Carry The Cross Series

Carry the Cross #2

Matthew 27, Luke 23

Good Morning

I hope you are ready to receive the word of God and let it change you from the inside out.

That …what is happening on the inside would be seen on the outside.

The hardest thing is to pick up is the mantle of someone else. Because if you are not as committed to the cause as the person having the mantle, the mantle gets heavy and it gets to be a burden instead of a blessing. This morning, we are going to look at carrying the cross of Christ! Big undertaking!

Prayer-

Please turn to Luke 24:13-32 as we open up God’s Word this morning.

Luke 24:13-32 Read

This morning we continue our series “Navigating the journey”

Remember it is all about the journey- “The decisions we make while we are on this earth” once we leave this earth, we are judged by the decisions we made while here and we do not get another chance to change those decisions.

We journey and come in the presence of Jesus and have to invite Him to join us, to walk with us, to recognize him in the journey and desire to be more like Him.

We will stand before the Lord one day and have to give an account of our lives.

We are going to dig right in. I said we would deal with some tough ones.

Most people believe heaven and Hell to be two destinations. Other than that, the beliefs are all over the place depending who you are talking too.

They base where they go on their own perception of wither they are bad or good.

One is for the good and one is for the bad.

The term “bad’ is loosely used because most base it upon who they perceive to be bad and who they believe are good people.

They of course they are good and every single member of their family who has ever lived was good and are waiting for them in heaven.

Most unbelievers say when someone has died that they are angels that get their wings.

Like in “It’s a wonderful life” where Clarence the angel is trying to help George Bailey see that his life matters.

I do not see that anywhere in scripture. That would bring comfort but it does not make it the truth.

But what does the bible say?

Most people today do not want to talk about the cross or sing about the cross. It is two gross and offends some people and makes them feel uncomfortable.

The bible talks a lot about the cross and about the one who went to the cross.

The bible also talks about the two other criminals who were on their cross at the same time Jesus was and what happened to the two of them is an indication of what happens to others when they make their decisions about Jesus.

Do you have the right perspective about the cross? Some people wear a cross around their neck- some with Jesus still on the cross and some with an empty cross.

Wearing a cross is not understanding the cross and its significance.

Do you understand the significance of Jesus being on the cross and the significance of Jesus off the cross and his resurrection?

Have you done any investigation of scripture for yourself to see what it means for you and what importance it is for you?

Matthew and Luke give us a detailed looks at the cross and Jesus-

Our text this morning is Jesus right after the resurrection and two men on a journey down the Emmaus road talking about what has just happened in the city and what has happened to this Jesus that they thought would be the one who would change the world and their circumstances. Jesus joins them and we get a glimpse of a heart that is curious of Jesus but not yet knowing Jesus. He walks with them, he talks with them, Jesus explains what has happened and gets to his destination and waits to see if they will invite him into their lives. A decision that each one of us has to make on our own. He is invited to walk with them and when they stop for the night, he reveals himself in a new fresh and powerful way and they say their hearts were warmed and they could sense the presence of God.

You have heard the term carrying your cross and carrying the cross of Jesus-

What does it mean to carry your cross? What is Jesus telling us?

It has to mean more than just wearing a cross around your neck. Nothing wrong with wearing an empty cross, it is an opportunity to tell the gospel of the good news!