6 Steps to the Cross
“This is fixed for an Easter message but, the name could be changed to “6 steps to the Throne” and then preached for an any Sunday Message”
Text: John 19:17-19
Introduction:
Guy complaining to his makes the statement “ I am finding a different church next Christmas”
Wife looking puzzled asks “WHY?”
Husband responds “Because every time this church the preacher is either preaching on Jesus’ birth or His Death, don’t he know anymore sermons?”
On Christmas we talk about the great birth of our Savior. We tell of the 3 wise men followed a star and brought gifts and how the shepherds herd and seen a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God. We tell of how Jesus’ birth is so beneficial to us and how without it we would be lost.
All this is true and then on Easter we focus on the cross and/or the resurrection of Christ. We note the importance of His trip down that lonely road to Golgotha. We tell of how He triumphed over death hell and the grave.
But one thing we never mention
1. He Humbled Himself Matthew 3:15
a. For us to humble ourselves we must first submit ourselves to others
b. The Word says Heb 13:17 (KJV) Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
c. It is a hard thing to humble oneself. We take it as a surrender and that is exactly what it is. We surrender our will and ideas for someone else’s.
d. But Jesus did just that He submitted Himself to be baptized??? He had no need of baptism. He did it to show that he was also under the rule of His father, GOD.
2. Denied Flesh - Matthew 4:4
a. Immediately after Hi 40 day fast Jesus was tempted, and of course Satan knew how to tempt Him.
b. Never forget when Satan tempts you he does it at a most opportune moment. He doesn’t tempt you because its Tuesday the 22nd at 4:15 p.m.
c. Satan is more organized than that. I mean we preach that Satan is the father of all Lies and YES he is but we also preach that “How do you know that Satan is lying?” answer “When he has his mouth open.”
d. That part we do err in. For the Bible says that he can appear as Angel of Light. And if in doing so he can also tell you things that are true to persuade you in a specific way.
e. However, the difference is this, it would be more exact to say that every time he has his mouth open he is using what he says to drag you to hell whether it is a lie or the truth
f. So with that said we look back now to the temptation. He tempts at an opportune time. He lays in wait in effect.
g. So with that said we look back at the temptation.
h. What would have been wrong with Jesus to command the stone to be made bread? Nothing, other than the fact he had a battle to win and winning it meant that he could not do what Satan was trying to command Him to do.
i. Satan knew He would be hungry but Jesus denied the flesh once again and triumphed over SATAN.
3. Denied the Temptation of Boasting - Matthew 4:7
a. I have heard it said that Satan was naïve to the fact that Jesus was born to save others.
b. That is as wrong as it can be. Satan knew that Jesus came to be the second Adam. And he was using the same tactics on Him as he did on Adam. TEMPTATIONS
c. He came to Jesus and told Him to cast himself off of the cliff and let the Angels, as it is written, to bear you up lest you cast your foot against a stone. He used the age-old tactic of self-abasement.
d. Notice that Jesus did not say “Don’t tell me I can’t” “Don’t tell me I am not the Son of God.”
e. He simply said “It is written”
f. The flesh would have us rise up and try to defend our stature. But Jesus denied that fleshy attitude.
4. Denied selfish gain - Matthew 4:10
1 Tim 6:10 (KJV) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
a. Jesus was tempted just as we are tempted He was tempted to get all the world and keep it for Himself. A temptation that some of us would find it hard to resist.
b. Some have said that “Well it was not Satan’s to give”
c. My answer is yes it was Adam gave it to Satan it was his. Furthermore, if it was not Satan’ then why did Jesus just say “ITS NOT YOURS TO GIVE?”
d. Because it was his to give.
e. Selfish gain says give it to me give it to me
Mat 4:10 (KJV) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
5. Preached repentance - Matthew 4:17
a. When this was all said and done then Jesus had triumphed over the things in which we must face right?
b. Right, but it says in verse 17 “From that time… Jesus began to preach and say the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
c. He WON but he did not keep His winnings to Himself
d. He was victorious but He let others share in the Glory of the victory and to share the prize with which He won.
e. He never held back the truth even when it hurt others, cause He knew that the truth was what they needed not the sugar coating. They needed a way out of the mess they were in. The needed God and He, “Jesus” was the only way to God.
f. He preach Repent for what you are doing is Sin.
g. Not Well that may be ok or this may be ok. Lets just wait and see.
h. He preached the hard cold facts of Life.
i. How can the words spoken some 2000, 3000 even 5 or 6000 years ago help us today?
j. Because GODS word is ALIVE. JEUS MADE SURE OF THAT.
6. Discipled others - Matthew 4:19
a. Jesus came to came to help others, He came to preach repentance but He also came to equip others.
b. What do we do to equip others? Sometimes we think because of flesh I am not telling this one or that one how to do something cause they might try to take my job or something.
c. We wonder if and when we share “a secret” then we are setting ourselves up for a fall.
d. That is exactly the opposite approach that Jesus took one of the first few things He, after he got the equipment for God at baptism and the strength of the fast He gathered others to himself to teach them the mysteries of God.
e. He took them under His wing and taught them everything He knew, to a point of course.
f. He held nothing back he loved them when they needed love and rebuked them when the needed rebuked.
g. He taught them values that still stand today and we still live by in our time 2000 years later.
h. He was the greater then the great Smith Wigglesworth who done such great things He was greater than Charles Spurgeon He was greater then John the Baptist He was greater than Paul He was the greatest.
i. And still is the greatest Leader to have ever walked the Earth.
Conclusion:
We often focus on His birth and His death yes they are very important but His life is a model for us. We can’t be born like him and we can’t die like Him but we sure can live like Him
