Thank you for listening to the Cultivating Growth podcast. Each and every week John and I pick a topic and we discuss ways that we can cultivate growth in that various topic, kind of building upon our relationship with God and with each other.  For this week we're going to spend some time in talking specifically about Jesus and specifically about his death and how an understanding and kind of grasping his death specifically And growing in that understanding can be of great benefit to each and every one of us.

So a really important conversation and I'm looking forward to it. So let's get right into it. 

Well, Jeremy, you mentioned in our intro that we're going to spend some time this week talking about the death of Jesus. And this is actually going to be kind of a part one of two we're going to finish out the year talking about this week, the importance of growing in our knowledge and appreciation of Christ's death.

And then we're going to finish up the year next week by having a similar conversation about his resurrection. And the importance of growing in our appreciation of Christ's resurrection from the dead. And so that's the way we're going to finish out the year. And so as we talk about the death of Jesus, it's, it's a topic that as Christians, we all recognize the significance of.

It's what, you know, Our faith is built upon the fact that Jesus left heaven and came to earth and died on the cross so that we could have the forgiveness of our sins. His perfect sacrifice paid the price for our sins. And it's, it's something that we talk about frequently. We memorialize him and his death every first day of the week in the Lord's Supper. 

But there is something to be said for the fact that over time  I don't know if I'd go as far to say that we can become calloused to that, but certainly the significance and the depth of it  can sometimes need a refresher in our minds. And so I think it's important to take some time and just remember what Jesus death meant. 

And then look for ways in which I can keep that flame inside of me burning bright as I consider what Jesus did for us. Well, you made mention already, I think, you know, one of the things, you know, kind of here at the kind of outset, Maybe even before we get into why, you know, it's important for us to be you know, kind of growing in this understanding and keeping it certainly in the front part of our minds at all times. 

And I think you're right. It is something that there is a temptation to, you know, kind of. Be in a play that I know it. I understand it. I think about it and just kind of move on pretty quickly. But you may mention just a moment ago specifically about the Lord's Supper. And I think that's telling. And I think it's telling because of where it comes from.

You know, certainly comes from Jesus and him himself instituting it. In God's Word showing it as, you know, responsibility that God has called each and every one of his followers, his children, to, you know, to partake of the Lord's Supper each and every first day of the week. That's each and every Sunday that we spend that special time to commune together and with him thinking about and memorializing Jesus death.

And that tells me that God wants us to understand how important it is. And God is saying, by instituting the Lord's Supper in the way that he has, this is something that you just simply cannot forget. It's something that you cannot lose sight of. It's, it's not even something that can slip back in your mind.

It has to stay in the very front of your mind at all times. And, and certainly I'm sure we'll get into why that is, but I think just, just You know, in the Lord's Supper itself, there's a piece of that, of God saying, this is something that's important for us to be thinking about all the time. Yeah. And Jesus himself went to great lengths to make sure that those following him understood what was about to happen.

And then ultimately, as he established the Lord's Supper, set the precedent for memorializing him in that way. But throughout his ministry, he talked openly. about the fact that he was going to die and that that was his purpose in coming. So much so that his followers began to even question him at times.

You know, they didn't really understand all that was going to happen. They knew him to be the messiah and the thought of the messiah dying, That just didn't add up for them. They saw the Messiah as the one coming to bring victory. And how could that happen if he were to die? But Jesus tried over and over again to make it clear to them what was going to happen.

And He was trying to do so because He wanted them to see the significance of it. And to be ready for that moment. And I think to go back and to try to put yourselves in their shoes. As Jesus's followers, it's understandable why they were somewhat confused about what was going on. And sometimes we may be giving them a little bit too hard of a time for some of those things.

But now being on the other side of it,  I don't ever want to be guilty of losing sight of the significance of that or being impacted by that. And I think that's the, that's maybe the part of it that I want to continue to grow in.  I never want Jesus's death To become routine for me. If that's the case, then I have lost sight of the significance of what he's done.

He has paid a debt for me that I could never pay myself. He has given me a hope that I could never have had without his sacrifice. And being reminded of that, and seeking to grow in that, reading about his death regularly, thinking about it, not just when we're taking the Lord's Supper, but day in and day out, I think is an important part of growing as a Christian.

Yeah, you know,  it's interesting, I was just Kind of turn it in my Bible because I was thinking as you made reference to, you know, how important it is just to, you know, understand that reality. It reminded me of Paul in first Corinthians chapter two is, you know, as he's writing, you know, to the brethren there in Corinth and they've got all kinds of different things going on and all kinds of different things that you can be thinking about.

But, you know, what Paul kind of says in 1 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 2, you know, he says, listen, I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And you start to see the focus on Jesus and his death, Jesus and his death. And certainly when you come to the book of Acts, you know, it becomes Jesus and his death.

The apostles on the day of Pentecost are talking about Jesus and his death. You can think of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. You know, he's reading from Isaiah and Philip, you know, joins him in his chariot. What does he talk about? Jesus and his death. And, you know, those are very simple things to be thinking about.

But I think that tells us that that needs to be our focus. Jesus and his death. Jesus and his death. And, you know, it, it, you know, It would behoove each of us to make sure that we're not turning our mind or turning our back, certainly, on the significance of what that death is, because ultimately, it is the key component to what our relationship is with God.

