“The Sword and the Cross”
April 8, 2007
The Romans had perfected execution by crucifixion to an art. It was carried out in such a way as to inflict a maximum amount of pain on the condemned prior to death. One of the objectives was to strike terror into the enemies of Roman. No one wanted to die such an excruciating death. The cross was a terrifying deterrent.
The condemned was required to carry the cross beam, weighing between 75 and 125 pounds, to the place of execution. The Romans used tapered square spikes about five and a half inches long and about a third of an inch across the top. The spikes were driven through the wrist at the heel of the hand. They knew the exact place to drive the spike so that it exerted pressure on the median nerve. This would cause excruciating pain to run up and down the condemned’s arms while at the same time causing the thumb to be drawn inward until it press against the palm. The fingers eventually are cramped inward toward the palm.
The condemned were nailed with their arms at a ninety degree angle but as they hung on the cross their body would eventually sag to about a sixty five degree angle. The weight of the body hanging in this position would cause the pectoral muscles to become paralyzed and the person would be able to breathe in- but not exhale.
Prior to death more often than not a person would flail his body about which would aggravated the guards. So, in order to prevent this they would nail the person’s feet to the cross. In doing this they discovered that the condemned person would use the spike driven through their feet as a kind of step and force his body upward so that his arms would reach an angle that would allow him to exhale again and thus prolong the time before death. Sometimes it could take days for a person to die when their feet were nailed to cross.
Crucifixion was used for slaves, rebels, pirates and especially-despised enemies and criminals. Therefore crucifixion was considered a most shameful and disgraceful way to die. The goal of Roman crucifixion was not just to kill the criminal, but also to mutilate and dishonour the body of the condemned. In ancient tradition, an honourable death required burial; leaving a body on the cross, so as to mutilate it and prevent its burial, was a terrible dishonour for the victim.
I share that gruesome truth, knowing that most of you have seen “The Passion of the Christ” and realize how horrible crucifixion was. But to the people of Jesus’ day, just to look on the cross struck terror into the heart of people. That’s why, when the Romans invaded a town, they often crucified people along the main road or on a prominate hill. It would terrify and intimidate. Today and just a few months after Jesus’ crusifixion, the cross lost it’s fear value and became, instead, a symbol of love and life. How could that happen?
First of all, you need to know that you were condemned to die. Each of us come into this world with a death sentence. The bible says,
“For the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23 (Living)
The result of our sin (which is rebellion against God) is death. Not just physical death, but spiritual death (which is separation from God) and eternal death (which is eternal separation from all that is good). We have earned death. We deserve death. Why? Because, the Bible says:
“Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal.” Romans 3:23 (Living)
There is no one who lives such a godly life; that is so good, that they have not sinned. The bible says,
“We--every one of us--have strayed away like sheep! We have left God’s paths to follow our own.” Isaiah 53:6 (Living)
But here’s the Good News.
“Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed--and we were healed! We--every one of us--have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us!” Isaiah 53:4-6 (Living)
The New Testament says,
“For he has rescued us out of the darkness and gloom of Satan’s kingdom and brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.” Col 1:13 (Living)
“It was through what his Son did that God cleared a path for everything to come to him--all things in heaven and on earth--for Christ’s death on the cross has made peace with God for all by his blood.” Col 1:20 (Living)
“You were dead in sins, and your sinful desires were not yet cut away. Then he gave you a share in the very life of Christ, for he forgave all your sins, and blotted out the charges proved against you, the list of his commandments which you had not obeyed. He took this list of sins and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross. In this way God took away Satan’s power to accuse you of sin, and God openly displayed to the whole world Christ’s triumph at the cross where your sins were all taken away.” Col 2:13-15 (Living)
Are you beginning to see how the cross changed from an object of terror to a symbol of divine love? God loved you so much that He took the punishment of every sin you ever committed, thought of committing, or will commit, on Himself and paid the penalty for it. You no longer have to fear the cross. You no longer have to fear death. You no longer have to fear Satan or hell. Jesus has bought peace and eternal life for you on the cross. And when I look upon a cross now, it represents tremendous love. How amazing that Jesus waiting in history to die in the most excoriating way possible for my sins.
When you look at the cross in our church, you may notice that it’s a little different than you find in some churches in town. In some churches you will find beautiful crosses with Jesus still painfully hanging on them. Sometimes the blood is graphically depicted still running down Jesus’ side and face.
