Kevin Currell, young people’s evangelist, retells the story of the good news in an object lesson.

Philippians 2:5-11

(5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

(6)  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

(7)  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

(8)  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Even the death of the cross.

Here was the Lord of Glory, God manifest in the flesh.  Very God and very man.

He made Himself of no reputation.

Being in the form of God – being found in fashion as a man.  Made in the likeness of men.

He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death.

Even the death of the cross.

Consider…

The agony in the garden.

• The cup.
• Sweat like great drops of blood.

The betrayal.

• By his close friend of three years.

The sleepless night

The pretence of three mock trials.

The mockery.

• The crowning with thorns.
• He was reviled.
• Struck by sharp blows.
• The spittle.
• The purple robe.

And people mock Him still.

• Some fools even try to pretend he never existed.

The scourging

• His bruising.
• His visage – his face was marred more than any man

He was hated without a cause.

• The reproach.
• The abuse.
• The rejection.
• The scourging.

The agonising death march.

• The carrying of the cross for almost 2 kilometres. All the while subject to cursing and wounding.

Even the death of the cross.

• The death reserved for the most wretched of criminals.
• There He hung between heaven and earth.

It was, and is God’s plan.  The only way we can be saved.

• The penalty.
• The remedy
• The spotless lamb.
• The just for the unjust.

He who knew no sin was made to be sin for us.

• Made a curse.
• Bearing the sins of many.

The Brutality.

• The Shame.
• The Humiliation.

The Nails.

• The stabbing pain
• Every breath was painful.
• One doctor has called the cross “a symphony of pain” produced by every movement, with every breath…
• Spasm
• Convulsions
• Cramp

The thirst

He was offered – but He refused – the bitter cup of gall, that could have brought Him some sedation of the pain.

Gangrene

Tetanus

Fever

The torment of flies

Abandoned.

• God forsaken.

Yet hear His victory cry – it is finished!

It was at the ninth hour – the time at which a sacrificial lamb was killed every day in the Jewish temple, and the Lord Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” and the soon He died, after saying “It is finished.”

About this moment is probably the time when the temple’s priestly ram’s horn would have been blown that day, announcing that the priests had completed the sacrifice of the lamb for the sins of Israel.

Also at that moment, the great, thick curtain that closed the Holy of Holies room from view, ripped open from top to bottom.