2. (2Cor. 5:14-15; Matt. 27:35; 1Cor. 2:2)

3.  One who had done no wrong.  A completely innocent man.  Acknowledged by the one who ordered His death. (Matt. 27:23-24)  Not only legally innocent, but morally and spiritually pure. (Heb. 4:14, 15; 1 Pet. 2:22)

4.  One who had done no wrong.  One filled with good.  Compassionate and caring. (Matt. 14:14)  Loving. (John 13:1, 34)  Used Himself as an example when teaching love.  Went about doing good. (Acts 10:38)

5.  One who had done no wrong.  One filled with good.  The Son of God.  (John 1:1-3, 14; Col. 2:9)  At the cross, the creature killed his Creator.

6.  Betrayed by a friend. (Matt. 26:47-50)

7.  Other friends deserted Him. (Matt. 26:56)  Peter and John followed Him to the high priest’s house, but neither stood up for Him.  Peter denied Him. (Matt. 26:69-75)

8.  Betrayed by a friend. (Matt. 26:47-50)  Other friends deserted Him. (Matt. 26:56)  Arrested as a common criminal. (Matt. 26:55)

9.  Betrayed by a friend. (Matt. 26:47-50)  Other friends deserted Him. (Matt. 26:56)  Arrested as a common criminal. (Matt. 26:55)  Subjected to degrading treatment. (Matt. 26:67- 68)

10.  Betrayed by a friend. (Matt. 26:47-50)  Other friends deserted Him. (Matt. 26:56)  Arrested as a common criminal. (Matt. 26:55)  Subjected to degrading treatment. (Matt. 26:67- 68)  A murderer was preferred over Him. (Matt. 27:20-23)

11.  Betrayed by a friend. (Matt. 26:47-50)  Other friends deserted Him. (Matt. 26:56)  Arrested as a common criminal. (Matt. 26:55)  Subjected to degrading treatment. (Matt. 26:67- 68)  A murderer was preferred over Him. (Matt. 27:20-23)  Scourged. (Matt. 27:26)

12. “A Roman implement for severe bodily punishment….It consisted of a handle, to which several cords or leather thongs were affixed, which were weighted with jagged pieces of bone or metal, to make the blow more painful or effective….The victim was tied to a post [or suspended in air]…. In the tense position of the body, the effect can easily be imagined.” (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

13.  Betrayed by a friend. (Matt. 26:47-50)  Other friends deserted Him. (Matt. 26:56)  Arrested as a common criminal. (Matt. 26:55)  Subjected to degrading treatment. (Matt. 26:67- 68)  A murderer was preferred over Him. (Matt. 27:20-23)  Scourged. (Matt. 27:26)  The crown of thorns. (Matt. 27:27-31)

14.  Betrayed by a friend. (Matt. 26:47-50)  Other friends deserted Him. (Matt. 26:56)  Arrested as a common criminal. (Matt. 26:55)  Subjected to degrading treatment. (Matt. 26:67- 68)  A murderer was preferred over Him. (Matt. 27:20-23)  Scourged. (Matt. 27:26)  The crown of thorns. (Matt. 27:27-31)  Carrying His cross

16.  Love  “For God so loved the world…”  “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”  “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”  God’s wrath toward sin  Why did God not simply overlook sin?  His justness, holiness, and abhorrence of sin would not allow it. (Rom. 3:23-26)  The cross should inspire fear in us.

17.  God so loved. (John 3:16)  Love for a rebellious world. (Rom. 5:8-10)  The greatest of all loves. (John 15:12, 13)  Don’t forget Gethsemane.  Sin demanded this sacrifice. (Matt. 26:28; Rev. 1:5)

18.  God loved a rebellious world. (John 3:16)  Sin demanded this sacrifice. (Matt. 26:28)  How does this affect us?  Does it inspire you to love Him? (1 John 5:3)  Will you become a Christian?  If already a Christian, will you become more faithful?

19. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

20.  Please don’t live so as to make His death meaningless. (Heb. 10:26-31)  Will you come to that sacrificial death now?  (1 Jn. 1:7-9)  (Rom. 6:3-4; Mk. 16:15-16)