“Look at the Cross”
“Luke 23:44-49
When we view our lives through the cross, we see ourselves the way God sees us.
Sunday Morning Sermon
2.18.07
Intro:
Clip of the passion of the Christ – scene 28, after the bird and right at the dark clouds – this is where the text starts.
(Start with Title and text)
Discussion:
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.
See from His head, His hands his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose to rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were a present far too small
Love so amazing so divine my soul,
My life my all…
2004 Mel Gibson comes out with this movie about Christ. With the exception of a few scenes it sticks pretty close to the Biblical account – I don’t know if Jesus invented the dinner table – but we could just throw that invention in as bonus. One of the reasons this movie was so controversial was because of who it blamed for the death of Christ – The Jews killed Jesus and therefore all Jews are bad – “I hate JEWS – God loves me.”
But I think it shows clearly the reason he died –
Turn with me to our text this morning – (Advance) Luke 23:44-49 (read)
I want us to look at the cross – I want us to see our lives through the cross – because when we do that, I believe we will see ourselves and the world the same way God sees us.
I see two things about the cross this morning: (Advance)
I. Love of the cross
The Bible says that the greatest a man could love another is when he is willing to lay down his life.
a. God’s love has been demonstrated throughout history
Remember Adam and Eve in the garden – after they sinned – God could have blasted both of them right then and there – We would refer to it as “REBOOTING” – starting completely over – instead he walks with them – He asks them what they’ve done.
Israel as a nation – continued in this cycle of being close to God and far from God – He delivered them from harm and defeat many times.
Joshua Chapter 1 – MOSES died! God calls Joshua to lead his people where Moses couldn’t – God tells Joshua – “Never will I leave you never will I forsake you.” – BE Strong and brave – God gives Joshua this command that wherever he goes – he shouldn’t fear because God is right there with him.
Jonah – Doesn’t want to go to Neivah because those people can’t tell their right hand from their left. He hires 3 pirates who don’t do anything, to go the opposite direction – God sends a big fish to save Jonah because he has a purpose for him. He loved Jonah enough to work his plan through his life.
David fills the book of poetry with four wonderful words – “HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER”.
We also have countless NT records of Jesus demonstrating his love, through his kindness, through his teaching, through calling his disciples – knowing that Judas was going to betray him and he eats with him anyway – Knowing that Peter denied him, restores him anyway – knowing that Thomas doubted him, and gives him proof.
b. Our God is a loving God
Paul looks at the life of Christ – and sees God’s absolute love for us.
i. While we may not understand everything he does
Don’t make the mistake of considering yourself beyond his love.
Paul asks the Roman Christians – (Advance) Romans 8:35a Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Skip one verse down…
(Advance)
Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We are not beyond the love of God.
c. God is deeply concerned about your life
He wants a relationship with you. But he wants it on a higher level. You can fake things with your friends – you can act happy when you are not – you can come into our worship and smile and pretend than your world isn’t falling apart. Pretend like everything is ok – and ok is enough. I think that’s something we learn – I’m quite sure it’s something we learn. When we figure out we were going to have a baby, we read EVERYTHING we could find about babies. I read this that children up to a certain age can’t fake happiness.
I go over to Breanna and thump her on the head (ok, don’t hate me, I wouldn’t do that) – she would probably start crying – it is beyond her control to show how she feels. She is sad, she’s going to let you know it, tickle her feet and she will smile – again that’s something beyond her control.
Somehow we learn to fake happiness with each other – we get hurt, we pretend we don’t. We get ran over by the words of a friend, we pretend it doesn’t hurt. Pretty soon – that’s all we do. This environment should be one of encouragement, love and building up each other.
i. You can’t fake it with God
1. He knows your sin
2. He knows what makes you excited about life
a. He’s responsible for it
3. He knows everything about you
He looks at your life and mine and sees something different than our dressy clothes, polished smile, and fixed hair. He sees something different than our ability to fake our happiness. He sees our heart. After David’s sin with Bathsheba he is confronted by Nathan, and David’s response is one of repentance – (Advance)
Psalm 51:10 – Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. – No doubt if you have ever walked forward, made the good confession of faith, was buried with him in baptism and given your whole self to God – you’ve joined David in that humble prayer for a pure heart and a renewed spirit.
