“The Cross Through The Ages” (Ready to Worship S8E8)

November 9, 2018

Ready to Worship Season 8, Episode 8 for Friday, November 9, 2018

This season on Ready to Worship, we are examining the cross. It is our hope that examining the cross will prepare our hearts and minds for worship.

Someone said, “In the Pentateuch, we have the FIGURES (or types) of the sufferings of Christ. In the Psalms, we have the FEELINGS of the sufferings of Christ. In the Prophets, we have the FORECAST of the sufferings of Christ. In the Gospels, we have the FACTS of the sufferings of Christ. In the Epistles, we have the FRUITS of the sufferings of Christ.” Lets examine each of these a little more.

In the Pentateuch, we have the FIGURES (or types) of the sufferings of Christ. Just think of the symbolism connected with Abraham offering Isaac (Gen. 22). Like Christ, Isaac was a beloved Son. Like Christ, Isaac was to be offered on a mountain. Like Christ, the wood was laid on Isaac. The parallels go on and on. But consider how the Hebrew writer used the word “figure” in connection with the offering of Isaac. “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure” (Heb. 11:17-19).

In the Psalms, we have the FEELINGS of the sufferings of Christ. Just think of the feelings in the Twenty-Second Psalm. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” (Psa. 22:1).

In the Prophets, we have the FORECAST of the sufferings of Christ. Just think of the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah.

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 of 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. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isa. 53:3-6).

In the Gospels, we have the FACTS of the sufferings of Christ. Just think about the twenty-seventh chapter of Matthew. “Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him” (Mt. 27:26-31).

In the Epistles, we have the FRUITS of the sufferings of Christ.” Just think of the fifth chapter of Second Corinthians. “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 5:14-19).

As we get ready to worship this week, lets think about the cross from Genesis to Revelation. I believe it will enrich our worship.