Gambling with the Cross
Luke 23:26-43
Good Friday Service
April 10, 1998
Introduction
I. Poem by George MacLeod
A. We have come to commemorate the crucifixion: We need to put this event into perspective, focus needs to be on content not cosmetics - we want to look good, focus on christ rather than ourselves
B. The poem
I simply argue that the cross be raised again
at the center of the market place
as well as the steeple of the church,
I am recovering the claim that
Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles
but on a cross between two thieves;
on a town gabage heap;
at a crossroad of politics so cosmopolitan that they had to write His title
in Hebrew and in latin and in Greek...
and at the kind of place where cynics talk smut,
and thives curse and soldiers gamble.
Because that is where He died, and that is what He died about
and that is where Christ’s followers ought to be,
and what church people ought to be about
C. Have we forgotten why Good Friday is so Good?: Churches often want celebrate Easter without Calvary, it is easy to put the suffering of Jesus out of our mind, we focus on the greatness of his teaching, the wonder of his miracles, the power of His resurrection but do we really look at His suffering, do we really observe the truth of Good Friday or are we gambling with the cross,
Body
I. The Game
A. Carrying the Cross
1. Jesus was no longer able to carry the cross: Jesus had suffered a terrible beating, he had gone through a Roman flogging, this alone would have been extreme punishment, a crown of Judean thorns were woven and pressed into His scalp, loss of blood and exhaustion, as he walked the way of sorrows - people would spit and hit the doomed individuals, Jesus was probably tripped and had fallen many times, now he was in a condition that he could no longer carry the weight of the cross
2. Simon of Cyrene: Simon was a foreinger, in from far away, traveled to celebrate the passover, many say - wrong place at the wrong time, he was forced to carry Jesus’ cross the rest of the way, a heavy burden to bear, the cross was covered with Jesus’ blood, Simon was covered too, Do we remebre the reason we were our crosses of gold or do we gamble with the cross
B. Weeping for Jesus
1. Women weeping and wailing: These people weeped for Jesus, symbolic of Jesus weeping as He entered Jerusalem, jewish people followed doomed criminals and weeped for their loved ones, Jesus had several crowds of people, those he had healed - blind men still walking with their canes, lame now walked alongside, women whom Jesus elevated to a place of importance were weeping
2. Jesus calls to them: Jesus calls to the people, not to weep for Him, weep for themselves, they had brought judgment on their nation, they would soon be destroyed by the Romans - scattered once again, Jesus called them to weep for their future and their children’s future, it would be one of intense suffering, Do we weep at the suffering of Jesus - what hurts Him should hurt us, are you gambling with the cross?
C. Gamble with the Cross
1. Jesus is crucified: Jesus finishes His journey to the hill of the skull, the soldiers laid the cross down, threw Jesus on top of it and nailed his hands and feet to the bare would with long spikes, they lifted the cross and dropped it into a hole in the ground, Jesus does not judge the soldiers - Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing, Jesus prayed for His executioners, He was hung between two theives, lowest of the low, do you take His forgiveness for granted? Are you gambling with the cross?
2. Roman soldiers gamble for His clothes: Roman custom was that the dying persons possessions were divided between the executioners, now as Jesus hung on the cross dying the soldiers cast lots for His clothes, they were gambling with the cross in sight, have you hardened you heart to the truth of God? Do you like to forget the sufferings of Jesus? Are you gambling with the cross?
II. The Mockery
A. Leaders mock His Divine Position
1. Religious leaders hurled insults: The leaders who should have seen who Jesus really was lost sight, they were now out for vengence to rid themselves of this rebel, they were not satisfied to publicaly humiliate Jesus but He had to die, as He was dying they were proud of themselves, they insulted Him with statement macking His power and divinity
2. Religious leaders who failed to see or believe: They were more interested in their given position than following God, they closed their eyes and hearts to the truth, they allowed themselves to reject the Son of God - thier pride caused them to fall, Are you more concerned with status than serving? are you making a mockery of the cross?
B. Soldiers mock His Political Position
1. Offered Him vinegar: The soldiers were being cruel, they offered water and wine to ease suffering, to Jesus they gave vinegar, a deep insult, heaping insult with injury, it wasn’t enough that he had been beaten, given a crown of thorns and hung to die on a cross - they had to insult and hurl darts of hate
2. Soldiers insult His position: The soldiers failed to see who Jesus was, they insulted His title King of the Jews, they failed to realize that he was their King as well, they called on him to save himself, He could have done just that - called out for angels to take him away, he stayed because he was saving humanity, Do we mock Jesus by our actions are we taking his suffering for granted?, are you mocking the cross?
C. Criminal mocks His Suffering Position
1. Criminal biting remarks: The first criminal sees this and responds, he attacks Jesus and who he was, the criminal forces his way into history, he screams at Jesus and calls for Jesus to save Himself - he also includes himself and the other thief,
2. Criminal’s selfish motive: The criminal was searching for a way out of the situation, he didn’t care if Jesus died, he was watching out for number one, he was more concerned with his own neck that he forgot about Jesus suffering, we often do the same, we want Jesus to save us but with no cost, we don’t want to surrender, it’s against human nature, are you being selfish with God? are you mocking the cross?
III. The Decision
A. The second criminal defends Jesus
1. The second thief rebukes the first: The second criminal calls the first into question, he asks about fearing God, a total lack of respect, when he should be begging for mercy he was throwing accusations
2. The second defends Jesus as being innocent: The second criminal states that they were guilty and justly punished, Jesus was innocent and did not deserve this punishment, Jesus was a victim,
B. He asks for favor
1. He realizes who Jesus is: in the process of dying the criminal saw who Jesus was, he had heard Jesus praying for the soldiers and forgiving them, he wanted what Jesus had, he wanted to be with Jesus,
2. The criminal makes a request: In the midst of this the criminal confessed Jesus as King, and asked to be in the Kingdom, he learned who Jesus was and wanted Him to be King,
C. Jesus grants the request
1. Jesus sees the genuine spirit: Jesus sees the transformation take place in this lost and dying man, there was a difference now,
2. Jesus grants the request: Jesus forgave the criminal in the last moments of life, he gave the criminal the key to heavens door, the sweetest words - today you will be with me in paradise, promise to the criminal and everyone, have you made the eternal decision - everyone wants to go to heaven but we must go God’s way - through Jesus
Conclusion
I. The criminal was set free by the cross
A. Story of Ontario prison:
1. Crosses were keys: Prisoners had made a series of decorative crosses, these crosses would also fit into the locks of the cells and unlock the prisons
2. Discovery of large prison break: Fortunately one guard discovered the plan and stopped the prison break just in time
B. We are no better than criminals: We can have freedom, we can have new life, the cross sets us free - it is the key to life
II. The rest of the story - Read Luke 23:44-49
