What Is the Gospel Anyway? Part 2

Key Takeaways

➤ The Gospel's Framework: The gospel is structured around creation, fall, redemption, and restoration, emphasizing God's power, humanity's sinfulness, and Jesus’ sacrificial role in reconciling us with God.

➤ The Significance of Jesus: Jesus' life, death, and resurrection fulfill the need for a sinless sacrifice, providing a path to salvation and restoring direct access to God.

➤ Commitment and Hope: Accepting Jesus as King involves a thoughtful, lifelong commitment, offering hope and a transformative relationship with God.

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“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

Redemption

Jesus willingly lived a perfect and sinless life to act as our ultimate sacrifice on the cross.

Jesus gathered 12 disciples to join him, a concept shared by the 12 tribes of Israel. They journeyed extensively and performed many miraculous signs. Many of those who came to listen were convinced that Jesus was the promised Messiah; many, but not all. The Pharisees doubted His identity as the anointed one because He did not match their expectations of what the Messiah should be like. There are a few reasons why the Pharisees hated Jesus.

• First and foremost, because He claimed to be equal to God.

• They were jealous of His following and the crowds that wanted to hear from Him.

• Jesus constantly exposed their sinful hearts and called out their sinful ways (Matthew 23).

• Jesus challenged their traditions and laws.

Before His Death
Judas, one of Jesus’ own disciples, let greed and darkness consume him, ultimately betraying his Rabbi (which means teacher). The betrayal unfolded as Jesus and His disciples gathered in Jerusalem for Passover. After their final meal together—the Last Supper—Jesus brought three of His closest friends to the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-37). There, under the weight of what was to come, Luke, the physician, recorded an extraordinary detail: His sweat became like drops of blood, a sign of profound anguish.

After six separate trials, Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged (John 19:1).

After the flogging, Pilate’s soldiers took Jesus into his headquarters and gathered a battalion before Him. (Matthew 27:27) 

(A battalion is around 120–200 Roman soldiers.)
They mocked Jesus by placing a crown of thorns on his head. A crimson and scarlet garment was placed on His shoulders, and a reed was in His right hand. (Matthew 27:29)

His Crucifixion
The purpose of crucifixion was to inflict extreme pain and torture on the victim. Crucifixion was an exceptionally dreadful punishment, typically reserved for the most heinous offenders, as it was a slow death with maximum pain.

The condemned were expected to carry their cross from the flogging post to the crucifixion site, which in Jesus’ case was located outside of the city walls. Their arms were then typically tied outstretched on the crossbar. Outside of the city walls, the upright wooden post was permanently stationed.

In ancient Rome, it was customary for the individual sentenced to crucifixion to be paraded through the streets before reaching the designated location for their execution. The journey to the site of the crucifixion was led by a complete Roman military escort, with a centurion leading the way. Jesus was crucified at Golgotha, which translates to Place of the Skull. (Matthew 27:33)

The chief priests told Pilate not to write that, but rather, “This man said, I am King of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “I have written what I have written (John 19:19-22) .”

One of the soldiers would carry a sign known as a titulus, which displayed the criminal’s name and crime. This would then be placed on the top of their cross. Then, the guard would remain with the criminal until they died. Pontius Pilate wrote Jesus’ sign in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. It said, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The chief priests told Pilate not to write that, but rather, “This man said, I am King of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “I have written what I have written (John 19:19-22) .”

The crowd and soldiers mocked, taunted, and jeered, and then they cast lots for His robe. “So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it will be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture, “They divided My outer clothing among them, and for my clothing, they cast lots (John 19:23-24, AMP).” This fulfilled the prophecy. Read Psalm 22:18.

