The cross was the most humiliating form of capital punishment. Romans could only be crucified in the most extreme cases. The word “crucifixion” wasn’t mentioned in polite company & was used by lower classes as a vulgar insult. Cicero called crucifixion “the most cruel and disgusting penalty.” Josephus called crucifixion “the most wretched of deaths.”

Jesus is fully God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1). Jesus is “the express image of His person” (Heb 1:3).

Jesus came to serve others. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt 20:28). Jesus appeared in the likeness of men. He had to appear in the likeness of men in order to die for sin (Heb 2:14). He had to appear in the likeness of men in order to suffer temptation and offer help in time of need (Heb 4:14-16).

He humbled Himself to the point of the death of the cross. Has greater love ever been known in the history of the universe? “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends” (Jn 15:13).

God has exalted Jesus. Eph 1: Heb 1:1-4.

Jesus’ death on the cross means that you need to put away sin. Jesus “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Pet 2:24). What sins do you need to get rid of?

Jesus’ death on the cross means that I need to serve Him. Heb 13: What can you do in the service of your King?

Understand that a day is coming when you’re going to bow before Jesus. You have freewill now. But, when you stand before the Lord Jesus in judgment, you will bow the knee. Rev 20: Being cast into the lake of fire is “bowing the knee” in a big way!