How would we have responded if we had been there? At the cross, the noise of the crowd, the weight of rejection, and the silence of suffering? It all presses in with one question: where would we stand?

In Isaiah 53, we see the suffering servant who was despised, pierced, and crushed, yet willingly carried the sin and grief of others. This Easter, we consider what Christ has done for us; facing both the cost of sin and the depth of God’s mercy, and remembering that the story of suffering does not end in the grave.

Come stand near the cross, behold the Lamb, and rejoice in the hope of the Risen Savior!

Sermon Notes

Scripture References

Isaiah 53; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; John 14:6; Matthew 27:46; John 19:30

Introduction

Pastor Tim begins with Isaiah’s prophetic picture of the Suffering Servant, declaring that Christ’s wounds secure our healing and peace. From eternity God planned redemption, sending Jesus as the once-for-all sacrifice no animal could replace. During Lent Pastor Tim reread Isaiah 53 and the Passion narratives, watched “The Passion of the Christ,” and was confronted by the haunting hymn refrain, “Were you there…?” Paul’s words to the Romans settle the matter: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us—therefore, in a very real sense, we all were present at Calvary.

Key Points / Exposition

1. Judas – The Calculated Betrayal

• Betrayal incubated over time; greed grew as Judas managed the moneybag (John’s account).
• Began ministry enthralled by Jesus yet drifted when self-interest eclipsed mission.
• Warning: the root of sin is self. Familiarity with grace can dull awe and tempt us to “sell out” Christ for personal gain.

2. Peter – The Fearful Denial

• One of the first called, member of the inner three, the “Rock,” bold water-walker.
• In crisis his discipleship proved more in his hands than in his heart; under pressure he melted into silence.
• Self-examination question: “If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

3. Religious Leaders – The Jealous Opposition

• Generational custodians of the Law; added layers of rules (bylaws, traditions) to preserve power.
• Jesus’ cleansing of the temple and growing popularity threatened their hierarchy (“TTWWADI – That’s the way we’ve always done it”).
• Lesson: fear of lost control can stifle God-sent change.

4. The Crowd – The Complicit Majority

• Crowd that once hailed Jesus quickly turned, manipulated by leaders, offended by hard teachings.
• Illustration: by-stander effect on a New York bridge—silence and spectatorship intensify evil.
• Many today accept Christ’s forgiveness yet remain passive, refusing costly discipleship.

5. The Two Thieves – Ridicule and Repentance

• Possibly accomplices of Barabbas; one mocks with the mob, the other confesses guilt, defends Jesus, and pleads, “Remember me.”
• Grace requirements: acknowledge Jesus’ sinlessness, admit personal guilt, trust Him as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

6. The Roman Centurion – The Confession of Faith

• Witnessed the trial, scourging, darkness, earthquake, and Jesus’ prayer, “Father, forgive them.”
• Overwhelmed, he praises God: “Surely He was the Son of God.”
• Pastor Tim desires continual posture at the foot of the cross, washed by Christ’s blood, echoing the centurion’s confession.

Major Lessons & Revelations

• Every human response to Jesus—betrayal, denial, apathy, repentance, worship—is still possible today; self-diagnosis is vital.
• Christ’s atoning work (“Tetelestai” – debt paid in full) is sufficient for all yet demands personal surrender.
• God’s redemptive plan predates creation; Calvary is the hinge of history and of every individual life.

Practical Application

• Examine where you resemble Judas, Peter, the leaders, the crowd, or the repentant thief; confess and turn.
• Move from passive observance to active witness; speak when culture pressures silence.
• Release control and welcome new movements of God even when they disrupt comfort.
• Regularly position yourself “at the foot of the cross” through Scripture, communion, and worship to keep gratitude fresh.

Conclusion & Call to Response

Pastor Tim invites hearers to come forward—altar, balcony rail, or heart posture—to repent of betrayal, denial, complacency, or unbelief, and to freshly declare, “Surely He is the Son of God.” Resurrection Sunday is God’s offer to raise believers to new life; now go and serve a world that desperately needs Jesus.

Prayer

• Thanksgiving for Christ’s finished work—“Tetelestai.”
• Petition for resurrection power to raise believers to new life and bold witness.
• Commitment to “give it all” in response to the One who “paid it all.”

References & Resources

• Film: “The Passion of the Christ” (Mel Gibson).
• Hymns: “Were You There?”; “Jesus Paid It All.”

Recorded April 5th, 2026
Message by Pastor Tim Ward
Scripture: Isaiah 53