Scripture References
(Jn 19:16-30, Mtt 27:27-54, Mk 15:16-39, Lk 23:33-48)
Series Introduction
Continue our Easter series called Footprints.
We are following- footprints of Jesus as He journeyed to Jerusalem and the cross.
He left footprints in the sands of time- footprints that-
tell us- what kind of man Jesus was and the type of life that He lived,
also tell us what kind men we should be and the type of lives we should be living.
Challenge- what type of prints are we leaving behind?
foot prints, face prints, or butt prints?
As we walk in obedience to God, we leave clear footprints for others to see and even follow.
There are times we will stumble/fall- leave our face print in the sand, but Jesus is ready to pick us up.
At other times, as we struggle against the purposes of God, we leave butt prints as He drags us along.
Our Journey Continues
We started journey-Jesus entering- Upper Room.
He washed their feet/they ate- Passover meal together.
Last week- Jesus journeyed to- Garden of Gethsmane.
We saw- careless of men towards- purposes of God as the disciples slept while Jesus agonized in prayer.
Traditionally- today is known as Palm Sunday.
Palm Sunday- Christians celebrate Jesus entry into Jerusalem the week before his crucifixion/death.
Crowds greeted Jesus enthusiastically as they waved palm branches and welcomed Him as their King.
However, it was not long before the crowds lost their excitement about Jesus and turned against Him.
Last week- left Jesus in- Garden of Gethsemane just as the Judas/soldiers approached to arrest Him.
Stands in stark contrast to- reception Jesus received a week earlier as- welcomed Him w/palm branches.
They looked at Jesus as a King- throw off Roman rule
Soon learned- Jesus was there for a different reason.
Instead of coming to rule Israel as a King, He came to rule the hearts of men.
Jews- willing to receive Him as- political ruler but not as one who wanted to change them from-inside out
Even today, as Christians, we struggle w/same issue.
We are excited about Jesus blessing us outwardly with health, jobs, financial provision.
However, we struggle when He wants to change …
the way we think or act,
the affections of our heart,
our attitudes or the thoughts of our mind.
Bless me God, but do not mess with my personal life.
Golgotha and the Cross
>>Lk 23:33-37
Picture- as they are nailing Him to the cross, He is praying over and over again- Father forgive them.
They did not fully understand what they were doing, but they had /knowingly/willingly rejected Jesus.
Even though they did not fully understand …
Ignorance does not equal innocence.
There are areas where we have ignored/rejected- God.
We may not realize- full consequences of our actions, however, that does not make us innocent.
We will stand accountable before God for our actions.
What can we learn from Jesus prayer …
1. Pray for those who hurt you
Lk 6:27-28
27 "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. NASU
My prayer for others may or may not change them, but it always changes me.
2. Forgive those who hurt you
Col 3:13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. NLT
Jesus takes forgiveness even further …
Mtt 6:14-15
14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
3. Pray for others because Jesus is praying for you
Rom 8:34 Who then will condemn us? No one- for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. NLT
As Jesus prays for us, should we not pray for others?
>>Mtt 27:45-46
He cried out …
MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?
Have you ever wrestled w/the WHY question?
Is it my fault,
is this an attack of the enemy, or
is it the will of God.
1 Cor 13:9, 12
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
Nothing wrong w/asking why, but it must not be allowed to become a roadblock in our walk w/God.
Forsaken- deserted, abandoned
Noon- 3pm- supernatural darkness fell over the land.
During this time the Father turned His back on Him.
Why? Because Jesus took on and became our sin.
2 Cor 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. NASU
We exchanged our sin for His righteousness.
Habakkuk says this about God …
Hab 1:13 Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You cannot look on wickedness with favor. NASU
God is a Holy God and will not tolerate sin.
God is a just God and will (must) judge sin.
Rom 2:4-6
God satisfied His justice by allowing Jesus to die in our place- we must receive Christ.
>>Lk 23:39-43
All of mankind is one of those two thieves.
WE are one of those two thieves.
We deserve to die for our sins as they did.
We have a choice to make as they did.
Picture of a man being saved completely by grace.
Rom 3:24 But by the free gift of God’s grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free. GNT
Too often we put our trust in our goodness/badness …
as if being good gets us into heaven and
our failures keep us out.
>>Mtt 27:50-51
Veil- thick veil that separated the holy place from the holiest place, where the presence of God resided.
Only the high-priest could enter once a year with the blood of a lamb in his hands.
No access to God’s presence- w/o blood sacrifice.
Today- still true- sinful man cannot access God’s presence w/o a blood sacrifice.
Jesus provided the once for all sacrifice that opened access to God for all men who receive Him.
It does not matter how …
good a life you lived- will not open access to God for you,
bad a life- you lived or how big a failure you are, it will not close access to God for you.
It is only through the blood of Christ that you can enter God’s presence.
Heb 10:19-22
We can come boldly before God- why?
Because our confidence is not in our successes or our failures, but in what Jesus did on the cross.
>>Mtt 27:51-53
Even in His death, life was released.
Jn 12:24-25 (seed falls into ground- bears fruit)
Everything about God is creative and produces life.
By His words He spoke the world/life into existence.
His Word is just as alive today as it was then.
Speak God’s Word over your life, the life of others.
Trust in God, trust in His Words.
Abandon yourself to the truth of God’s Word.
Leave beyond doubt, unbelief, fear- anything that contradicts God’s Word for you.
>>Jn 19:28-30
It is finished- I have completed the work you called me to do, I have executed your plan for my life.
Jn 17:4
What must we do to be saved- it is finished- there is nothing you can do now but believe in Christ.
Jesus work- finished- but we have unfinished business
Ac 20:24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus- the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. NLT
I believe God is calling us to finish strong!
But we have this promise from God …
Phil 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. NASU
Footprints in the Sand
(Mary Stevenson, 1936)
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"
The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you."
Butt Prints in the Sand
Author Unknown
One night I had a wondrous dream,
One set of footprints there was seen,
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.
But then some stranger prints appeared...
And I asked the Lord, "What have we have here.
Those prints are large and round and neat.
But Lord, they are too big for feet."
"My child," He said in somber tones,
"For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait."
"You disobeyed, you would not grow,
The walk of faith you would not know...
So I got tired, I got fed up,
And there I dropped you on your butt."
"Because in life there comes a time
When one must fight, and one must climb,
When one must rise and take a stand,
Or leave their butt prints in the sand."
