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“Do you have any crosses without the little man on it?” That’s a real question a woman once asked in a jewelry store. And it says more about how we’ve sanitized the cross today than we’d like to admit.

In this message, Pastor Greg Laurie walks us through the darkest hour in human history—and the love that held Jesus there.

Notes:

Luke 23

 
The cross was not a fashion statement.
It was the most scandalous, horrifying symbol imaginable.
 
Next to Christ’s arrival in Bethlehem, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are the most important events in human history.
 
At the cross, God and man were reconciled.
 
God's righteous demands were satisfied.
 
It's not an accident that when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, He pointed us straight back to the cross, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”
 
Read 1 Corinthians 15:14–17
 
But here's the good news: Jesus did die, and He did rise again.
And because of that, we know there really is life beyond the grave.
 
That's what sets our faith apart from every other religion.
 
The cross was not an accident, but a plan. God’s plan.
Acts 2:23
 
The cross wasn't a detour from Jesus’ mission.
It was the mission.
 
Before there was a Bethlehem, there was a Calvary.
 
Before there was a crown of thorns, a decision was made.
 
Romans 5:8 (KJV)
While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
 
John 10:18 (NIV)
“No one takes My life from me, but I lay it down of My own accord”
 
Christ’s road to the cross ran through a series of illegal and rigged hearings.
 
Read Luke 23:26, 32–33
 
Simon from Cyrene was forced to carry the cross of Jesus.
 
A garrison was 600 elite Roman legionnaires.
 
Matthew 26:53 (NIV)
“Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”
 
Jesus had access to more than 70,000 angels.
 
God placed Simon there to have the greatest privilege: to ease the pain of Jesus momentarily as he carried His cross.
 
This brush with Jesus changed Simon forever.
 
Read Luke 23:33–43
 
The Romans did not invent crucifixion, but they took it to another level.
 
Rome perfected it into a science of suffering.
 
It was a punishment designed to produce the slowest possible death with the greatest possible pain.
 
Crucifixion was death by suffocation.
 
A crucified person might survive for hours, sometimes days.
 
Your arms tire, and your chest can no longer expand to breathe.
Therefore, you must push up against the nail in your feet to pull in another breath.
 
 THE SEVEN STATEMENTS FROM THE CROSS:
1. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
2. “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). 
3. “Woman, behold your son! Son, behold your mother” (John 19:26).
4. “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).
5. “I thirst” (John 19:28).
6. “It is finished” (John 19:30).
7. “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit” (Luke 23:46).
 
Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)
“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you.”
 
Our sins put Jesus on the cross.
 
Acts 2:36 (NKJV)
“God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
 
 
That first prayer from the cross, “Father, forgive them,” was ultimately answered.
Thousands of those very people were cut to the heart, turned, and believed.
 
No one is beyond the reach of prayer.
 
The two criminals couldn't have escaped their crosses.
Jesus could have escaped His with a single word to Heaven.
 
No one is beyond the reach of God, not even a hardened criminal.
 
Believing in Jesus can happen in a flash.
 
Read Luke 23:40–42
 

In the most recent episode of The Greg Laurie Show, Pastor Greg Laurie is joined by an influential voice in the world of culture, media, and faith—Jeremy Boreing. 

Jeremy was the CEO and co-founder of The Daily Wire alongside Ben Shapiro. 

Together, he and Pastor Greg touch on today’s hot cultural moments and how important it is for Christians to get involved in them. Pastor Greg calls this one of his most interesting interviews. Listen to the full episode now: FULL EPISODE.

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Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

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In Eternal King, Dr. Michael Youssef lifts our eyes to the glorified Lord Jesus Christ, who alone is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. Revelation declares that Christ is the faithful witness, the risen Savior, and the sovereign ruler over every king and nation. His shed blood alone can cleanse sin, break its chains, and bring peace with God. Because Scripture is the inerrant Word of God, every soul must repent and be ready for His return. This message calls believers to live in holiness, intercede for the lost, and shine the light of the Gospel in a dark and deceived world.

On In The Market with Janet Parshall this week, Caroline Beidler took us behind the curtain of her life to expose the real face of addiction and how to compassionately understand and walk beside a loved one in recovery. Bo Fu the President of ChinaAid, updated us on the persecution of Christians and their pastors in China. He also encouraged us to pray for imprisoned Pastor John Cao who is ill and still in prison.  We also told you about the re-release of the 2024 film on the life of President Ronald Reagan and why some big tech companies are refusing to host it on their platforms. Our favorite Scottish apologist was back with some dire warning about America’s easy knee bending to Islam and what that could mean for the future of this nation and his view on the still unfolding tragedy in Nepal. Sometimes the effects of the hard knocks of life can’t be removed, no matter how much we want them to be. But what if they could be healed? Pastor Chris Cook joined us to explain how to allow the Holy Spirit to bring healing to those wounded places in our lives. As the week comes to a close, we invite you once again to another critical examination of the headlines of the week under the magnifying lens of God’s word.

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Discouragement can make believers look backward, question God’s plan, and shrink from obedience. But God’s message through Haggai is clear: be strong, keep working, and remember that the Lord is with you.

In this powerful series finale, Dr. Michael Youssef reminds believers that courage does not come from favorable circumstances. It comes from the presence and promises of the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God and coming King.

God’s inerrant Word calls His people to stop comparing the present with the past, repent of compromise, and stand firm when others abandon Biblical Truth. God remains sovereign, His promises cannot fail, and His glory will triumph.

This episode calls believers to:

Knowing where you stand means remembering that Christ is with His people, His promises will stand, and His glory will prevail.

Scripture Focus: Haggai 2

If today’s teaching stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone.

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Grades. Sports. Friends. Faith. Future. It’s ridiculously easy to turn your teenager’s life into your personal report card. Melissa Kruger, author of Parenting with Hope, gets honest about Christian parenting of teens when, perhaps despite the evidence, you want desperately to get it right. What if our good intentions are quietly piling pressure on our kids? And how do we stay close when their choices—and their future—aren’t ours to control?

Show Notes and Resources

• Learn more about Melissa Kruger on her website.

• Get Melissa's book, Parenting with Hope, and her other book on our shop.
• Read and watch Josh McDowell speak about "rules without relationships".
• Find more resources on parenting teens.

• Thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring this episode. Learn more at CSBible.com.
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