If you were to Google the phrase: “The day that changed the world” what do you think would come up?
Here’s a few book titles with the that contains the phrase “Changed the world “in their title. Here are a few examples:
a) Gunpowder: The History of the Explosive that Changed the World.
b) Cod: The Biography of the fish that changed the World.
c) The Model T: The car that changed the world
d) The Pill: The Biography of the drug that changed the world
e) The Twist: The story of the song and dance that changed the world
f) Mauve: How One man invented a color that changed the world.
I’m sure that things like, Cod, the Pill, the Twist, and the color Mauve might have an important place in our society as a whole, that the idea that these things “changed the world” just might be slightly exaggerated a little bit. (You think?)
But, in history, there was definitely one event that deserves this title. This event took place one Friday afternoon, outside the walls of Jerusalem, on a criminal cross, as Jesus Christ hung on the cross.
Explanation:
Commenting on the cross, Calvin Miller said: “No one can turn in any direction without seeing a cross on a hill, a church, or on a piece of jewelry.”
While many symbols have been used to illustrate and communicate the meaning of Christianity such as; “ a dove”, “a flame of fire”, or even “bread and a cup”--- yet the cross still stands as the single most recognizable symbols of our faith.
Yet, the cross is more than a religious symbol; it is the ultimate sacrifice once for all; to bring us to God.
R Kent Hughes calls us to the cross saying: “It is easy to discuss the cross of Christ in a disinterested way... to think about it... and then forget about it. The trouble is that we are desensitized by daily scenes of real violence... bloodshed and murder no longer has the power to move us. So also, the death of Christ on the Cross has become so much of our religious upbringing that we really don’t notice.”
Today, we’re going to the cross and take notice. We we’re going to hear what Jesus said about the cross as He foretold His death. In His words of we understand why Calvary was so necessary.
From Jesus’ lips, what does He tell us that that cross does for you and me?
Transitional Sentence: The cross:
I. Gives Me Confidence About the Future
vs. 31- “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”
Explanation:
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were mesmerized with the cross. This is proven by:
a) 10% of each gospel speaks about the death of Jesus.
b) 1/3 of each gospel communicates the last week of His life.
c) 2 our of 4 of these gospels mention the birth of Jesus; but all of them speak about the death of Jesus.
d) Only 1 miracle is mentioned in all four gospels; but all four speak about His death.
The death of Jesus on the cross was necessary for the gospel to be “the good news” because without the cross; according to verse 31, “Satan would still be the ruler of this world.”
Read verse 31 with me. What does it say? “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”
Do you know what Jesus is confirming here? First, He is confirming that the devil is real. When Jesus identifies him here he calls him: “The ruler of the world.”
In verse 31 Jesus tells us that when He showed up in Bethlehem’s stable, He invaded the devil’s turf. He seems to tell us that this world is not a playground; it is a battle ground. This world contains an evil empire with one objective: To kill, steal, and destroy.
Yet, the cross disrupted the devils plan.
In verse 31, Jesus describes His ministry in militant terms where Jesus says that the cross was engineered and designed to surmount an attack on Satan and ultimately cast him out.
Hear again Jesus’ words. He says: “Now judgment is upon the world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” Vs. 31
To understand what Jesus is saying here; we have to dig deeper into the linguistic tools. Let me explain:
a) The phrase “cast out” (ekballo) means: “to drive out or bring expulsion.”
b) Likewise, the phrase “cast out” is in Future Passive Indicative mood which means: “Jesus did something in the past that assures completion in the future.
In other words, the cross 2000 years ago, sealed Satan’s fate, and set in stone a prophetic fact that is unchangeable.
It assures us that we will not have to put up with Satan forever; the death of Jesus provided the death blow Satan’s Kingdom.
I like what Vance Havner said. He said: “Read the Bible! There’s no devil in the first two chapters of the Bible and in the last two chapters of the Bible there’s no devil there either! When the Bible closes Satan is out of business!”
Praise the Lord! Hallelujah for the cross!
Illustration: Surrounded by Turkey’s
The town of Ocean Breeze on Staten Island is being terrorized by marauding flocks of wild turkeys. The problem all started about a decade ago when a local resident “released” her ten pet turkeys into the neighborhood. They now number in excess of a hundred. Routinely tying up traffic as they stroll in the streets, the turkeys leave a trail of excrement in their wake, and often intimidate the locals with their aggressive behavior.
