Agape Love and Easter

Message Notes:

Key verse (Hebrews 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…”

•According to this passage, there are two particularly troubling aspects to crucifixion in the first century AD: (1) It was physically painful, and (2) it was emotionally shameful.

Josephus said the following about crucifixion:

•“….the most wretched of deaths.”

Cicero said the following about crucifixion:

•“It is so altogether disgusting and shameful that Romans and Greeks should not even speak of it, because it is not fit for good and decent people to mention it.”

Aspects about crucifixion that made it painful/troubling:

•flogging first

•sedecula extended the time of suffering

•reformed in highly populated areas

•it was hoped that lowlife scum were present to mock

•victims were naked

•crucified on short crosses (easier to harass)

NT verses indicating the ugliness of crucifixion:

•1 Corinthians 1:18

•Galatians 5:11

Bible verses that point toward Jesus as our “substitutionary atonement:”

•Isaiah 53:5

•Romans 5:8

•1 Corinthians 15:3

•1 Peter 3:18

•1 John 2:2

Going back to our sermon series theme, Agape love inspired/moved Jesus’ life — Jesus’ love for us should inspire/move us to love others.

•John 15:13

•John 13:34-35

Discussion Questions:

Spend some time thinking about the physical, emotional and spiritual implications of the crucifixion for Jesus.

•physical — the pain involved

•emotional — the shame and embarrassment of crucifixion 

•spiritual — how Jesus “became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God”

Think of some examples of ways to show “agape” love to others?