the first cry was this. My God my God why hast thou forsaken me.

That was not said in a whisper. But in a loud voice. So that all could hear. And immediately following the forsaken cry. His head went back. And he said with a loud voice. Finished. Accomplished. Now that was a living miracle.

After such intense pain. If the Lord Jesus could have whispered. It would have been a miracle. Crying with a loud voice. Was totally supernatural. Secondly he bowed his head. And now I'm going to quote from Mr. Vine.

It wasn't the dropping of the head. It wasn't the idea of submitting to the will of God. And just bowing his head. That's not the meaning of the word. Now note this. It's exactly the same word. The foxes of foals and the birds of the air have their nests.

But the son of man hath not where to lay his head. Now I mustn't have humor tonight. Because the subject is so sacred. But if you fell asleep in the meeting right now. You would drop your head. When your work is all done.

And you go to bed at night. You don't drop the head. You put the head back on a pillow. There was only one place. Where the Lord could rest really his head. And that was when his work was all finished and complete.

And he put his head back supernaturally. As though on a pillow. And said with a mighty voice. Finished complete. And the work of salvation was done. And then thirdly he expired his spirit. Now human beings can die through natural causes that we call death.

Or foolishly we can die by suicide. Now the Lord Jesus did not die because of natural causes. He did not die by suicide. Note this. When his work was all done. He took his own life force. And gave it back to God.

Father into thy hands I commend my spirit. Because he said in John 10. I have power to lay it down. I have power to take it again. No wonder when we look at the cross we say together. Hallelujah. What a saviour.

The Dignity of Christ Revealed at the Cross

But secondly we must get nearer to the cross than that. Who died? The dignity of the cross. Now what I'm going to do just for a few moments. Is to give you the witness of two men that were at the cross.

The first man is the penitent malefactor. And I want you to note his position. All his extremities appear. His feet appear. According to his condition. The whole of his body would be gangrenous. Therefore it would be swollen twice its normal size.

There would be literally thousands and thousands of flies. Feeding upon his wounds. Because of his position on the cross. And because of his gangrenous condition. He would by this time have double bronchopneumonia.

And he would be gasping for breath. And again I want to say this carefully. The man's body was wracked. With indescribable pain. Now we all know when the body is wracked with pain. The wits are out. You can't think.

If you have a nagging headache. You find it very hard to think. And right in the midst of all this man's pain. He receives a revelation from God. Now that's a miracle. And the Holy Spirit must have said into the spirit of this man.

Do you see that man on the center cross? Yes. His God. God? Yes God. You see that man on the center cross? Yes. He's the only perfect man that ever lived. You see that man on the center cross? He's going to die there for the sins of the world.

And God's not going to leave him there. God's going to raise him from the dead. And he's going to become a king of a great kingdom. And if you trust him. You too can be with him. And that man with all his pains.

Said this to his neighboring friend. Who had been blaspheming Jesus. Dost thou not fear God? Seeing thou art in the same condemnation. We indeed justly we receive the due rewards of our deeds. But this man.

Has done nothing amiss. And then he leaps. Over all doubts. And he says this. Lord. When thou comest into thy great kingdom. Remember thee. And that was a malefic. What a witness. The next man was a centurion.

And this man had seen literally hundreds of people. Dying with untold agony on the cross. And he had heard their blasphemy. But when he looked and watched Jesus. All he heard was love. And when that malefactor saw the darkness.

He knew it was supernatural. When he got close to the cross. And saw the head reclining. The mighty victorious shout. When he saw him expiring his own spirit. He threw his own job to the wind. And smote his breast and said.

Truly this man. Son of God. But there's a greater witness. You see if I stop there. There would be doubt. But there's a greater witness. Man put Jesus on the cross. And then said to the Lord Jesus. If you are the son of God.

Come down from the cross. And we will believe you. And my dear friends. If he had come from the cross. It would have been a tragedy. Do you know what God was saying. My son stop there. Finish the work.

That I sent you to do. And I'll do something much better. Than bringing you down from the cross. Do you know what God did. God the Father. God the Holy Spirit. Went down into that dark sepulcher. Went right into that rich man's tomb.

That belonged to Joseph of Arimathea. And forgive my excitement. They exalted their power. And raised him from the dead. And he was the only one God ever raised from the dead. That would never die again.

And the next to be raised. Will be all the Christians when the Lord comes. But when God raised him from the dead. He exerted his mighty power. And he was saying something like this. When he raised him from the dead.

I am confirming. I am ratifying. Every word that he speaks. I am confirming. I am ratifying. All the work that he did on the cross. And I am confirming it. And ratifying in such a way. That it is indisputable.

And he raised him from the dead. And that is why we Christians can say. We are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. You see beloved friends. We are not worshipping a dead saviour. We are worshipping a living saviour.

That has all power and all authority. And therefore. I want you now to go back to the cross. And I want to quote the words of Bishop Lightfoot again. It was not God who died. But he who died. Was God.

