2024 Passion Week Devotional, Day 6: What Jesus Accomplished on the Cross

Friday

Implications of Jesus’ Departure

During the Lord’s Supper, a Passover meal, Jesus takes the opportunity to instruct his disciples about the implications of his imminent departure (John 14–16). He would no longer be physically with them, yet he would send his Spirit, who would continue his ministry with them in an even more intimate, internal manner. Jesus was with them; the Spirit would be in them (John 14:15–17). Thus, while the disciples were doubtless inconsolable at the prospect of Jesus’ crucifixion, it was better for them that the Spirit would take Jesus’ place among, and even within, each one of them. The disciples didn’t understand the meaning of Jesus’ words at the time, though later they would understand.

Jesus illustrates the new, more intimate spiritual relationship believers would enjoy, and still do today, by a simple illustration. Just like the branches of the vine need to be organically connected to the vine to bear fruit, believers need to be vitally connected to Jesus through the Holy Spirit. If they trusted Jesus, they’ve already had a spiritual bath and been regenerated (John 13:10; 15:3; cf. Titus 3:5). But as they continue to follow Christ daily, they will experience the teaching, guiding, and transforming ministry of the Spirit within them, both individually and in relation to one another. While we are familiar with this concept and way of life today, this was entirely new information for the disciples when it was first given.

The World’s Hatred and the Sovereignty of God

Jesus also tells his followers that once he has departed, they will bear the brunt of the world’s hatred toward God’s Messiah (John 15:18–16:4a). Jesus then offers a lengthy final prayer to the Father (John 17) before crossing the Kidron Valley and entering the Garden of Gethsemane. There, Judas betrays him with a kiss (Matt. 26:36–56; Mark 14:32–52; Luke 22:40–53). Here, we enter the spiritual truth of God’s utter sovereignty in everything that happens during Passion Week, including Jesus’ crucifixion. John writes that Jesus “knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father,” “that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,” “knowing all that would happen to him” (John 13:1, 3; 18:4). This is vitally important, for it shows that God, whose ways are higher than ours, foreknew and predestined that, by being sacrificed as God’s sacrificial Passover lamb, Jesus would die in the place of sinful humans to pay the penalty for their sin and to reconcile them to their Creator.

Jesus Stands Trial and Bears Our “Guilty” Verdict

After this, Jesus stands trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin, a sort of Supreme Court (Matt. 26:57–27:2; Mark 14:53–15:1), and subsequently before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor (Matt. 27:11–26; Mark 15:2–15; Luke 23:1–25; John 18:28–19:16). While Peter tries to thwart Jesus’ arrest by pulling out a sword and cutting off the high priest’s servant’s ear and later denies him three times, while Judas, the betrayer, takes his own life, Jesus remains true to the Father’s mission and dies, being completely sinless and innocent. He took the “guilty” verdict we deserved so we could be declared righteous as we trust in his finished work on the cross.

Pastoral Implications

No one can be saved without understanding and believing what Jesus accomplished on the cross as he laid down his life for our sins. We must regularly explain to people, both from the pulpit and in other settings, the true spiritual significance of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. There is no way to overstate that this must be the overriding priority in our teaching and preaching. Nothing can ever be more important than helping people understand why Jesus was crucified and what the benefits of his sacrifice are on our behalf.

While we may face occasional burnout, battle with fatigue, or settle into a maintenance mode, with the Spirit’s, help we need to rekindle our first love and excitement about Christ’s salvation and forgiveness and pass it on to others. Likewise, explaining the meaning of the cross must take center stage in our evangelism and discipleship. No sermon is complete without a clear presentation of the gospel. Moreover, we should present the gospel intelligently and thoroughly rather than in a shallow and routine way. This is the continual challenge of faithful and effective gospel preaching.

©2024 Andreas Köstenberger. Used with permission.

Related

Passion Week Devo: Palm Sunday

Passion Week Devo, Day 2: The Cursing of the Fig Tree and the Cleansing of the Temple

Passion Week Devo, Day 3: All You Can Do is Share the Gospel

Passion Week Devo, Day 4: Open People’s Eyes to Spiritual Warfare

Passion Week Devo, Day 5: Remembering the Lord’s Supper

Passion Week Devo, Day 7: Reflect on the Crucifixion

Passion Week Devo, Day 8: Christ’s Resurrection