3. Mark 15:33-36 ESV
33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 

4. Mark 15:37-39 ESV
37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

6. Mark 15:33-34; ESV
33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”… 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

7. Why the cross?
The cross was the best way for God to prove His character and defeat Satan.

8. God’s justice & love on display
Mark 15:34 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Jesus becomes sin.
We become righteous.

9. The temple curtain was torn in two…
Hebrews 4:  Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 

10. The temple curtain was torn in two…
Hebrews 6:19-20a 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf…

11. The temple curtain was torn in two…
Hebrews 7:  The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

12. The temple curtain was torn in two…
Hebrews 7:  He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 
Hebrews 9:  But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come… 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

13. The temple curtain was torn in two…
Hebrews 10:  And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God…

14. The temple curtain was torn in two…
Hebrews 10:  Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

15. The Best Kept Secret is Told
The Father’s Declaration
The Centurion’s Declaration
The heaven’s open and God says, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:10-11)
The curtain temple is torn in two and the centurion declares, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:38-39)
Have you seen and believed?

16. At the cross, God defeated Satan.
Colossians 2: And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 
15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame (made a public spectacle – NIV), by triumphing over them in the cross (see ESV footnote).

17. The Best Kept Secret of All Time
Satan’s Rebellion
Creation
Our Rebellion
Jesus’ Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection, & Ascension
Jesus’ Return as Judge
God’s Beautiful Plan of Redemption

18. The Best Kept Secret of All Time
Isaiah 61:1-2 (Luke 4:18-19)
“1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,     because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;     he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives,     and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God…”
What’s up with this comma?

19. The Best Kept Secret of All Time
Isaiah 9:6-7
“6 For to us a child is born,     to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,     and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,      Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace      there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom,     to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness     from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
What’s up with this semicolon?

20. The Best Kept Secret of All Time
Isaiah 40:3-5 (Mark 1:2-3) 3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;      make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,     and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level,     and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,     and all flesh shall see it together,      for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
John, who were you expecting?

21. The Best Kept Secret of All Time
A couple more examples…
Isaiah 42:1-3 (Matt. 12:18-21)
Micah 5:2-4

23. A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grand Jatte
Georges-Pierre Seurat (Pointillism)

24. The Best Kept Secret of All Time
Romans 16:25-26
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—  27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

25. The Best Kept Secret of All Time
Ephesians 1:7-10
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9  making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

26. The Best Kept Secret of All Time
Ephesians 3:3-6
3  …how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4  When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

27. The Best Kept Secret of All Time
Ephesians 3:8-12
8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 

28. …things into which angels long to look.
1 Peter 1:10-12

29. The Best Kept Secret of All Time
1 Corinthians 2:7-10
7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 
9 But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,     nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 

30. The Best Kept Secret of All Time
1 Cor. 1:22-24
22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 

31. The Best Kept Secret of All Time
Psalm 22  My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?     Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,     and by night, but I find no rest.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,      scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me;     they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him;     let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

32. The Best Kept Secret of All Time
Psalm 22  14 I am poured out like water,     and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax;     it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd,     and my tongue sticks to my jaws;     you lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs encompass me;     a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—

33. The Best Kept Secret of All Time
Psalm 22  17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them,     and for my clothing they cast lots.
28 For kingship belongs to the Lord,     and he rules over the nations.
30 Posterity shall serve him;     it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,     that he has done it.

34. At the cross, God defeated Satan.
The war is won but we still battle with Satan.
Ephesians 6:11-12
2 Corinthians 2:10-11
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
2 Corinthians 11:14
1 Peter 5:6-11
Colossians 2:15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in the cross.

35. Reflection questions:
Have you rebelled against God?
Do you feel forsaken by God?
What accusations is Satan making against you?
What false accusations is Satan making against God?
Can you see God’s plan of redemption in light of the cross?
Is the Spirit revealing Jesus to you?