I'm asking you today to imagine yourself at the Cross of Christ.  What do you see?  Now, what do you see when you look back at the Cross today?

1)  OBSERVING THE SCENE AT THE CROSS
     a.  A man being crucified - not the first crucifixion, but this one different in several respects
     b.  What they heard - " I am thirsty" - John 19: 28-29; words spoken to His mother - 19: 26-27;
          1.  what they heard that was different - "forgive" - Luke 23:34; "why hast thou forsaken me?"
                His cry of triumph - Matt 27:50, John 19:30 - "It is finished"
          2.  what they also saw and heard - soldiers mocking Jesus, making sport. Also the mob and
               chief priests.  Also 2 thieves, one of which sees Him as a King and asks to be saved.
          3.  An unusual sight - John 19: 17-22
     c.   You see family and others who loved Him - knowing Him as they did, they can't bear to see Him
           bear this.
     d.   Darkness!  It must have been terrifying! How did the mockers act now?  Did they have the same
          attitude? Matt 27:45
     e.   Stunning occurrences - Matt 27: 51-53,  the veil, the earthquake, the tombs, the bodies raised!
     f.   Stunned soldiers - "Truly this was the Son of God" vs. 54

2)  WHAT MANY SEE TODAY
     a.   Someone dying for an ideology, or maybe even a myth. 
     b.   A good man being mistreated.
     c.   a self-deluded man who had an overly high opinion of himself - even believing He was God!
     d.   Foolishness! 1 Cor 1:18-25

3)  WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD (AS CHRISTIANS DO) SEE TODAY
     a.   The ultimate expression of sacrifice - Isa 53:6; 2 Cor 5:21; Zech 13:1; Heb 9: 11-14
     b.   The ultimate expression of Divine Love - John 3: 16-18;  Romans 5:8;  1 John 4: 9-10
     c.   The ultimate expression of compassion - Luke 23:34 - "Father, forgive them..."
     d.   The ultimate expression of submission - the garden, Luke 22:39-44, Heb 5:7-9; on the Cross
           Heb 12: 1-3
     e.   The ultimate expression of reconciliation - 2 Cor 5: 18-21;  Eph 2: 13-18 -reconciliation to God and
           one another

Conclusion - How should we view the Cross?  The way we see it is critical to our salvation.  It's more than
an interesting historical event.  It is THE focal point of all history.  The focus of our devotion and life as Christians.  The Event that ushered in a new age for mankind with the shedding of His blood is what we remember every first day of the week and what we should tell the world about.

(POWERPOINT)