On that cross was the creator. On that cross was the sustainer of the universe. On that cross was the heir of all creation. It is going to be given to him as a great love gift in the millennium. And the one that hung there.

Penal Substitution and the Harmony of Love and Justice

Was our saviour. Doesn't that put a new complex on Calvary. But then we have come right to the heart of the problem. And we are almost closed. Why did he die? Why was there darkness? We would imagine in one way.

That God would call for light. Brilliant light. Thunder and lightning. To show that the one on the cross was the son of God. But there was darkness. And why did he say in that darkness? With a loud voice.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? We shall never understand that until we understand our faith. Can I go over the ground all over again? Would you bear with me please? For it is important. Every single baby that is born into this world.

Is born with a sinful nature. And that baby will sin. And there is no person in the world. That will ever stop that baby from sinning. Why? Paul writes to the Romans and he says. Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world.

And death by sin so death passed upon all men. For that all have sinned. And all of us have this sinful nature. And that's the world's number one problem. You know if only our philosophers would really believe.

It would save them from hours and hours of research. God tells the world that our problem is this. Is the problem of our birth. That we were born in sin and shapen in iniquity. Every single one of us have broken the ten commandments over and over again.

And therefore we've all committed hundreds of sins. And therefore the whole world is guilty before God. Now my dear friends God never uses kidology. Now quite frankly I've heard mothers saying to their children.

If you do that again I'll punish you. But they don't punish you. Now we human beings seem to feel that God is like that. He says look the wages of sin is death. But he doesn't mean it. If he doesn't it's not God.

You see there's one side of God's nature that's holy and just. And therefore he must punish sin. And that simply means that every single person in this world is guilty before God. But this is the problem only a few people know it.

If those people tonight watching their televisions realised that they were guilty before God they would be here. If those people perhaps calling off tonight outside their house. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

If they knew they were guilty before God they would be here. But the devil blinds the minds of them that believe not. But God brings you in and shows you that you're guilty. Now it means two things. Either we bear the guilt like we should do.

Or someone else that's perfect and great enough bears the guilt. And it's as simple as that. And God in his great love came into this world with a body. And that's why he went to the cross. To bear our sins in his own body on the tree.

He was made sin for us. He who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Professor Rendall Short went to Africa for two years. And he came back to Westminster Chapel. And he related a story that shook everyone that night in that chapel.

He told us of an African prince that he had met. Who related this story about his own father. And all his wealth was not in money in those days. It was in gold and diamonds and ivory and skins. And he was fabulously wealthy.

And one day a friend came to see him who was a primitive accountant. Really very primitive. And said that one of his best diamonds had been stolen. He called his old compound criers. And told them to go over the various compounds.

Saying the culprit when caught would be beaten with thirty rods. But they couldn't catch him. They had certain people who were witch doctors. And they tried to divine but they couldn't find the culprit.

Then his primitive accountant came and told him. That three of his diamonds had been stolen. And he was infuriated. And the old town criers went all over these compounds. Telling the people that they would be beaten with thirty rods.

But they couldn't catch him. Then one day one of his men who was a servant. Hid in the throne room. And the door opened. And who should come in but the chief's mother. She went to this primitive cupboard.

And she took out a diamond. And she was apprehended. And the news leaked out. It was the prince's mother. And then the argument started. Would he be just? Will he now punish his mother? But then others said how can he be just?

And punish his own mother? He must release her. Well if he's loving he can't be just. And if he's just how can he be loving? And there was a battle between love and justice. Now I know I watched some of your faces.

And when I said tonight the wages of sin is death. The soul that sin if it shall die. I could see some frowning. You were saying just. But where is the love of God? But the love's there. So the court was set.

And thousands assembled. And there was the chief in all his regalia. And unfortunately for him the mother stepped forward. And she said immediately that she was the entire culprit. That she had stolen every diamond.

And it took him five minutes to make his decision. And then with a bowed head and with a quiet voice he said. Mother I sentence upon you. The death of beating. And they all said. Just. Just. But where's his love?

And they watched the old lady being tied. And they saw the first man stepping forward with his rod. And he was going to whack the mother's back. When suddenly they saw him stripping off his regalia. Until his own back was bare.

And then stepping down from the place where he found his mother guilty. He went to the post of beating. And he said to the man that was going to punish his mother. Tie my hands. And he wasn't. And this is what he said.

I made the law. I'm going to fulfill it. Tie my hands. And they were tied. And as this man brought stroke upon stroke upon his back. The mother was heard to say. As each stroke fell upon him. For me. For me.

Until the 29th stroke broke his back. He collapsed. And died. And there the mother saw him sinking. To his death. God found us all guilty. Came down with a body. Took that body to the cross. And on that cross bore our sins.

And actually cried our language. As he bore the judgment of our sins. My God my God why hast thou forsaken me. But he also said in triumph. Finished. And the work was done. And immediately that work was done.