Seniors are afraid to wonder into their yards and even the young have found themselves fearful, with one woman having recently been trapped in her car by the forceful foul. "It was straight out of 'Cujo,'" said dental assistant Gina Guaragno, 23. "I'm sitting in my car Facebooking on my phone when turkeys jumped on my windshield. I screamed like I was being murdered. They just kept looking at me like it was their car. I felt trapped. I was so scared."
For now, a garden hose remains one’s best defense against the imposing birds, since city law protects wild turkeys from “hunting” or “harvesting.” City Councilman James Oddo asks, "How are people supposed to have faith that their government can deal with problems like terrorism when we can't even deal with turkeys?"
Application:
Do you ever feel like you we are surrounded by a Satan’s turkey’s? I know I do. Sometimes the demonic attacks of temptation, or the trials of our faith taxes out faith.
We sometimes wonder, “God how long?” This world seems to be spinning out of control and Jesus knew that there would be times when it would appear that Satan is winning the battle.
Yet, God’s Word gives us confidence that because of the cross, we know the Book of Revelation is coming. As the Bible says: “Weeping may tarry for the night by joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5
Yet, we are reminded that we fight from the position of victory; we fight from victory, not for victory. Basically that means: “God’s got this. We can trust Him. He wants the background of every struggle we have to be a vision of the cross.
When Jesus died on the cross, He put Satan was condemned and only a matter of time until his sentence is carried out. Because of the cross, we know, we are on the winning team.
Transitional Sentence: The cross:
II. Gives Me A Life Impacting Assignment
vs. 23-26- “But Jesus answered them by saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 The one who loves his [a]life loses it, and the one who hates his ]life in this world will keep it [c]to eternal life. 26 If anyone [d]serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone [e]serves Me, the Father will honor him.”
Explanation:
The cross of Jesus not only impacts and changes your tomorrow eternity; but it impacts and changes your today and the impact of your life.
Simply stated: When Jesus gave up His life; He empowered yours!
In this well-known passage, the Greeks came to meet Jesus for the first time. Interesting enough, Jesus immediately spoke to them about His death.
In verse 24 He describes Himself as being like a grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies. He says that He is like “that seed” that is buried in the ground. Yet, he promises that the seed will reappear and bring forth “much fruit.”
Jesus seems to be saying that something significant will happen because of His death. His death will bring new life and a whole lot of it!
Jesus speaks about His life purpose here. He is saying that He was born to die; yet he will be raised so that many will be born again.
Yet, do you know why? Not only that we might glorify him in heaven forever; but so that we might glorify Him here on earth!
Notice something with me will you? Jesus tells us in verse 28 why He came. He said it to His Father. He said: “Father, glorify your name.”
Write this down: Jesus lived for the purpose of glorifying God. I do too!
What does it mean to “glorify” God? To means simply: To bring honor and worship to your Creator.
Listen: God created you for a reason. God created you and gave you special gifts, abilities, a unique personality, and life experiences that gives you a unique way to bring praise to God through how God shaped you.
The Bible says that like clay, we are shaped for a purpose. Romans 9:20 says: “My friend, I ask, Who do you think you are to question God? Does the clay have the right to ask the potter why he shaped it the way he did?”
When God took on the form of the human; Jesus Christ, He was shaped to be slain,
Revelation 5: 9-10 says: “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals; for you were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood...”
You have been given a life impacting assignment to introduce people to Jesus in the specific and unique way that only you can! This would have never happened without the cross! The cross!
Illustration: Some things we were born to do
I’m not sure if you read about the Border Collie named Tilley that was involved in a car accident in 2018.
Here’s the news story as it was initially written:
The Idaho State Police (ISP) is investigating after a crash blocked SH-41 and Hayden Avenue on Sunday afternoon.
ISP said they are looking for people who witnessed the incident.
The crash happened when a GMC Yukon towing a white horse trailer attempted to turn south onto SH-41 when a Buick struck the GMC.
The driver of the Buick, a man from Spirit Lake, was transported to a nearby hospital and was treated and released. No one else was injured.
During the crash, a dog was ejected from the rear of the GMC and is still missing.
