THE REVELATION OF THE CROSS
LUKE 23:35-43
If you were to look at Rembrandt’s painting of The Three Crosses, your attention would be drawn first to the center cross on which Jesus died. Then as you would look at the crowd gathered around the foot of that cross, you’d be impressed by the various facial expressions and actions of the people involved in the awful crime of crucifying the Son of God. Finally, your eyes would drift to the edge of the painting and catch sight of another figure, almost hidden in the shadows. Art critics say this is a representation of Rembrandt himself, for he recognized that by his sins he helped nail Jesus to the cross.
As you look at the cross where Jesus died, many things will be revealed to you. The longer you and I study and meditate upon what the Bible says about the cross, the more God will reveal to us about the cross. I believe that a person could study about the cross all of their lives and still not even begin to uncover a small fraction of what the cross reveals about life, death and eternity.
This morning, I want us to look at cross where Jesus died. As we look at the cross, I want you to examine your own life as it relates to the things that are revealed in this passage of scripture.
TITLE: THE REVELATION OF THE CROSS
READ LUKE 23:35-43
Oswald Chambers once said: “All heaven is interested in the cross of Christ, all hell is terribly afraid of it, while men are the only beings who more or less ignore its meaning.”
This morning I pray that you will not ignore what God wants to reveal about the cross. 6 THINGS THAT THE CROSS REVEALED
I. IT REVEALED A CROWD OF DOUBTERS (VS 35-37)
As Jesus hung upon the cross there were many people on the ground looking up at Jesus that doubted who He was.
In these verses we see that the rulers doubted (vs 35), and we also see that the soldiers doubted who Jesus was (vs 36-37). They were saying, if You are who You say You are, come down from that cross.
The same thing happens today. People walk around the cross, read about the cross, hear preachers proclaim the cross, look at Jesus on the cross, but doubt that Jesus is the Savior of the world.
Many people today are just like those who walked around the cross while Jesus hung there. People want “PROOF” that Jesus is who He says He is.
They thought that Jesus would prove Himself if He came down off of the cross. I want to tell you this morning that Jesus proved who He was because He stayed on that cross! If Jesus would have removed Himself from that cross He would not have been the savior of the world!
If you are here this morning and you are in the doubting crowd, I want you to know that Jesus could have got down off the cross but He didn’t in order to shed His blood and die for your sin’s.
The reason they did not know who Jesus was is because of their unbelief. If you want to know who Jesus is, you must come to Him and believe that He is who He say’s He is! Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
If you come to Jesus, you must place ALL of your trust in Him alone to save you!
I. IT REVEALED A CROWD OF DOUBTERS
II. IT REVEALED A CORRECT DESCRIPTION (VS 38)
STORY
Em Griffin, in his book, The Mindchangers, tells a story: A group of white, middle-class New York City residents were presented with a picture of people on a subway. Two men were in the foreground. One was white, one was black. One wore a business suit, one was clothed in workman’s overalls. One was giving his money to the other who was threatening him with a knife. Now as a matter of fact it was the black man who wore the suit, and it was he who was being robbed by the white laborer. But such a picture didn’t square with the prejudices of the viewers. To them, white men were executives, black men were blue collar workers. Blacks were the robbers, whites the victims. And so they reported what their mind told them they saw--that a black laborer was assaulting a white businessman. As human beings who desperately desire our lives to be consistent and untroubled, we’ll go to great lengths to reject a message that implies we’re wrong.
Just as those middle-class New York residents refused to believe what was right in front of their eyes, those who walked around the cross did the same thing! The correct description of who Jesus was stared them in the face but they refused to believe!
Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Jesus was God in the flesh! Jesus was and is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!
The Bible records it, the cross reveals it, and eternity will reinforce that Jesus is the King!
THE CROSS
I. REVEALED A CROWD OF DOUBTERS
II. REVEALED A CORRECT DESCRIPTION
III. REVEALED A CRIMINALS DESPERATION (VS 39)
As you look at this verse you might put this criminal within the doubter category but I believe that this statement also showed his desperation.
The others in the crowd were crying out save yourself but this man cried out “save Yourself and us.” In other words, he was desperate to get down off the cross. He was in a situation that he could not get himself out of, so he called out to Jesus.
Many times people get into hopeless situations and they cry out to Jesus to save them but they do not really mean it because they are like this man. They want out of the situation they are in but they doubt Jesus is Lord!
If you are in a desperate situation, you must believe that Jesus is Lord and you must make Him Lord of your life for true salvation to occur.
IV. REVEALED A CRIMINALS DAMNATION (VS 40-41)
In these verses we see that the other criminal pointed out that they were receiving “the due reward of our deeds.”
What this man was saying is that what you do upon this earth will determine what happens to you. This is also how the spiritual realm operates. What you do upon this earth will determine where you spend eternity!
These men were not on their way to hell because they were thieves, they were on their way to hell because they rejected the Man in the middle, Jesus Christ.
Illustration: There can be one man that gets up every morning and faithfully goes to work and supports his family. He never even so much as gets a parking ticket in his life. On the other hand, there is a man that grows up and becomes a serial murderer. He is convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Both men die and both men go to hell! WHY? Because both of them rejected Jesus Christ.
Every person that is born upon the earth is born a sinner. Everyone is born on their way to hell. The only way to receive eternal life in heaven is to believe in Jesus, ask Him to forgive you of you sin and trust Jesus to save you. John 3:17-18 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
THE CROSS
I. REVEALED A CROWD OF DOUBTERS
II. REVEALED A CORRECT DESCRIPTION
III. REVEALED A CRIMINALS DESPERATION
IV. REVEALED A CRIMINALS DAMNATION
V. REVEALED A CRIMINALS DESIRE (VS 42)
This man who was hanging on a cross beside Jesus called out to Him and verbalized his desire. He was not like the other man in 2 different ways. (1) This man didn’t demand that Jesus get him down off the cross. (2) This man addressed Jesus as Lord instead of “if You are the Christ.”
This mans desire was that when he stood before Jesus in heaven that Jesus would remember him. The only way Jesus will remember you when you stand before Him in heaven is if you get to know Jesus while you are on the earth! The only way this can happen is if you come to Jesus, believe that He died on the cross for your sins, and then ask Him to forgive you of your sins, come into your life and save you.
Question: What is your desire today?
I. REVEALED A CROWD OF DOUBTERS
II. REVEALED A CORRECT DESCRIPTION
III. REVEALED A CRIMINALS DESPERATION
IV. REVEALED A CRIMINALS DAMNATION
V. REVEALED A CRIMINALS DESIRE
VI. REVEALED A CERTAIN DESTINATION (VS 43)
After this man called out to Jesus, Jesus assured this man of his final destination.
Some people ask; Preacher how do you know that after your death upon the earth that you will live forever in heaven? (READ LUKE 24:1-6a) The reason I know that my final destination is heaven is because Jesus rose from the dead! This is why we celebrate Easter! 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”
CONCLUSION: The cross reveals so many things. The most important thing that the cross reveals is our sin and our need for the Savior, Jesus Christ.
Do you know Jesus? Not know about Him!
If you died today, do you know for sure that you would go to heaven?
