God in the Hands of Angry Sinners! • That’s a twist on Jonathan Edward’s famous sermon,

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. • He preached it in 1741, and it sparked the 1st Great

Awakening in America.• Even though man rages against His Creator, Jesus

still loves us and laid down His life for us. • This morning, I want us to examine what Jesus did

for us.

• What He did at His death and resurrection reveals 4 basic truths about our God:

1. Jesus is Alive and here today!• His tomb is empty! • Because He is here, He can meet every need you

have.2. Jesus is Lord over all the earth!• In His death and resurrection, He defeated all of His

enemies—sin, death, the devil and sickness. • He is the undisputed champion of the universe!

3. Jesus is a Good God!• Contrary to what the devil has lied to you about—

God is NOT mad at you. • He has a wonderful plan for your life, and He wants

you to know it.

4. Jesus Loves You!• And, He desires to have a personal relationship with

you.• He went through great lengths to establish it.

• Some of you may be wondering if God really is good and if He really does love me.

What has He done for me?• Glad you asked because I want to look at What He

did for us by looking at Why He went to the cross.

• HIS MISSION: Jesus said that He came into the World to seek and to save the lost.

The Garden of GethsemaneHebrews 12:2 – Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.• Who for the joy. . . It was because of the Joy that He

endured all the suffering and the shame. What or Who is the Joy of the Lord? • Let’s answer that question by 1st explaining what

happened in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Luke 22:39-44 – Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40 There He told them, "Pray that you will not give in to temptation." 41 He walked away, about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 "Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine."

43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

• The Garden is where the victory was won. • The rest of the work He did for us—His death & Rez

only sealed what was started in the Garden.• What happened here is more important than what

many understand.Olive Press – Gethsemane was an olive press. • It was a place where olives were crushed to make

olive oil. • It’s a fitting place for Jesus to spend His last night

because it describes what happened to Him.

Isaiah 53:5 – He was wounded and crushed for our sins; He was beaten that we might have peace; by His stripes, we are healed!• Verses 42-44 – There are 3 words which describe

what happened here.42a – Father, if you are willing, you can take this cup from Me . . . 1. Cup – What is the cup? • It represents God’s judgment against Sin.

• Many think the reason Jesus was in such anguish is because of the pain He was about to endure.

• But, what He agonized so much over was the fact He was about to take on the sins of the world.

• Yours and Mine! • And for a brief moment be separated from God, the

Father.2 Corinthians 5:21 – God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

• It was a cup that was almost too bitter to bear. • Think about it: the Lamb of God Who knew no sin

was about to become sin! • But, remember: He did it all for the joy that was set

before Him!• ANGEL: This struggle was so intense in the Garden

that God sent an angel to strengthen Him. • His physical body was giving out under the stress.

• That brings us to the 2nd word:44 – Being in extreme anguish, He prayed more intensely.2. Anguish – This word shows us the intensity of the

struggle in the Garden. • Anguish = agonia• It was used to describe the arena in the Olympic

Games where wrestlers would compete. • The winner won the match only after he had killed

his opponent.

• It was literally a life and death struggle.

• A struggle of great intensity!

• It was as if Satan and all of hell descended on that Garden to do battle against Jesus.

• Satan did not want Jesus to go to the cross and drink that cup.

• Jesus prayed so intensely that His sweat was like drops of blood.

3. Drops of Blood – it is a known medical fact that when a person is in an extreme state of anxiety—at the point of death—his pores may open and blood will come through them.

• Jesus was literally at the point of death!• If it had not been for the angel, Jesus’ body may

have given out under the stress. • He may have never made it to the cross. • Thank God for that angel!

Isaiah 53:5 – He was wounded and crushed for our sins; He was beaten that we might have peace; by His stripes, we are healed!• I’ve often asked the question: How did the angel

strengthen Jesus? • I believe he may have reminded Jesus of the Joy

that was set before Him. • Remember: Hebrews 12:2 – Who for the Joy set

before Him endured the cross . . .

What or Who is the joy of the Lord? • You & I are the Joy of the Lord! • We are the reason He came into this world and laid

His own life down at the cross.• The angel took Jesus down through the pages of

history & showed Him people who would forever be lost in their sins if He did not go to the cross.

• He reminded Jesus of His mission.• He reminded Jesus of You and me.

• Then Jesus said, Not My will be done, but Your will, Father, be done!

• Give Me the cup! • We are the Reason He went to the Cross. • That is why I say the victory was won in the Garden. • Now, His face was set for the cross and nothing

would stop Him. • He had to be reminded of His Mission—to seek and

save the lost.

Trials & Crucifixion1. Betrayed by a Friend—Judas Iscariot2. Deserted by the Rest of His friends3. Denied by Peter 3 times4. All Night of Trials (5) – never defended Himself• He literally laid down His life for us.Matthew 26:53-54 – Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions [72,000] of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" (NKJV)

4. A Night of Trials– Caiaphas – Beaten– Sanhedrin – Slapped, lies & accusations– Pilate – Never spoke– King Herod – Dressed and Mocked Him– Pilate – The people yelled, Crucify Him!

• After He had been condemned to die:5. Whipped – Cat of 9 Tails

6. Crown of Thorns/Mocked Him/ Blindfolded Him – If You are the Son of God, tell us who hit You?

• He knew, but He never spoke or retaliated.

7. Pulled Out BeardHe did all this for the joy set before Him!8. Walked to Calvary carrying a 200 lb. cross beam9. Simon of Cyrene, a man from Africa, carried the

cross for Him.10.Nailed to a CrossFather, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.

11.Darkness covered the earth from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

12.At 3:00 PM, He cried out, My God, My God, Why have You Forsaken Me?

“He Who knew no sin became sin” (2 Cor. 5:21).

13.It is Finished! – He Died!

14.The Veil in the Temple was torn from top to bottom along with a large earthquake.

• We can now come to the Lord through Jesus and not through a priest or through endless sacrifices.

• There is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved.

• A Roman centurion watching this confessed that Jesus must be the Son of God.

• He did all this for us! Why? • So we could be free from sin and have a personal

relationship with Him.1 Peter 2:24 – He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His stripes you have been healed.15.Then His Body was laid in a tomb. 16.A rock was rolled in front of it with a Roman Guard

15.The Roman Seal was placed on the tomb. • No one was getting in or out!

• BUT, guess what happened 3 days later—Jesus came out alive!

• He came forth victorious over sin, the grave, and the devil.

• Because He is alive we can have the assurance that our sins are forgiven & death will not hold us down.

• If we have placed our trust in Jesus, we can be free from the fear of death.

Conclusion• He did all that for the joy that was set before him. • He did it for you and me! • We are the reason He came into the world and

suffered and died. • It’s an Amazing Love—that My King would die for

me!• If you’ve wondered if Jesus has ever done anything

for you. • Now, you know.

4 things we learn from what Jesus did for us:1. He is alive.2. He is Lord over all the earth.3. He is good.4. He loves you very much.