The Blood Stained Savior — E.A. Johnston

Christ’s Obedience Through Suffering

In my Bible, in the book of Hebrews, it says this about the Lord Jesus Christ, who, in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears unto him, that was able to save him from death, and was heard, and that he feared, though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered, and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

Here we see Christ, the Son of Man in his humanity, a Lamb without spot or sin, becoming sin for us, as he was nailed to a cross, there he suffered and bled, there he died so sinners could be reconciled back to God.

Sin, Judgment, and the Necessity of the Cross

Man's problem is sin. Jesus came and bore the punishment for sin. He came down here so we can go up there. Jesus came into the world doing good, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, raising the dead, feeding the hungry.

His was a message of hope to sinful man, with the promise of eternal life to all those who believed on him. Yet what happened? Men cried, away with him, and they sentenced him to die on a cross. Mark's gospel describes the humiliation of Jesus in this way.

The Humiliation and Crucifixion of Jesus

And the soldiers led him away into a hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole band. Let me pause here, friends, to say that a Roman band was the 10th part of a legion and could be comprised from 400 to 600 men.

Now picture in your mind, friends, the ordeal Christ was about to be put through, not by a handful of men who would soon be done with him, but a band of 400 to 600 Roman soldiers who were known for their brutality.

And they clothed him with purple, and plaited a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, and began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowed their knees, worshipped him.

And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. Why did Christ have to die so we could live? He had a hang on that ignoble cross, enduring the shame and scandal of it, experiencing the pain and suffering of it.

There is no death more painful than a crucifixion. But his physical suffering is overshadowed by the moment where he becomes a curse for us, becomes sin for us, and as our sin substitute, he has to suffer the turned face of the Father who cannot look on sin.

And he cries out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? The sin debt has to be paid. Jesus willingly paid it. When the Roman soldiers drove those nails into his hands and his feet, as they fastened Jesus to their cross, every stroke of the hammer was an explanation point.

God’s Judgment and the Savior from Sin

God must punish sin. God must punish sin. God must punish sin. That, friends, is the first message of the cross, that God must punish sin. The second message of the cross is a Savior from sin in the person of Christ Jesus.

Isaiah’s Portrait of the Suffering Servant

Look at that bloodstained Savior on that cross. We see him described in Isaiah chapter 53. He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and we hid, as it were, our faces from him.

He was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten to God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions.

He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. We like sheep have gone astray, and we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The Risen Savior and the Saving Power of the Cross

Christ suffered and died and was buried. Other great religious teachers have died as well. Buddha lived, died, and was buried. Confucius lived, died, and was buried. Muhammad lived, died, and was buried.

Jesus lived, died, and was buried. But he rose again and ascended back into heaven, where he sits at the right hand of the Father, and he earned that right by way of a bloody cross. The cross is the place where men sought to get rid of him.

By his death, it becomes the place where his saving power flows out to all who come in repentance, confess that they are sinners, and own him as their Savior and Lord. The message of the cross is Jesus Christ has come into the world to save his people from their sins.

The Call to Repentance, Faith, and Rest

Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. Jesus is the only refuge and remedy for sin. He is the pearl of great price worth selling all for. Losing all for so he may be gained. Salvation is Christ.

You must be born again, friend, if you want to escape hell's punishment for sin. Come to Christ and believe on him. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.

Jesus invites you to come to him. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. He invites poor sinners to come to him and believe on him. The duty required is to come, and he has a pure gospel promise to all who come.

And he that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. Let us pray.