ISP said the dog is a 2-year-old Border Collie Heeler mix that goes by the name "Tilly". Tilly has no tail, a dark-colored face, weighs approximately 70 pounds, and was wearing a multi-colored plaid and tan-colored collar with a name tag containing the owner's contact information.
Tilly was last seen running northwest from the crash scene through the field.
UPDATE:
Did you know that Tilley was actually recovered? Do you know what he was doing? He here is the follow up story:
“Tilly, the 2-year-old Border Collie who was ejected from a car Sunday during a crash, has been found. He was found on a sheep farm, where he had apparently taken up the role of sheep herder. Some things we were just born to do.”
Application:
I like that final “newsflash” don’t you? Some things were just born to do.
Here’s how your life works:
a) Jesus was born to die for you.
b) You were born to live for Jesus.
In verse 27 the tone of the conversation with the Greeks changed as Jesus said: “My soul has become troubled, and what shall I say, “Father save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose, I cam to this hour.”
The cross and your life are what I call, a glorious divine merging. The reason why is because a fulfilling passionate life comes from the inside out.
Through Jesus’ death, God made it possible for His presence to live inside you.
The Bible puts it this way: “Christ lives in earthen vessels as a precious treasure, revealing the glory of God to us from within.” 2 Corinthians 4: 6-7.
Based upon the cross Jesus invites us in verse 24-25 to die to our old life and receive the new life found at the cross. He says:
“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to left eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there my servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”
How many of your know that life is not just about living and existing; it is not about getting more; that’s the big delusion. We want more out of our jobs, more out of our friends, more out of our families; while these cannot ever satisfy the hunger in our heart.
The reality is; Jesus is the more that we are looking for in life and we are an extension of His life and ministry when He takes His proper place in our life. This is why Paul said: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
When we come to the cross and embrace the open arms of Jesus, we not only discover the glory of His Passion; but the glory of having Him as the passion and purpose in our life.
Listen: In the cross we receive a life impacting assignment that allows us to experience the living Lord working through our hands and feet to bring God’s glory to others in our world.
Transitional Sentence: The cross:
III. Draws Me to Jesus Daily
vs. 32- “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”
Explanation:
In the cross, Jesus promised something that would happen world-wide that would be fact despite the separation of times, generations, oceans, and religious belief. His promise is simply this:
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” Vs. 32
He was saying this: The cross will be magnetic.
Illustration: Magnets
Magnets are intriguing to me because while they look like an ordinary piece of metal; there’s something unique about them. Inside them is magnetism.
All of know about magnets, yet what if you did not know about them? What if you were unaware of the power of magnets. What would you think? Would you believe in the power of the magnet if you had not seen it firsthand?
Application:
I want you to know that provide “first-hand” evidence of the power of the cross.
If you study Christian history, many evil men, tyrants, and godless individuals have attempted to impale the body of Christ. Many have tried to stamp out Christianity. Yet, the reality is: The power of the magnetism of the cross cannot be crushed.
The Church is alive and living because of its message: The message of the Cross!
Did you know that when Mel Gibson created the movie called: “The Passion of the Christ” that it was the number #1 attended movie in Lebanon, Turkey, and Egypt?” Every one of these countries are Muslim countries!
As a matter of fact, it still stands as the most attended movie ever in Egypt!
Yet, there is power in the cross isn’t there? Jesus knew if He would be “lifted up from the earth that he would draw (magnetize) all men unto Himself, regardless of geography or theology. Jesus and the cross make up an unstoppable gospel.
That same cross draws us daily to Jesus. Do you know why you’re here today? The cross
Do you know why you’ve tuned in today on-line? The cross!
What was seen as an ugly instrument of 1st Century Roman torture, created by the people of Carthage as the most excruciating forms of torture and death; is attractive to you and me.
Do you know why? Because of the one that hung on it. He embraced it for you and me; and when He did; the power of the Godhead above was released to you and me below; and it captures us, and when it does, we’re never the same again.
Invitation:
Today, I invite you to come to the cross; but not only the cross, but to the one who embraced it.
If you want Jesus, you must come to the cross. Without Jesus; the cross without Jesus would be an empty shell of religion; but if you embrace that sacrificed Jesus as your Savior today; the cross will transform your life forever.
So how about it? Will you embrace Jesus who embraced the cross for you? If you do, He will embrace you as His own, from now until eternity.
