THE CROSS MADE THE DIFFERENCE
Colossians 1:19-21
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: CALL FROM ALMIGHTY GOD
1. A pastor was working late on a Saturday night at the Almighty God Tabernacle. Around 10:00 PM he decided to call his wife before he left for home.
2. Although the pastor let the phone ring several times, his wife didn't answer. A few moments later he tried again and she answered right away. He asked her why she hadn't answered before, and she said that the phone didn't ring.
3. The following Monday, the pastor received a call at the church office. The caller wanted to know why the pastor had called him Saturday night. The pastor was confused.
4. The caller said, "It rang and rang, but I didn't answer." Then the pastor remembered the incident and apologized for disturbing him, explaining that he had intended to call his wife and must have dialed the wrong number.
5. The man said, "That's okay. Let me tell you my story. You see, I was planning to commit suicide that night, but before I did, I prayed, 'God if you're there, and you don't want me to do this, give me a sign now.’”
6. “At that point my phone started to ring. I looked at the Caller ID, and it said, 'Almighty God.' I was just too afraid to answer!"
B. TEXT
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled.
C. THESIS
1. Next week is Good Friday, the day we remember what Jesus did for us on the cross.
2. It’s because of the Grace of God that we are saved today. Heb. 9:22 Says “Without the shedding of blood there is NO REMISSION [from sin]!”
3. None of the world’s religions can save their adherents, because apart from the atonement by God’s chosen sacrifice there can be NO FORGIVENESS!
4. I want to touch on at least three people who were present during the trial & crucifixion who were profoundly influenced by Jesus. This message is entitled, “THE CROSS MADE THE DIFFERENCE”.
I. THE CROSS MADE THE DIFFERENCE FOR BARABBAS
A.FACTS ABOUT BARABBAS
1. Barabbas was a notable prisoner, (Matthew 27:16) the most famous criminal in custody.
2. Barabbas was called a murderer and he incited revolution against the Romans (Mark 15:7, Luke 23:19, Acts 3:14). Barabbas was also a robber (John 18:40).
3. When Barabbas woke up that morning, he was
a. supposed to be executed; last day to live.
b. brought to Pilate before a crowd; trick?
c. crowd chose him instead of Jesus!
d. He set free, Jesus to scourge & cross.
4. Jesus took HIS beating, HIS cross, HIS death. Barabbas should have died for his crimes, but didn’t.
B. NO LIFE WITHOUT DEATH
1. The only reason you are alive today is because something has died. Each time you eat, something has to die first.
2. We eat meats, & fruits & vegetables. So every time we eat, animals and plants have to die.
3. Every day that we live, we endorse the principle that life comes out of death.
4. Spiritually, the reason you can live is that Jesus died for you. There would be no life without His death! Thank God for the Cross!
II. THE CROSS MADE THE DIFFERENCE FOR THE DYING THIEF
A. REMARKABLE FAITH
1. In Luke 23:39-43, we find the conversation of the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus. Like Barabbas, they were guilty of crimes and deserved to die and to miss heaven.
2. But one thief defended Jesus and said to Him, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied “Truly I say unto you, today you shall be with Me in paradise.” (42-43)
3. This is one of the most remarkable events in the Bible. As nameless agony engulfed them as they were hoisted up on crosses, impaled to their deaths, one man focused and trusted in Christ for salvation.
B. WHERE DID HE GET HIS FAITH? He’d watched Jesus!
1. WHEN NAILS DRIVEN, He himself had struggled. It took the 3 strongest soldiers to hold him down. He had cursed and screamed in pain. BUT JESUS didn’t struggle. He had only prayed; "Father, Forgive them...." ‘Who is this Man?’
2. According to historians of that time, it was common for crucified persons to shout at and curse the onlookers in their pain. But though the mob and chief priests laughed and jeered, Jesus didn’t revile back, but bore the insults with quiet Majesty.
3. THE INSCRIPTION above Jesus’ cross read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." That was the thief’s little Bible.
4. The FACE OF JESUS. His eyes were like none that the thief had ever seen before. Eyes of sorrow, yet of love. Majesty and misery, suffering and sacredness: the Lamb of God!
5. Most of all, being in the PRESENCE of CHRIST, the thief felt he was in a church service; God was near!
C. PICTURE OF GOD’S GRACE
1. Christ was crucified between two thieves: in them were represented all the men/women who ever lived.
2. At the Cross of Jesus, all humanity is divided into 2 groups; those who trust Jesus and are saved, and those who reject Him and are lost.