There were two (actual) criminals hanging beside Jesus. Matthew’s gospel calls them robbers, although the Greek word λήστής (lace-tace’) could also imply insurrectionist. This is a potential interpretation but not definitive. These criminals also “reviled Him in the same way,” mocking Him as those who “passed by deriding Him, wagging their heads” and telling Him to save Himself. (Matthew 27:36-44)

Jesus was on the cross for approximately six hours. Within that time, two people came to believe He was the Son of God. The thief on the cross beside Him (Luke 23:40-43) and one of the Roman soldiers who took part in His brutal execution (Matthew 27:54). Both are loved deeply by Jesus.

In order for Jesus to become the unblemished sacrifice we need, He had to die. (Hebrews 9:11-22) He was dead for three days.

After His Death

On the third day, Jesus rose from the grave, conquering sin and death once and for all (Jude 1:3). 

Over 500 eyewitnesses saw Jesus throughout 40 days. On the final day, He ascended into Heaven. Before He left, He commanded one specific thing of all His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 which is called the Great Commission.

Restoration

Our relationship with God is restored through Jesus, and now we have the opportunity to pledge allegiance to Him and tell others what He has done. We have the chance to embrace Jesus as our Savior. R.C. Sproul wrote a children’s story based on Zechariah 3:1-5. Everyone needs to read it! Read It.

At the moment Jesus died, “the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split (Matthew 27:51, NIV).” 

He restored our relationship with God. The splitting of this veil shows the world that through Jesus, we can now be in the presence of God. We no longer need something to keep us separated because Jesus’ blood did what the animal sacrifices could not: bring us salvation.

The Church and Her King

Pledging loyalty to King Jesus is not a decision that should be made on a whim. This is a commitment to a new identity, a new lifestyle, and accepting the vow of lifelong obedience to your King.

When you vow your lifelong loyalty to King Jesus, you become part of the Kingdom of God where Christ reigns as King. But before you commit to Jesus, you must count the cost (Luke 14:25-35).

God does not deal kindly to apostates (Hebrews 5:11-6:12)

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TL/DR

The gospel isn’t just good news—it’s the best news ever. Here’s why: we’re all born into sin (yes, even you—Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:23). Sin is treason against God, and the penalty is death (Romans 6:23). But don’t panic yet. God, in His infinite love, had a rescue plan.

We’re made in His image (Genesis 1:26-27), infused with His breath of life (Genesis 2:7). So, to pay for sin, something perfect in His image had to die. Enter Jesus: God in the flesh (John 1:14), living a flawless life despite facing every temptation we do (Hebrews 4:15). He stepped in to do what we couldn’t.

Jesus faced the high priest, Roman rulers, and the cross (Matthew 26:57-75, Luke 23:13-25). Brutally murdered, He hung for hours, but when He died, the temple veil tore (Matthew 27:51). That meant God’s presence was open to all who pledged loyalty to Him.

Here’s the kicker: three days later, Jesus rose from the dead, crushing sin and death for good. For 40 days, He walked the earth, with over 500 eyewitnesses seeing Him alive (Acts 1:3, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

This isn’t just history—it’s hope. It’s your invitation to life, freedom, and a love that changes everything.

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Define Your Terms

(some might call this a glossary)

• TL/DR—Too Long/Didn’t Read

• Gospel—The good news that Jesus Christ fulfilled all the Jewish prophecies and promises made, and through His resurrection, provides a means to salvation. 

• Sin—A departure from God’s standard.

• Treason— “The offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign's family.”

• High Priest—The highest-ranking Jewish leader with the most significant influence, although his authority was limited under Roman supervision.

• Temple Veil—A thick curtain that separated the Holy of Holies in the Temple from the outside world. This was where the Ark of the Covenant was located prior to the temple being ransacked by Babylon.

• ESV—English Standard Version

• NIV—New International Version

• NLT—New Living Translation

• Apostate/Apostasy—”Abandonment of a previous loyalty.”

• Kingdom of God—The place where Christ reigns as King.

• The Great Commission—The duty and calling of sharing the gospel, making disciples, baptizing them, and then teaching them from Jesus to His followers.

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