“THE CROSS” Luke 23:26-43
FBCF – 3/24/24
Jon Daniels
INTRO – Most of you know that Thu is my main study day each week. Get out of office & go to one my favorite coffee shops & pound out the sermon for the upcoming Sunday. One of my favorite spots is Barnes & Noble.
This week, walked past magazine racks. Hundreds of magazines on nearly any subject imaginable. Categories: Entertainment, Current events, Science and nature, Business, History, Women’s interest, Regional & travel, Kids, Home & garden, Puzzles & games, Crafts & hobbies, Men’s interest, Literary, Art, Technology, Music, Health, Food & wine, Sports, Transportation.
Nestled right in middle of all of these was this one (show pic) – SIMPLY JESUS – Right in the middle of all of these magazines that represent a multitude of interests, lifestyles, opinions, & activities – Right in the middle of it all was the CROSS.
- Surrounded by stories of people w/ perfect smiles & perfect abs
- Surrounded by information about fancy cars & expensive boats
- Surrounded by planning guides for dream vacations & recipes for mouth-watering desserts
- Surrounded by articles about taking that trophy buck & reeling in that lunker of a bass
- Even surrounded by magazines that promote immorality w/ images that lead to life-destroying addictions
In the middle of it all was the CROSS.
That magazine was probably just randomly placed there by a bookstore employee or a customer. But the message of the cross is anything but a random message. It truly is THE message that speaks to anyone anywhere at any time, no matter what they are pursuing, how they are living, or where they are going.
Today, we look to the cross.
EXPLANATION – Luke 23:26-43
APPLICATION – The message of the cross is the message that we all must hear & respond to.
Line in song, “In Christ Alone”: “’Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied. For every sin on Him was laid; Here in the death of Christ I live, I live.”
On that cross…
HE DIED SO THAT WE COULD BE FREE!
Paul wrote in Galatians 5:1 – “So Christ has set us truly free.” TRULY free! TOTALLY free! TREMENDOUSLY free! Free from what?
Free from Satan’s dominion – Before you come to Christ, you are a child of the devil. Might think, “That’s harsh, Jon!”
- But Jesus told the Jews who rejected Him that Satan was their father (John 8:44).
- 1 John 3:10 talks about children of God & children of the devil. Only 2 categories & you’re one or the other.
- It’s clear from Scripture that, before you come to know Christ, you are living for & controlled by Satan. “Well, I’m a good person.” And so were the Jews who rejected Jesus & had Him crucified.
- And the reason He died was to destroy the works of Satan & set us from his dominion over our lives!
Free from sin’s destruction – John 10:10 – Satan wants to “steal, kill, & destroy” you. And that’s what he’s doing everywhere every moment of every day!
- But listen to 1 John 3:8 – “The reason [Jesus] appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
- Satan wants to steal b/c he’s a thief, but Jesus’ death on the cross snatched away his ability to do that in our lives as Christ-followers.
- Satan wants to kill b/c he’s a murderer, but Jesus’ death on the cross crushed that power to do that in our lives.
- Satan wants to destroy b/c Revelation 9:11 says one of his names is Apollyon – “destroyer – but Jesus’ death on the cross decimated his opportunities to do that in our lives.
Free from spiritual death – Romans 6:23 – “The wages of sin is death” – Spiritual death – Being forever separated from God.
- John 11:25-26 - “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die”
HE DIED SO THAT WE COULD BE FORGIVEN!
Hebrews 9:22 – “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”
“If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.”
HE DIED SO THAT WE COULD BE FOREVER SAVED!
Thief on the cross – “TODAY, you will be w/ me in paradise.” And when Jesus died a few minutes later, He purchased salvation for that thief & that thief was forever saved.
What if today is your last day? The thief knew it was his last day. He knew that he would soon be dead. He knew that His only hope was to cry out to the Savior who was hanging on a cross right next to him.
But what if today is YOUR last day? Do YOU need to cry out to the Savior today so YOU can be forever saved? Do it NOW!
CONCLUSION – Pocket cross – father-in-law carried them all the time. Small. Doesn’t look too impressive.
But today, I hold it up right here in the middle of this service & in the middle of our lives & invite you to come to the cross today.
- Come & let Jesus set you free!
- Come & let Jesus completely forgive you!
- Come & let Jesus save you forever today!