I understand that they want to be reminded that Jesus paid the penalty for their sin. But our cross is empty. I never want to forget what it cost to pay for my sins, but even greater than that is the fact that Jesus conquered the cross. He conquered death. He triumphed over the enemy. The Bible says,
“And now, dear brothers, I want you to know what happens to a Christian when he dies so that when it happens, you will not be full of sorrow, as those are who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and then came back to life again, we can also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him all the Christians who have died.” 1 Thess 4:13-14 (Living)
“I passed on to you right from the first what had been told to me, that Christ died for our sins just as the Scriptures said he would, and that he was buried, and that three days afterwards he arose from the grave just as the prophets foretold.” 1 Cor 15:3-4 (Living)
“Death came into the world because of what one man (Adam) did, and it is because of what this other man (Christ) has done that now there is the resurrection from the dead. Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, being members of his sinful race, and wherever there is sin, death results. But all who are related to Christ will rise again.” 1 Cor 15:21-22 (Living)
“But I am telling you this strange and wonderful secret: we shall not all die, but we shall all be given new bodies! It will all happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For there will be a trumpet blast from the sky, and all the Christians who have died will suddenly become alive, with new bodies that will never, never die; and then we who are still alive shall suddenly have new bodies too.” 1 Cor 15:51-52 (Living)
When I look at that empty cross I am reminded that death could not keep Jesus on it. Satan could not keep Jesus on it. The Roman Empire could not keep Jesus on it. It was not nails that put Jesus on the cross. It was love. And it was love that took Him off the cross and out from the tomb. And now because He lives – we too will live forever! Isn’t that worth celebrating about? Do you see why Easter is the greatest day in history?
But there is another symbol of death and destruction that Jesus changed. It’s the sword. For centuries the sword has been prominently displayed on shields and emblems of war. It’s kind of like flexing the muscles. It says, “I’m dangerous. You better fear me.” Whether it’s a samurai sword or a Roman short sword or an English long sword, all were symbols of power and strength. God took that symbol and used it for His Word. The Bible says,
“And you will need … the sword of the Spirit--which is the Word of God.”
Eph 6:17 (Living)
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
It is interesting to me, growing up around guns and knives, having been a part of the military and law enforcement community, that God describes His Word as a weapon. But the implication is clear. The Bible is to be our weapon.
I remember when I was in the army and had to know my weapons intimately. I had to take them apart night or day. I could field strip an M-14 or a .45 model 1911 in my sleep. My son, as a deputy sheriff, still can. But if a soldier or a cop has to know his weapons that well – don’t you think we better know our weapon even better? We need to get into God’s Word every day. It’s how we defend ourselves. Remember when Jesus went through His time of temptation? Do you remember how He defended Himself? He used the Bible. And Satan knew it pretty well, too. He tried to twist it and mix it up and make it say what he wanted it to say. We will have enemies that will use the Bible against us – and if we don’t know it well – we are helpless. We need the sword of the Lord to defend ourselves.
Equally important is to use the Sword of the Spirit offensively. We need to attack with it. We need to destroy the enemy’s strongholds with the Word of God. God has changed more than my life with the Bible. I have shared with you how I turned to the Bible to find meaning in life – and found it there in the pages of the Word. But Josh McDowell changed from being an atheist into one of the greatest defenders of the faith in modern times. C.S. Lewis went from being a brilliant atheist to becoming a brilliant defender of the faith because of Scripture. There is only one way to do get good at taking the offensive against the enemy. We need to know it. We need to know God’s Word. We need to share the Good News of Easter and eternal life with our family and friends. The only way we can do that is to know God’s Word.
This morning I am happy to say we are gong to help you do that. I have a couple of dozen free New Testaments on CD’s that I am going to pass out as we leave this morning. I only want to ask one thing of you. Will you take the offensive with the Sword of the Lord? The Bible says faith comes by hearing the Word of the Lord. I would like each of us to faithfully listen to these CD’s for 25 minutes a day for forty days starting a week from tomorrow. On April 16th we will begin to listen for forty days and conclude on the day of Pentecost. Do you remember what happened on the day of Pentecost after the resurrection? The Holy Spirit descended on the disciples and they went on to change the world through the power of God.
I don’t know what may happen if we all get into the Word for forty days. I believe something spectacular may happen. If you want to join my team of warriors and be armed with your sword, we will be passing them out at the back door.
Are you on God’s team? Let me rehash what I shared with you early. 1. All of us have sinned. 2. Because of that all of us have earned the death penalty. 3. But Jesus paid that penalty for us. 4. All we have to do to pass from death to life is to confess our sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive us. We just pray a prayer like this:
Dear Jesus,
I know I have sinned against you. I have knowingly and willing done things I know You didn’t want me to do. Please forgive me. I want to be in Your army. I want to live for you. Please help me. Give me the strength and the will to fight for you.
In Jesus Name,
