INTRODUCTION
When we look at a cross today what do we think about? What is the first thing that comes to mind when you see a cross?
What do we think when we see a person wearing a cross around their neck or in their ear lobes?
Does the cross stand for something to us today? When we read that Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily and follow Him, do we take that to mean that He meant for us to wear necklaces and earrings? Did He mean that we were to put them on our churches or did it mean something deeper than that?
Every state in the U.S.A. has a state flower and a state tree as symbols. Some also have a state fish, a state stone, even a state insect. Massachusetts has nineteen such symbols. Christianity has only one, the cross.
The cross, comprised of wooden timbers and iron spikes, was the primary means of execution in the first century. It was first used by the Phoenicians and later adopted by the Romans. The cross was a grim instrument of death, and the torture of it can only be described as agony. Because the Jews of the first century lived under Roman rule, criminals declared guilty of capital crimes were crucified.
What does the cross symbolize?
SERMON
I. THE CROSS SYMBOLIZES REJECTION
Read John 18:40-19:6
LUKE 9:22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day."
LUKE17: 25 "But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
LUKE 20:17 But Jesus looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: ’The stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief corner stone’?
Whenever a person was about to face execution on a cross it meant the society was rejecting them, that all hope had been lost for the person.
LUKE 6:22-23 "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. "Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.
Jesus told us that if we were going to follow Him, we must take up our cross daily and follow Him. Jesus knew that the cross was going to be tough, but He took it up anyway.
This means that we will suffer rejection from people at times. Jesus said in Matthew 10:22 "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
JOHN 1:11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
The cross symbolizes rejection by man.
There is a paradox here. The cross symbolized rejection by man, but acceptance by God.
II. THE CROSS SYMBOLIZES SUFFERING AND HUMILIATION
Cicero stated concerning the cross the following: Even the mere word, cross, must remain far not only from the lips of the citizens of Rome, but also from their thoughts, their eyes, their ears.
READ John 19:16-22. Point out Jesus bearing His own cross.
Death on a cross is said to be one of the most excruciating deaths imaginable.
The cross was reserved for criminals. For robbery and murder, Roman slaves were stripped naked and crucified. The sinless Son of God received the same shameful treatment.
HEBREWS 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus was beaten with an instrument that was made of a wooden handle with long strips of leather attached to it that had bits of bone and metal sewn into the tips. This would literally tear the flesh off of the bone when it struck. The usually punishment was 39 lashes with this. The person wielding this knew how to torture the person without killing them.
Sometimes when we take up our cross, we will also suffer. Paul said that he gladly suffered the loss of all for the cause of Christ.
There is also a paradox here. Jesus asked what benefit it is for us to gain the whole world, yet lose our soul? Jesus tells us that even if we suffered for His namesake, there is a reward and a crown of glory waiting for us! Paul knew that what He lost was garbage compared to knowing Jesus as His Lord! (Philippians 3:8)
III. THE CROSS SYMBOLIZES DEATH
Today when we wear a cross, it is for decoration. During Jesus day, if you wore a cross, it was a death sentence.
When we wear a cross, we wear it around our neck or in our ear lobe, Jesus wore His cross on His back.
Jesus died a voluntary death. JOHN 10:11 "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
Jesus could have gotten off of the cross whenever He wanted to.
Jesus died a substitutionary death. Jesus died for the sins of the world. 1PE 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
Jesus died a necessary death. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death. Hebrews 9:22 tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.
There is a paradox here also. The cross symbolized death, but for the person who belongs to Jesus, the way of the cross leads to life.
Romans 6 tells us that when we are immersed into Christ, that our old self was crucified with Christ. The old self dies. We are a new creation (2 Cor 5:17)
IV. THE CROSS SYMBOLIZES LOVE
What held Jesus on the cross? Was it the nails? No, it was love!
JOHN 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
Billy Graham said, God proved his love on the cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died it was God saying to the world-I love you.
ROMANS 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Even to the end Jesus was thinking of other people. READ JOHN 19:25-27.
The cross symbolizes God’s love for us. JOHN 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
The love that God has for us is an unconditional, undeserved love that you cannot earn or buy!
Jesus has paid the price for you. The cross symbolizes God’s love for you. Will you let God love you?
V. THE CROSS SYMBOLIZES VICTORY
The day that Jesus hung on that cross, the devil must have thought he won a victory.
Satan thought that he beat God, the son was dead! Mankind was forever lost!
READ 1 CORINTHIANS 15:22-26, 55-57
Death has been defeated through Jesus!
The cross symbolizes victory. At the time it looked like Satan won, Jesus defeated death. Romans 6 teaches us that through Jesus, we too can have life
CONCLUSION
READ JOHN 19:28-30
Jesus said it is finished! What is? The plan of salvation is completed. Jesus has done all He can to save you. If you are waiting for something else to happen, it will not.
Jesus said it is finished! The statement Jesus used is a statement that was used by shepherds and priests when they found the perfect lamb to sacrifice. The statement meant that the price was paid in full.
There is a story about a general under the emperor Cyrus. While he was away, his wife was accused of treason and sentenced to die. The general returned before the sentence was carried out. He pleaded with Cyrus to let him die in his wife’s place. Cyrus was touched. "Love like that must not be spoiled by death," Cyrus said. He pardoned the wife. And as they left the palace, the husband said, "Did you notice how kindly the king looked at us when he gave you a free pardon?" She said, "No. I had no eyes for the king. I saw only the man who was willing to die for me."
Jesus died for you. The gift of eternal life has been placed before you. What are you going to do with it?
The cross symbolized many things, but to us it symbolizes God love for us and victory!
Jesus surrendered all for you, will you surrender all for Him?