3. If Jesus can take a thief straight from the jaws of hell and translate him to heaven, He can take you there too. Trust Him!
III. THE CROSS MADE THE DIFFERENCE FOR THE CENTURION
The first 3 Gospels all tell us how the Roman Officer – Centurion – overseeing Jesus’ crucifixion also expressed faith in Jesus, along with the other soldiers.
A. HARDNESS OF CENTURIONS
1. As appointed over 100 soldiers, this man was especially good at killing. He was good at what he did. He’d done many crucifixions before.
2. He’d probably supervised the terrible scourging of Jesus. He was a hard man.
3. This kind of work was his everyday job. Why would he care about one Jewish criminal?
B. REASONS FOR HIS CONFESSION
1. BIBLE RECORD, “Now when the centurion and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, ‘Truly this was the Son of God’” Mt. 27:54.
2. When these men saw the:
a. holy nature of Jesus;
b. His willingness to suffer;
c. Heard His gracious, forgiving words;
d. Saw the Sun darkened;
e. Saw how Jesus controlled the moment of His death;
f. Saw the storm unleashed and the felt the earthquake after He died, they became convinced all this was NOT COINCIDENCE, BUT EVIDENCE that Jesus WAS the Son of God!
C. THE CROSS MADE THE DIFFERENCE
1. Something happened to everyone who got close to Jesus!
2. They found themselves near:
a. A Power from beyond this world;
b. A Person who’s Majesty encompassed all time and space;
c. Near a heart-tearing Love which bid them humble themselves and surrender to grace.
3. Some did and some did not.
IV. THE CROSS MADE THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME AND YOU
A. LONG SHADOW OF THE CROSS
1. The Cross of Jesus made the difference in all of their lives.
a. Barabbas was impacted.
b. The dying thief was saved.
c. The Centurion and his men confessed that Jesus was the Son of God.
2. Have you and I been eclipsed by the Cross of Jesus? Has its great shadow been cast over us?
3. Have we seen the Glory of the Son of God and made our vows before God?
4. “So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. 2 For the message God delivered through angels…every violation…and every act of disobedience was punished. 3 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? 4 And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose” Heb. 2:1-4, NLT.
B. OUR REACTION
1. God tells us we can’t straddle the fence.
2. Jesus said that "No Man Can have 2 Masters." Mt 6:24.
3. God is a jealous God: "Thou shalt have no other Gods before Me."
4. “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” Jm. 4:4.
5. God says, "Choose... whom you will serve."
6. IT’S BEST TO TAKE A STAND!
a. During the Civil War, it is said that there was a man who was sympathetic to both sides. He lived in one of the borderline states. He couldn't decide whether to side with the North or the South.
b. So finally he settled on a compromise; he would wear the Confederate gray coat, and the Union blue trousers. All went well until he entered a battle.
c. During the battle, the Union shot him in the coat and the Confederates shot him in the trousers!
d. The moral of this highly improbable story: It's best not to compromise but to stand up and be counted!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: CHURCHILL’S SAVIOR 2X
1. A gathering of friends at an English estate nearly turned to tragedy when one of the children strayed into deep water.
2. The gardener’s son heard his cries for help & got the gardener, who plunged in, and rescued the drowning child. That youngster's name was Winston Churchill.
3. His grateful parents asked the gardener what they could do to reward him. He hesitated, then said, "I wish my son could go to college someday and become a doctor." "We'll see to it," Churchill's parents promised.
4. Years later, while Sir Winston was prime minister of England, he was stricken with pneumonia.
5. The country's best physician was summoned. His name was Dr. Alexander Fleming, the man who discovered and developed penicillin.
6. He was also the son of that gardener who had saved young Winston from drowning.
7. Later Churchill remarked, "Rarely has one man owed his life twice to the same person."
8. What a parallel to Jesus! Jesus both made us as our Creator and then died for us to purchase our salvation. We owe our lives to Him twice over! [Ron Hutchcraft, Wake Up Calls, Moody, 1990, p. 22]
B. THE CALL
1. The nail with the red cord that you have been given represents your sins. We’re going to pray.
2. After we finish, I want you to all come up and place the symbol of your sins into one of the holes on the Cross here.
3. By this you indicate that you are turning your sins over to Jesus and trusting in Him as your Savior. Also, you’re honoring His sacrifice on the Cross for you.
4. “THE CROSS MADE THE DIFFERENCE.”
5. Prayer & action.