It would be easy enough, if God could have taken people like us, and made us clean just by leading us to ask – nothing has to die, no blood has to be shed – it doesn’t have to be a messy transaction. Here’s the truth:
d. When there is sin
i. There is death (Advance)
Romans 6:23 (NIV) – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. If it is sin that we don’t repent of – for whatever reason – our relationship with God dies, it’s a spiritual death. If it is sin that we acknowledge and desire repentance, desire a renewed relationship with God – Jesus died. He literally took the punishment we deserved because of our sin, on himself. Taking the very nature of a servant. Listen, he took on your sins and mine – not because he had to, but because he wanted to, so that we could accept the gift of God that is eternal life. It wasn’t the Jews who sent Jesus to the cross – it was us. It was our sin. It was all the times when we do things we know we shouldn’t do – it was all the straight rebellion against God. He wanted the chance to renew that relationship with us – so he sends Jesus.
Could you do me a favor and read this with me, that way you will kinda take it in – I think it will be a blessing to you. (Advance)
John 3:16 (NIV) – "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Oh, the wonderful cross
Oh, the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die
And find that I may truly live
Oh, the wonderful cross
Oh, the wonderful cross
All who gather here
By grace draw near and bless your name
If we can see God’s love and purpose in the cross – I hope we can also see: (Advance)
II. Mission of the cross
The good news of the cross is that our suffering, our punishment, the substitute for our sin has already been paid – Jesus makes that clear when he says – “it is finished” from the cross. Peter tells us (Advance)
1 Peter 3:18a – For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
a. Our sin
i. Requires a punishment – Jesus took that punishment on himself – literally going to hell for us.
ii. Is paid for – we don’t have to live in sin any longer
The church in Rome asked Paul that if our great sin causes great grace and grace is a good thing – shouldn’t we go on sinning, because it brings about God’s grace on our lives? Here’s his answer – (Advance)
Romans 6:2 – By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
b. Accepting the sacrifice
i. Allows us to put to death our sin
ii. Allows us to not live in death, but live in life
It’s also the idea that if I accept God’s forgiveness over my life – I will be able to forgive those who do things against me.
iii. Through baptism – Biblically allows you to participate in the resurrection.
c. God’s grace is revealed in the cross
i. For everyone – regardless – it doesn’t matter
God sent his one and only son to die so that the world might believe, and because of that belief would have eternal life.
If all of that is true – the excellent question is – What are you doing about it, that’s where mission kicks in? If you have accepted the sacrifice of Jesus for your sins – what does that cause you to do? You claim to have faith – wonderful – how does that faith affect your attitude about your relationships, traffic, church attendance, money, your children, your friends who don’t have a relationship with Jesus, music?
I can’t believe that God sent his one and only son to die on the cross for our sins, so that we could accept the payment for our sins, but do nothing about it with the lives we have been given.
I can’t believe that God sent his one and only son to die on the cross for our sins, asking us to accept his payment, so that we could go against his will for our lives.
If you believe, if you have accepted his love for you, if you have committed your life – prove it through your life. If God could look at your life and offer you forgiveness – surely he desires to us to bring as many as possible with us as we grow together in Christ.
Conclusion:
You will have the opportunity this week to look at those around you, and offer them something useful, meaningful and… amazing. And for some of you – that’s where you are at – take this message as one of evangelism and encouragement. If you pray for wisdom about how to bring your friends here – God will go before you preparing the way. Spend time in prayer about and for your friends.
For some of you this morning -- God’s amazing grace is not something you’ve embraced. The Bible says that we, like sheep have gone astray. We’ve wondered away and this morning he offers you a way home. Left to ourselves – we look pretty good, we clean up really well. But if we look at ourselves through the cross, I know we will see parts of our lives that God demands we change – so he can work his will through us, so that he can bless us, give us fulfillment and purpose. What is it that’s standing in your way of accepting the cross? Let’s lay those things down and look at the wonderful cross.
Let’s pray.