God went to work quickly. And split the curtain in the temple. Raised some of the Old Testament saints from the dead. To show that Christ had accomplished the whole work of forgiveness. So that God could still remain just.

And at the same time forgive the sinner. So that we see at the cross. Love and justice harmonized together. And what a day it is. When we can say not to a dead Christ. But to a risen Savior. He was wounded for my transgression.

Personal Revelation and the Call to Receive Christ

And bruised for my iniquities. Now dear friends I would like to close there but I can't. There is something in preaching that is mystical. Something in preaching that is completely beyond the preacher.

Almost every gospel message I give. I will say to the congregation. Christ died for our sins. Or he was wounded for our transgressions. Or he bare our sins in his own body on the street. Or he suffered the just for the unjust.

That he might bring us to God. But nothing happens. Until. There comes a moment in a service. When God begins to give revelation. I can't give it. No saint can give it. It's the work of God. And my dear friends I am not a Calvinist.

But I do want to say this. You cannot possibly be saved mechanically. You say what do you mean by that Mr. Brandon. Supposing I came by your side tonight. And said to you. Are you a sinner? Yes. Do you believe if you die in your sins you will be lost?

Yes. Do you believe that Christ died for your sins? Yes. Do you prepare to believe whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved? Yes. Right kneel down. Say this prayer after me. Lord save me.

Lord save me. Oh you are saved. That's not salvation. That's mechanical. And thousands of people are being deceived. By that kind of evangelical habit. When a person is going to be saved. God gives real revelation.

Let me give you the scripture. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness. Has shined in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. In the face of Jesus Christ. Now what happens when the revelation comes.

When the revelation comes of the cross. The cross becomes personal. You never say he loved the world. You are beyond that. You don't even say he loved my family. You see Christ dying on the cross. And you see yourself there as a lonely sinner.

As though you were the only one for whom Christ died. You see the apostle Paul was never at the cross when the Lord Jesus died. And yet he could say years afterwards. He loved me. Gave himself for me.

You see the cross became a revelation to him. Now what happens when the cross becomes a revelation to you. Should it happen tonight. The first thing you get is the biggest shock in your life. You can pick up the hymn book and you can sing with mixed feelings.

There is a green hill far away. But that's not it. You can sing sometimes with tears flowing down your cheek. When I survey the wondrous cross. But that's not it. When God gives a revelation of the cross.

There is a shock. And you say this. Oh Lord. You died for my sins. You suffered for my transgressions. And then you say this. Lord. Hell is a reality. It's not the figment of a medieval mind. It's real.

It's rugged. It's jagged. It's their fluke. He suffers the darkness. For me. And for my sins. And my dear friends you begin to hate every single sin that you've committed. Why? It costs the agonizing death of your creator.

And you'll say this. Lord. If ever I've given the chance of forgiveness. I'll turn to God from sin once and forever. And I'll live a different life altogether. Secondly. You get the biggest surprise of all.

You'll realize that God loves you. I don't know where you're sitting. But if God is giving that revelation tonight. For the first time that loving finger of God is coming right to you. And he's saying to you.

Look. I love you with an everlasting love. I died for you on the cross. I want to forgive you. I want to come into your life. And therefore you get a shock. And a surprise. Now here's the flash point.

When that revelation comes. As it's coming to some tonight. You can reject it. Or you can receive it. All this happened in one meeting. In Brisbane. In the north of Brisbane. On one Thursday night. Long and quite narrow.

And one night I was preaching on the scripture. He was wounded for our transgressions. Bruised for our iniquities. And I looked out over that congregation. And I saw a young married couple with their heads down.

And I knew that God was speaking. Then I looked again. And I noticed. They were looking up. And I could see revelation had been given an access. Right there on my right. One man. And his head went down.

But it kept going. God was revealing the cross to him in power. Then I made a simple appeal. I said the purpose of that. All those that would like to trust Christ. Would you just come and see me in the inquiry room.

So that we can have a word of prayer together. The door opened and in came this young man. And they sat down. And as best as I know how to inform you of the conversation. He said this. Mr. Brandon. We belong to the preacher.

Good. Pleased to hear that. We're both superintendents. I'm the superintendent of the Sunday school. My wife is the superintendent of the infant children. Splendid. All this week we have been teaching the children that scripture.

Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Yes. That's a lovely scripture. But it comes to us like a revelation. What do you mean? You put him on the cross didn't you? Yes. I never realized that.

What sinners we were. And he loved us unto death and wants to forgive us. That's right. And then they said. We haven't come to really ask you to lead us to Christ. We've come to tell you that we trusted Christ in the first place.

And I said I saw it take place. And they smiled. I said over there. On the left hand side. Half way up. That's right. At twenty past eight. They are sitting in the seat. They trusted Christ. The man there on my right.

Left with his head down. The revelation was given. But he neglected it. Do you mind if I speak here? If God had shown you tonight that Christ died for your sins. And you understand. Don't neglect. Don't reject.

Receive Christ. And go home with the joy of sins forgiveness.