The Cross and Me
Rev. Alan Fong
2025-04-13
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15: 1-4)
5 But he was pierced for our trans transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. (Isaiah 53: 5-9)
Seven Words on the Cross
1) 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. (Luke 23: 34)
2) 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23: 43)
3) 26 “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” (John 19: 26-27)
4) 46 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27: 46)
5) 28 “I thirst.” (John 19: 28)
6) 30 “It is finished.” (John 19: 30)
7) 46 “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23: 46)
31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (Ephesians 15: 31-32)
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruit of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15: 20)