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  THE CROSS
  by John E. Brown
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Summary: The cross was transformed from a symbol of suffering to a
symbol of power through the miracle of the blood of Christ, which was
the blood of God.

Duration: 3:18 Topics: "The Cross", "Prayer And Suffering"
Scripture References: Matthew 6:33, Matthew 27:32, Matthew 27:50, John 19:16, 2 Corinthians 5:19, Hebrews 5:7, Hebrews 7:25

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DESCRIPTION
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In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the significance of the Garden of
Gethsemane scene in the life of Jesus. He emphasizes that Jesus offered
prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to God, who was
able to save him from death. The speaker highlights that angels came to
strengthen Jesus in the Garden, preventing him from dying of a broken
heart before reaching the cross. The sermon also emphasizes the
transformative power of the cross, stating that the blood of Christ,
being the blood of God, brought about a miraculous change in how the
cross was perceived. The speaker concludes by emphasizing that Jesus
willingly fought to finish his journey, which ultimately led to his
crucifixion.

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CONTENT
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Up to a certain point in history, the cross was looked on with fright,
shuddering fear, a horrible instrument of human torture and human
suffering. But the time came when almost overnight that cross was
changed. Came a thing of power, a thing of beauty, lifts people,
exhausts people.

What changed the cross? Greatest miracle in the history of the Christian
faith. People say, well, Jesus of Nazareth died on that cross. Good man.

But worlds and worlds of good people had been nailed to the cross.
Prophets, priests had been nailed to the cross. Didn't change the cross.

But the time came when something changed that cross. The miracle of our
Christian faith. What was it? Let's go back again to the declaration
that a lot of us get the idea, the devil raised Christ to the cross.

No he didn't. No he didn't. Jesus fought, literally fought, to finish
his journey, which was to end that cross.

Thus it must be. You remember in Hebrews, 7th verse of the 5th chapter,
and I never try to quote that. I always try to read it.

I could quote it. Who in the days of his flesh, talking about Christ,
when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and
tears, now this is the garden of Gethsemane scene, with strong crying
and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard
in that he feared, or as the American Revised puts it, having been heard
for his godly fear. Now, angels came and strengthened Jesus.

Otherwise he would have died there of a broken heart. In fact, he died
of a broken heart. When they shoved the spear in his side, nailed to the
cross, there gushed forth water and blood, evidence that he died of a
broken heart.

But Jesus would have died there in the garden of Gethsemane, if angels
had not come to strengthen him, that he might end his journey at the
cross. What force, what power wrought the miracle of a changed cross?
There's only one explanation, and that is the declaration of Paul that
God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself. In other words,
when the blood of Christ flowed down over that rugged piece of wood, it
was the blood of God.

No other blood could have wrought the miracle of that transformation.

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Audio: https://sermonindex1.b-cdn.net/3/SID3590.mp3
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/john-e-brown/the-cross/
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