Shammah Temple Fellowship: Sermon of Sunday August 24, 2025
By Pastor Egide Nibitanga
Theme: What lesson can we take from Jesus’s crucifixion?
Reference scriptures: John 19:16-27
Crucifixion was the deadliest punishment under Romans. It brought unimaginable pain to the one being crucified; from bleeding and asphyxia – slowly until they die. It was a punishment of shame beyond anything anyone could ever imagine. Let’s dig deeper and understand what that would mean and bring to our daily lives as Belivers.
- Our salvation is from the death of a righteous
The Bible testifies for Jesus’s righteousness. It was never contested by anyone, in any way. Jesus didn’t die because of what He did, but what sinners had done. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).
Even Pirate said ‘He’s not guilty’, though the Jews were so resolute to crucify Him at all cost. However, it was all for the good of us sinners. “Surely, he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed,” (Isaiah 53:4-5).
Why did Jesus have to die instead of
- His death accomplished God’s justice
God’s justice states that sin is only rewarded by death. Nothing else. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (Romans 6:23).
- It’s only His blood that could save sinners from the wrath of God (). Others’ blood could only cover our sin, but not cleanse us and remove sins from our lives. (Hebrew 9:22).
- All that God has said will come to pass
The coming of Jesus in this world and all that happened to Him was not an accident. It was prophesied several centuries before He came. Prophets, David, and many more had described – with great detail – what Jesus endured in His time on earth. Nothing said by God will be empty words. “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished,” (Matthew 5:18).
Why does God fulfil what He said?
- He is a trustworthy God.
Not like humans who may rejoice in promising too much and deliver too little, God respects His word. “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind,” (Numbers 23:19).
- Nothing can change His word
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them,” (Isaiah 40:8).
- Our Lord Jesus cares for His people to the end.
When dying, Jesus cared for His mother. He turned His face in agony and looked at His mom, told John to take care of her; and told John that Mary is now his mother. What a sign of sacrifice and service, even at the very end of His own life in an unending pain that cross was inflicting Him. Jesus loves His people to the end
(John 13:1).
Knowing that Jesus cares, what does it change in our lives?
- It makes us to always believe in Him, nothing can ever come between us, even when He’s suffering. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you,” (Hebrew 13:5-6).
- To always care for others without first seeking our own interest.
It’s better when we serve others than serving our own selves. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of the others,” (Philippians 2:4).
In short, as Believers, we are called to always learn from Jesus’s crucifixion. We can first remember that our salvation came from a shameful cross that carried a righteous savior, who endured the pain on our behalf. Second, all the word from God’s mouth will be a reality; and lastly, that Jesus cares for us to the end, He never forsakes us or forget.
