Journey to the Cross
Isaiah 53 NIV - Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Journey to the Cross - Renovation Church

Communion: We are called, as followers of Christ to remember His sufferings for our sake. Remember – the bread represents His body, and the wine represents His blood.

The Betrayal Let us remember that Judas betrayed Jesus for just a small amount of 30 pieces of silver. (The price of a slave) Not a large amount but it carried hefty price. This was the first suffering Jesus experienced, the pain and disappointment of being betrayed by one who was so close to him.

The Whipping Post The first place of physical and emotional pain and suffering that Jesus would experience. This would be a place that many would have died just from the trauma from the beating alone.

The Crown of Thorns The Crown was woven with thorns that could have been as long as 2.5 inches that would have pierced the skin and even into the skull of Jesus causing excruciating physical pain along with the emotional pain of the mockery.

The Nails The nails are a symbol to the Christian of the love that Jesus has for us. Let us never think that those nails kept Jesus on the cross. His love for you is what kept Him there. These sharp, large nails would have caused another round of pain as they were hammered into His hands and feet.

The Vinegar As Jesus became thirsty the soldiers offered Him vinegar to drink from a sponge. It was bitter and salty and would never satisfy the thirst but only intensify it. This vinegar was sour to the lips of Jesus as sin is to His Heart.

The Cross The Cross of Christ was a heavy burden to carry. Not only was it physically heavy, many say the cross member could have weighed nearly 100Ibs., but more importantly spiritually heavy. Jesus carried the weight of the world, every sin, and every burden on his back that day.