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A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 46b(b)

Topic: Guilty IIb - The Sacrifice

Series: Digimon

Episode: Ogremon's Honor

Lesson PDF link: 46b(b).pdf

Introduction

Last time, we discussed what a bad trial is about and talked about Jesus being a victim of one. Now that Jesus has been sentenced for a crime he didn't commit, it's now time to talk about what His punishment means. First, we will talk about what this awful punishment meant for Him. How would you like to be punished for a crime you didn't commit? I venture to say that none of us would like it very well normally.

We will now look at the scriptures about the death penalty phase that Jesus went through. Please note that this is the Roman (of that day) version of the death penalty.

The Bible States In Matthew 27: 32-56 (ISV)

Mat 27:32 As they were leaving, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced to carry Jesus' cross.

Mat 27:33 When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means "Skull Place"),

Mat 27:34 they offered him a drink of wine mixed with gall. But when he tasted it, he refused to drink it.

Mat 27:35 After they had crucified him, they determined who would get his clothes by throwing dice for them.

Mat 27:36 Then they sat down there and continued guarding him.

Mat 27:37 Above his head they placed the charge against him. It read, "This is Jesus, the king of the Jews."

Mat 27:38 At that time two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left.

Mat 27:39 Those who passed by kept insulting him, shaking their heads,

Mat 27:40 and saying, "You who were going to destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days ' save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"

Mat 27:41 In the same way the high priests, along with the scribes and elders, were also making fun of him. They kept saying,

Mat 27:42 "He saved others but can't save himself! He is the king of Israel. Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.

Mat 27:43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him, if he wants to do so now. After all, he said 'I am the Son of God.'"

Mat 27:44 In a similar way, the bandits who were being crucified with him kept insulting him.

Mat 27:45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

Mat 27:46 About three o'clock, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eli, eli, lema sabachthani?", which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Mat 27:47 When some of the people standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling for Elijah."

Mat 27:48 So one of the men ran off at once, took a sponge, and soaked it in some sour wine. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus a drink.

Mat 27:49 But the others kept saying, "Wait! Let's see if Elijah will come and save him."

Mat 27:50 Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice again and died.

Mat 27:51 Suddenly the curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth shook, rocks were split open,

Mat 27:52 tombs were opened, and many saints who had died were brought back to life.

Mat 27:53 After his resurrection, they came out of their tombs and went into the Holy City and appeared to many people.

Mat 27:54 When the centurion and those guarding Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the other things that were taking place, they were terrified and said, "This man certainly was the Son of God!"

Mat 27:55 Now many women were also there, watching from a distance. They had accompanied Jesus from Galilee and had ministered to him.

Mat 27:56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.

It is also to be said that even though the criminals on either side of Jesus were mocking Him, soon afterward, one criminal (the one on the right side) must have had a change of heart and repented.

The Bible tells us in Luke 23: 39-43 (ISV)

Luk 23:39 Now one of the criminals hanging there kept insulting him, "You are the Messiah, aren't you? Save yourself and us!"

Luk 23:40 But the other criminal rebuked him, "Aren't you afraid of God, since you are suffering the same penalty?

Luk 23:41 We have been condemned justly, because we are getting what we deserve for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong."

Luk 23:42 Then he went on to plead, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!"

Luk 23:43 Jesus told him, "I tell you with certainty, today you will be with me in Paradise."

This means Jesus died for being 'The King Of The Jews', not much of a crime if you ask me. It appears for now that this lynch mob got its wish.

Now, we discuss what Jesus' death means for us.

I will now show a couple of cartoon clips from the Digimon Episode Ogremon's Honor.

Cartoon Show "Ogremon's Honor" (Digimon):

Digimon: "Ogremon's Honor": Direct link for video/webm
Digimon: "Ogremon's Honor": Direct link for video/webm

What do you see in these clips? Leomon is a definite Christ figure in this series; he always seems to show up somewhere in any given season (at least the ones that I've seen) and is key in either the defeat of a boss type of bad guy or defends his friends or both, however he also sacrifices himself in the process. We know that Christ died once for all; what you need to look at is that Leomon is always the sacrificial hero. Jesus, once and for all, is our sacrifice. Once is enough for us, but if it were needed, Jesus would do it again. Thankfully, this kind of sacrifice is not needed ever again and won't be needed ever again - Praise be to God!!!

The Bible tells us that's what Jesus did for us in Romans 5: 1-11

Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus the Messiah.

Rom 5:2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace by which we have been established, and we boast because of our hope in God's glory.

Rom 5:3 Not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

Rom 5:4 endurance produces character, and character produces hope.

Rom 5:5 Now this hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Rom 5:6 For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, the Messiah died for the ungodly.

Rom 5:7 For it is rare for anyone to die for a righteous person, though somebody might be brave enough to die for a good person.

Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates his love for us by the fact that the Messiah died for us while we were still sinners.

Rom 5:9 Now that we have been justified by his blood, how much more will we be saved from wrath through him!

Rom 5:10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life!

Rom 5:11 Not only that, but we also continue to boast about God through our Lord Jesus the Messiah, through whom we have now been reconciled.

What have we learned?

That's right, Jesus died on the cross so that we have the privilege of salvation through this blood sacrifice. It cancels our sins and shortcomings when our faith is in Him.

In our next lesson called 'The Great Escape', we are going to look at the burial and resurrection of our Lord. The death on the cross was our atonement and the resurrection will assure us of victory.