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The sermon presents the crucifixion as both the sinful act of humanity and the fulfillment of God’s determinate, loving purpose. Christ suffers as the substitute for His people, bearing sin so that divine justice and mercy meet in the atonement. Spurgeon strongly defends an effective particular redemption: Christ’s death does not merely make salvation possible but certainly saves those for whom He died. Seeking sinners are urged to read their sense of sin, desire for salvation, and trust in Christ as evidence of grace. Christ’s resurrection and ascension demonstrate that His sacrifice succeeded and that He now reigns in victory.
Theological center: Christ’s death was ordained by God’s loving counsel as a substitutionary atonement that certainly accomplishes salvation for His people and is vindicated by His resurrection and ascension.
Applications: Look to Christ’s cross · Cling to Christ alone · Seek salvation through Christ · Consider God’s purpose in the cross
Primary texts: Isaiah 53:10 · Acts 2:23 · Romans 6:10
“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” Isaiah 53:10 WHAT myriads of eyes are casting their glances at the sun! What multitudes of men lift up their eyes and behold the starry orbs of heaven! They are continually watched by thousands—but there is one great transaction in the world’s history which every day commands far more spectators than that sun which goes forth like a bridegroom, strong to run his race. There is one great event which every day attracts more admiration than do the sun and moon and stars when they march in their courses. That event is the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. To it the eyes of all the saints who lived before the Christian era were always directed—and backwards, through the thousand years of history, the eyes of all modern saints are looking. Upon Christ, the angels in heaven perpetually gaze. “Which things the angels desire to look into,” said the apostle. Upon Christ the myriad eyes of the redeemed are perpetually fixed. And thousands of pilgrims, through this world of tears, have no higher object for their faith and no better desire for their vision than to see Christ as He is in heaven, and in communion to behold His person. Beloved, we shall have many with us whilst this morning we turn our face to the Mount of Calvary. We shall not be solitary spectators of the fearful tragedy of our Savior’s death. We shall but dart our eyes to that place which is the focus of heaven’s joy and delight—the cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Taking our text, then, as a guide, we propose to visit Calvary, hoping to have the help of the Holy Spirit whilst we look upon Him who died upon the cross. I would have you notice this morning, first of all, the cause of Christ’s death—“It pleased the LORD to bruise him.” “It pleased JEHOVAH to bruise him,” says the original. “He hath put him to grief.” Secondly, the reason of Christ’s death—“When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin.” Christ died because He was an offering for sin. And then, thirdly, the effects and consequences of Christ’s death. “He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” Come, Sacred Spirit, now, whilst we attempt to speak on these matchless themes. I. FIRST, we have here THE ORIGIN OF CHRIST’S DEATH. “It pleased JEHOVAH to bruise him; he hath put him to grief.” He who reads Christ’s life as a mere history, traces the d…