Springtime in the midwest often brings with it storms. If you miss the storm and just see the aftermath, the downed trees, the risen water, you might find yourself wondering, “What happened here?” Reading the accounts of the crucifixion of Jesus might cause you to ask something similar: What happened here? What’s going on? What do we see? In John’s account we discover many details not found in the other three gospels because John is the gospel written by a friend, by someone who saw these things happen, who stood by the foot of the cross. In this sermon from John 19, Pastor Josué Pernillo helps us investigate what is happening and why, via the details and the facts given to us by the Apostle John, as we behold the power of the cross, the glory of the cross, the love of the cross, and the purpose of the cross.

Part of a series on The Gospel of John.

From Sunday Worship, March 9, 2025.

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:

Read through the sermon passage again: What are the things that stick out to you? What are some things you notice after reading it again?

How do we see the power of God in the cross of Christ? How does this compare to the way that our culture regards power?

How do we see the interaction between glory and shame in the passage? What is the significance of this in light of Genesis 3:7–10?

If a neighbor who is unfamiliar with Christianity asked you to summarize the purpose of the cross in your own words, how would you explain it?

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All Souls (Urbana, IL) is a part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a Christian, Reformed denomination with historic and theological roots in the Protestant Reformation.