Without that death, there isn't a relationship with God. And so, all the blessings, all the good things, all the greatness that comes, it, In our relationship with God, it is only possible because of Jesus's death. And that, that death is also then the parallel for us as we consider the fact that we're being called to put to death the, the person of sin and to turn away from that life and to raise up a new creature.

It's, it's Christ's death that symbolizes that for us, that then we're called to partake in. And that's what Paul's writing about in Romans chapter six and other places. As he uses Christ's death as that symbol, that parallel for us to recognize we too are to crucify a sinful creature so that a new blameless creature can be raised, but without Christ's death and the example he set in that.

And the blood that makes all of this possible, those types of things aren't available to us. That hope isn't available to us. And so I think you're right. The pattern is clearly established in the early pages of Acts. When you see multiple times the preaching that is taking place, there is all pointing back to Jesus's death and the sacrifice that he made.

For us, because without that,  all of the preaching that they're doing is in vain. It's, it's, it's pointless. There's nothing, there's no teeth to what they're saying. If that death, that perfect sacrifice wasn't made on our behalf. And so it's not just the evangelistic tool of trying to teach someone that Jesus died for their sins.

But it's also, then, the reminder to the Christian of that great price that was paid so that we can have life. And I think that's where it comes to, you know, when we're trying to grow in our understanding of the depth of what the sacrifice is all about. I think that's when passages like Ephesians chapter 1, Becomes so important when you read a passion like a features chapter 1 we make mention certainly verse 7, you know a lot in him That's Jesus.

We have Redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace I mean that kind of showcases what you know, that sacrifice was it allows us to come in contact with his blood Romans 6 you've made mention already really does You know, into that idea, but what I like about Ephesians one is we have this reality that as Paul is writing to the brethren in Ephesus has already occurred, right?

Jesus has died decades before.  But the point that Paul makes here in Ephesians chapter one is that this was the plan. And to try to wrap your mind around the fact that the plan was in place for this to be the catalyst for forgiveness of sins before even the foundations of the world was laid. And so when you start to piece all of that together, and you start to see now throughout the pages of the Old Testament, even going all the way back to early on in the book of Genesis, you start to see that this was Always to be the case.

And then now when you start to think about it that way, this one thing that occurred in real history nearly 2000 years ago, as we sit, it is not just for me, it most certainly is the most significant thing that has ever occurred in the history of my life. But it is the most significant thing that has ever occurred in the history of the world.

That one moment. And it's because it was planned. Before the world even began, and I know that's difficult to comprehend, but I mean, that's one of the main points that Paul was making in Ephesians chapter 1. Yeah, and I think you're pointing also to kind of these, this mixed bag of emotions that surround this topic, because there is a sense in which we read about the death of Jesus and it's gut wrenching and it's sad.

He's having to do that because of my sin, you know, and it's my sin that put him on the cross, and that is  That is hard to bear, the responsibility of that, and it brings about sadness to consider that. But then to your point, this is also the culmination of God's plan, and God's willingness to make a sacrifice like that so that we could have life in Him.

And so it's also a source of great joy. And so there's this, there are these mixed emotions that come when thinking about the death of Jesus. And I think that's appropriate. That's, we should be feeling all of those emotions as we consider the pain and suffering that our Savior went through on our behalf, but also the culmination of God's plan that brings about the most joy that anything ever has in my life.

Is the hope found in Christ because of his death.  And so I think when we were partaking of the Lord's supper, when we're talking about or reading about or studying the crucifixion of Jesus or just a day in and day out in our prayers. I think expressing those mixed bags of emotion is appropriate. It really helps give us a more well rounded view of what's taking place, what has taken place for us and gives us just a deeper appreciation of it.

Yeah, I know, you know, as we're kind of thinking about maybe ways and areas in which we can grow in a topic like this, I mean, we've made mention of two of them, you know, already, I think, you know, certainly really kind of  marinating your mind if in the significance of the event and what it means specifically about our sin, but I think also the point that you made earlier that Paul makes throughout his writings of now this parallel of crucifying ourselves with Christ, what that means, and the life that I'm going to lead moving forward.

You've made mention, you know, the book of Ephesians uses language like that. Certainly Colossians chapter 3 uses language such as that. Romans 6 we've made mention of. But even in Galatians chapter 2, when Paul kind of makes that statement, you know, I've been crucified Crucified with Christ. I've been crucified with Christ.

It's no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And, and I think in a lot of ways that is the attitude certainly as I'm sitting here that there, there's something that I can be grow. There's something I can be growing in is understanding how Christ crucifixion can relate to. My own putting to death the old members, if you will.

And I think thinking about Jesus's sacrifice helps us with that. Well, let's, let's finish out this morning by just thinking about Jesus's sacrifice. By reading a few verses from Luke's account of Jesus's death on the cross. And I think it's a wonderful practice to get into of regularly reading. The crucifixion accounts as you go through each of the Gospels in the way that they describe it.

But we'll wrap up in Luke chapter 23, beginning in verse number 44.  Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, 

for listening this week. If you haven't already done so, we'd appreciate it if you would take just a second to subscribe to the podcast, whatever platform you're listening, rate and review the show so we can continue to spread the good news of Jesus widely and effectively as possible. Thanks again for joining us this week, and we'll talk again next week.