Main Thought
God’s mission to restore broken people to Himself is centered on the cross of Jesus Christ. The crucifixion was not an accident or a tragic interruption in God’s plan. It was the turning point of God’s redemptive work in the world. Jesus was deeply troubled by the suffering He was about to endure; still, He willingly embraced the cross because it was the very purpose for which He came. On the cross, God’s perfect justice and steadfast love met as Jesus bore the penalty for our sin in our place. His sacrifice and surrender was transformed into victory. Sin was silenced, death was defeated, and the power of the enemy was broken. Through His sacrifice, Jesus draws people back into a restored relationship with God. He invites His followers to live a cross-shaped life marked by trust, surrender, and fruitful obedience.
Main Passages
“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
- John 12:27-28, ESV
'Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
- John 12:31-32, ESV
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
- Philippians 2:8
Discussion Questions
Jesus was deeply troubled by the cross, yet He still chose obedience. What does this reveal about Jesus’ love for the Father and for us?
The cross looked like a dead end, but it became the doorway to new life. Have you ever experienced a situation where something painful or disappointing later produced growth or fruit?
Jesus calls His followers into a cross-shaped life—dying to self so that new life can emerge. What might that look like practically in your relationships, decisions, or participation in God’s mission right now?