No symbol encapsulates the soul of the Christian faith like the cross. In this series, we are going to Gaze at the Cross through the eyes of those who saw it first-hand, each of them bringing a different perspective to what they saw.
The first perspective comes from a Roman centurion who was physically responsible for putting Jesus on the cross.
The second comes from the thieves who were crucified next to Jesus: one who taunted Jesus and the other who was transformed.
The third perspective comes from Joseph of Arimathea, who tended to Jesus’ body after He was taken down from the cross.
Lastly—we will look to Mary and Joanna, who saw firsthand that the cross wasn’t the end of the Story.
The hope of this series is for us to see that as we gaze, we are all called to respond in the same way—with awe and worship of the One who took the cross for us.
This sermon proclaims that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ultimate display of God's grace, which unleashes our faithfulness and provides the promise of abundant, eternal life. By shifting our search for fulfillment from fleeting worldly things to the living Christ, we can live a life of joy and hope, knowing that even suffering will ultimately be undone in God's restored creation.
This sermon recounts how two secret disciples, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, were compelled by the cross to move from hidden fear to public faith, providing a courageous and costly burial for Jesus. Their actions demonstrate that the cross calls believers to sacrifice worldly security for the sake of Christ, offering in return the promise of resurrection and eternal life as Jesus occupies the tomb we deserve.
This sermon teaches that the cross reveals three types of people: the lost who mock and demand rescue, the found who repent and desire God's presence, and Jesus, the God-man, who offers paradise. The profound grace of the gospel is shown in Jesus's last-minute promise to the repentant thief, assuring all believers that true salvation is found not in a change of circumstances, but in a positional union with Christ, secured by His divine sacrifice.
This sermon asserts that when we gaze at the cross, we see God's ultimate power and love, which transformed the heart of a Roman centurion who realized his lack of control. This profound event reveals that through Christ's sacrifice, we are no longer outsiders, and are called to live a life of worship and faith, giving up our own will to embrace God's glory.
