CROSS-PERSPECTIVE
Second in Series: “Love In Action”
Rev. Todd G. Leupold Perth Bible Church July 6, 2008 AM
INTRODUCTION:
- As we celebrate this Independence Day weekend, it is fitting that we take a few moments to reflect on our view of our own place in this world.
VIDEO: “What Inspires You” (BluefishTv) – 1:49
WE SEE FROM FEET OF CLAY,
BUT JESUS SEES FROM THE CROSS
Luke 14:27
We cannot love God absolutely unless we love others sacrificially.
We can not love others sacrificially, unless we are willing to follow Christs’ ultimate example.
We can not follow Christs’ ultimate example until we first learn to see the world as Jesus does – from the cross!
[slide 6] “To take up the cross daily is to see everyone as Jesus sees them: from the cross.”
[slide 7] “Can we look out on the world from the cross?
PRAYER
I.) WE SEE OUR OWN PROBLEMS,
JESUS SEES OTHERS’ PROBLEMS
LUKE 23:35-37
Jesus very well could have ’saved himself.’ He also easily could have cursed, tortured and smote His tormentors. Proven them all wrong. Demonstrated His full power. Preached to them about how it’s not nice to mock people. But He didn’t.
Instead, He did what was best and necessary for the very people doubting and tormenting Him. He silently took it all and then still gave His life for them in order that their greatest need – salvation – may be made possible!
JOHN 19:25-27
Jesus is dying a slow, agonizing death. He can’t breathe without great effort and pain. His reputation in the world has been destroyed. He is all but naked and the soldiers are gambling for His clothes. He is terribly thirsty and dehydrated. So, which of these is Jesus’ greatest concern?
NONE OF THE ABOVE. Jesus’ greatest concern is that His followers are loved and cared for long after His death.
As our dear Cheryl Yost wrote in her poem, Road of Life:
Everyone in life walks down a road each day -
Sending out a message in all they do and say.
And everyone must ask themselves what the end result will be.
Will the steps we take be worthy and glorifying to Thee?
Or will our vision be shortsighted, on self we concentrate.
We need to be farsighted, see where the road will lead.
We’re going to reap just what we sow; so plant the precious seed.
Don’t walk the road of pleasure: let Him lift you from the mire.
Walk down the road that gives your life new meaning day by day -
A life that has some substance, bears some fruit along the way.
Don’t walk the road of emptiness; it’s sad and lonely there.
The benefits are short term; you’ve nothing rich to share.
So choose the road that He walked; the benefits are forever.
They join you in a bond of love no human being can sever.
The road may wind and twist and turn, but He’ll be there beside you.
Through the valleys to the mountain top, He’ll always lead and guide you.
Just trust Him when there’s a fork in the road, He’ll show you where to go.
He’ll always lead the right way – because He loves you so!
II.) WE SEE STUPIDITY, JESUS SEES IGNORANCE
LUKE 23:34
Be careful, the distance between stupidity and ignorance can be a very fine line indeed.
Jesus does NOT, through this example or any of His words, ever allow for ignorance to be used to accept or excuse anyone from personal responsibilities or sins.
Rather, the example and point Jesus supplies here from the cross is that – even so – those in Him need to have compassion even for wanton foolishness.
Even while others may stupidly ignore God’s truth and path to blessing, those who are like Christ will still desire that they be forgiven and delivered from their sin and ignorance.
Illustration: My own early struggles, always hating and judging others b/c of ignorance. Jesus has since shown me otherwise.
III.) WE SEE THE NEED FOR JUDGMENT,
JESUS SEES THE NEED FOR REDEMPTION
LUKE 23:32-43
Again, we have here a very important, but careful distinction which must be made.
The issue is NOT one of guilt or what is deserved. That is unquestioned. Rather, the question is what to do about the guilt and it’s consequences?!
Where there is a choice (which in Christ there is), are we to insist on rigid automatic sentencing or do we offer the rehabilitation that is possible in Christ?
Jesus, on the cross, clearly favors that a lawful, effective rehabilitation be offered before an irreversible sentencing is required!
IV.) WE SEE AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK,
JESUS SEES A COMPLETED TASK
JOHN 19:28-30
Everyone looked upon Jesus on the cross – unjustly tried, convicted, beaten and defeated – and concluded that the task of carrying out God’s great renewal and redemption had become useless and impossible. Time to quit, face the facts, smell the coffee and cut and run.
But, not Jesus. From the cross and with His last breath Jesus declared that same seemingly impossible task to have actually been completed with His death!
V.) WE SEE FAILURE . . . JESUS SEES PREPARATION
Of all the disciples I am probably most like Paul, but emotionally I most connect with Peter.
JOHN 18:15-18, 25-27; 21:15-19
For most of us failure means permanent ’cease and desist.’ Done. Rejected. Try something else.
But Jesus sees our failure as an opportunity to prepare for the best. His desire is not that we stop or run away, but that we learn, make corrections, grow and keep going for His glory!
SEE AS HE SEES BY REMEMBERING HIM
About 230 years ago, a group of men were meeting in trying circumstances. A war was on. Armies were marching and doing battle. They believed in certain truths that ultimately would form one of human history’s greatest nations.
They were willing to sacrifice their very lives for making these truths a reality in a new experiment called democracy.
What if Ben Franklin would have said, “I give up. This stuff is too hard. I’m going kite flying.” What if George Washington would have telephoned from the battlefield and said, “I can’t do this anymore. I am out-gunned, out-manned, and out-trained. I am going back to Mt. Vernon and farm – get a new general!” What if James Madison had said, “This will never work. We can’t do it. I don’t have time for all this Declaration of Independence work. I’m calling Dolly and telling her “Let’s start the snack cake business you’ve been wanting!” What if Thomas Jefferson had said, “I am getting writer’s cramp. Can’t you guys do anything to help me out? I’m going back to Monticello!”
What kind of freedom or country would we have today?
(adapted from Jim Kane, “What If?” sermoncentral.com)
What if, nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ said: “I’ve been on this cross long enough, time to get down while I still can. These fools think I can’t get myself down and militarily deliver my people, I’ll show them. These obnoxious, stupid, weak cowardly ingrates are the people I’m here suffering and dying for? No more, if they don’t appreciate who I am and what I’m doing for them, then I just won’t do it.”
What if Jesus on the cross saw needy and broken people as we often do? Or, had the same attitude?
What if the disciples and apostles never changed their perspective and attitudes in light of the cross?
CHALLENGE TO A FULL ’COMMUNION’ WITH CHRIST
SACRIFICE AS HE SACRIFICED
