Topical Sermons - Executable Outlines

Mark A. Copeland
-- As prophesied, Jesus was stricken, smitten, afflicted, wounded, bruised, chastised,
endured stripes, oppressed, led to the slaughter, cut off from the land of the living
- cf. Isa 53:4-8
[Again we ask “Why?” Why did it please the Lord to bruise Him, to put Jesus to grief (Isa 53:10)?
Why could His death for our sins have not been more merciful? Why did Jesus suffer...?]
II. THE REASONS THAT HE SUFFERED
A. TO BRING US TO GOD...
1. Thus Peter explained in his epistle - 1 Pe 3:18
2. The suffering reveals the terribleness of sin
a. The universality of sin - Ro 3:23
b. The consequence of sin - Ro 6:23
3. The suffering reveals the greatness of God’s love
a. The love of the Father - Jn 3:16; Ro 5:8
b. The love of the Son - Jn 15:13; 1 Jn 3:16
4. God seeks to reconcile us back to Him - Isa 53:6; 2 Co 5:18-21; Ro 2:4
5. Motivated by love, God sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins - 1 Jn 4:9-10
-- His suffering should move us to repent and respond to God’s love!
B. TO BE OUR HIGH PRIEST...
1. A good high priest must be compassionate - He 5:1-2
2. His suffering prepared Jesus to be the perfect high priest - He 2:10
a. To aid those who are tempted - He 2:17-18
b. To sympathize with our weaknesses - He 4:14-16
c. To appreciate the challenge of obedience in the flesh - He 5:7-9
3. Thus He lives ever ready to intercede for us - He 7:25
a. To provide mercy and grace in time of need - Ro 8:34
b. To provide strength to conquer in time of trial - Ro 8:35-39
-- His suffering makes Jesus the perfect high priest and intercessor on our behalf
C. TO BE OUR EXAMPLE...
1. Of suffering for the sake of righteousness - 1 Pe 2:20-24
a. When we are mistreated for doing good
b. How we should trust in God to judge rightly
2. Of persevering in our battle against sin - 1 Pe 4:1-4; He 12:2-4
a. As we seek to live for the will of God, not the lusts of the flesh
b. As we endure the ridicule of those in the world
3. Of loving one another, and loving our enemies - Jn 13:34-35; Ep 5:1-2; Mt 5:44-45
a. Loving one another as He loved us
b. Blessing those who curse us, doing good to those who hate us, praying for those who
persecute us
-- His suffering illustrates how far we must go for the sake of love and righteousness
CONCLUSION
1. Perhaps we can now appreciate more fully why our Savior suffered...
a. To bring us sinners to God
Topical Sermons 412