In the weeks leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we will be considering the Marks of Mount Calvary. What is Mount Calvary marked by? We will see that it is marked by exhaustive surrender, extreme suffering, and extravagant sacrifice.
At Mount Calvary, we see tragedy that triumphs, where victims become victors. It is where fear is overcome by faith. It is a place of sorrow and joy, where love conquers hate. It is the place of salvation, full and free. We will trace the steps of our Savior as He made His way to fulfill the purpose for which He came. We will see how we are to follow in His footsteps: through His exhaustive surrendering of His own will to the Father, we too will learn how to surrender; as He endured extreme suffering, we learn to sorrow over our own sin; in His extravagant sacrifice, we see His love for His Father, the One He loved the most, as well as His love for each of us.
Our view of Mount Calvary plays a vital role in our Christian living. Through the tragedy of the cross we can triumph. Seeing the suffering that our Savior endured should cause us to be grieved over what we needed our Savior to go through because of our sin. Yet that sorrow turns to joy in seeing our Savior’s amazing love for us as we meditate upon His great sacrifice in order to redeem us from that sin. The beautiful reality is that the cross was never intended to leave us where it finds us. God in His grace and mercy desires to take us beyond the sorrow to see the joy of the cross.
Mount Calvary is marked surrender, suffering and sacrifice, but it also marked by love, joy, mercy and grace. Come to Mount Calvary and see its marks—see how it was marked for you!
(#1) – Matthew 26:36-46 – “Christ’s Exhaustive Surrender at Gethsemane” – Outline (pdf) – In this message, we begin looking at the marks of Mount Calvary. Mount Calvary was marked by surrender—Christ’s exhaustive surrender of His own will to the will of the Father. We look at James 4 and consider the evidences of a hardened will followed by the evidences of a humbled heart. (“Marks of Mount Calvary”)
(#2) – Isaiah 53 – “Christ’s Extreme Suffering for You & Me” – Outline (pdf) – In this message, we continue looking at the marks of Mount Calvary. Here we see that Mount Calvary was marked by suffering—Christ’s extreme suffering for you and me. Through a close look at Isaiah 53 we see the personal side of Christ’s suffering—He was wounded for me. This should bring us to sorrowing over what my sin did to my Savior. The beautiful reality is that the cross was never intended to leave us where it finds us. God in His grace and mercy desires to take us beyond the sorrow to see the joy of the cross. (“Marks of Mount Calvary”)
(#3) – John 19:30 – “Christ’s Extravagant Sacrifice at Calvary” – Outline (pdf) – In this message, we continue looking at the marks of Mount Calvary. Here we see that Mount Calvary was marked by sacrifice—Christ’s extravagant sacrifice. We consider our debt of sin and Christ’s payment of love through His perfect sacrifice. When we come to the cross and by faith receive Christ’s payment of love on our behalf, we can enjoy a relationship with Christ that God has always intended for us. (“Marks of Mount Calvary”)
(#4) – John 12:1-8 – “Mary’s Extravagant Worship at Bethany” – Outline (pdf) – In this message, we conclude our look at the marks of Mount Calvary. Based upon how Mount Calvary was marked for us, how should we respond. From John 12 we see Mary’s extravagant worship as the proper response to the work of our Savior on our behalf. (“Marks of Mount Calvary”)
