Purpose: To cause us to appreciate the Cross of Christ more.
I. The cross was both ugly and beautiful.
A. It was ugly because our sins were hanging there in the person of Jesus
(Matthew 1:21; I Peter 2:24; II Corinthians 5:21).
B. It was beautiful because it was our savior hanging there, dying for our sins
(Titus 2:14; I John 4:14; Revelation 1:5).
C. It was ugly in that it meant horrible suffering for the Son of God, suffering
beyond our comprehension (Hebrews 2:9; Hebrews 5:8; I Peter 2:21, 23).
D. It was beautiful because it portrayed in the most graphic way the love and
grace of God extended to us (John 3:16, 17; Romans 5:8; I John 4:9-11).
II. What does the Cross of Christ mean to you?
A. As Jesus was lifted up on the cross atop the hill of Calvary, God was reaching down to the valley of our despair and hopelessness (Ephesians 2:12,
13).
B. It was the nature of the event taking place there that made it both ugly and
beautiful at the same time: ugly in that it was sin – the sin of those who
physically perpetrated the act, your sins, my sins, the sins of the whole
world – that nailed Him there . . . but beautiful in what it did for us!
C. The Cross of Christ should draw us to God (I John 4:19).
Conclusion: ” . . . Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world” (John 1:29). Have you beheld Him lately?
Ken Tyler
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