Luke 23:27-31
Focusing on Jesus Carrying the Cross
Introduction
A. How many of you have been sick this winter
B. I had a feeling of that, just about everybody has had or does have some sort of cold
C. I don’t know how you respond when you are sick
D. But when I am sick I am not exactly the most energetic person
E. I force myself to concentrate on only what absolutely needs done
F. And I do what needs to be done and that is all
G. I tend to get everything done and basically crash the rest of the day
H. I do not like to deal with other people problems then and I admittedly become totally self centered,
I. I hate when I do that, but that is what happens
J. Now picture Jesus for a moment
K. Thought he did not have a cold he was going through a tough time
L. But today, we are going to look at the way Jesus did not become self centered and still reached out to us, Specifically we are going to look at three ways Christ Showed His Love For Us
I. Weeping out (27)
A. Explanation
1. WE have to remember what is going on here
2. In the other 3 accounts of the Christ’s sentence we have a receive a very graphic picture of what all Christ has been through
3. He has been beaten
a) The reason that He was beaten was because Pilate attempted to try and settle the argument by beating Christ
b) He figured that rather then putting him to death on the Cross that if he would beat Jesus then the Jews would go away and it would all be over
4. Obviously that was not enough for the Jews
5. So then after mocking spitting punching… Ect…
a) I don’t know about you but I get this idea of the Rodney King beatings that just did not seem fair
6. They make him carry his cross
7. I have never received a beating of 39 (why 39, 40 was considered beating to death) with a whip
8. I imagine though you would not have much strength left, the wounds from the lashes would still be open, blood would be flowing down your body, and I was in serious pain after my little finger incident on Christmas Eve.
9. But here Christ is walking to the place were He will hang on the Cross, because of the Jewish people who wanted to kill him
10. There are some who are weeping out loud thinking that this is not fair and Christ stops to talk them
B. Application
1. Let’s examine this and see what we can apply to our lives
2. Those women were Jewish
a) Women did not have equal rights there were (sorry women) basically viewed as second class women, lower them men
b) They were Jewish. The Jewish people have cause all this is the first place
c) But Christ did not show hate towards the Jewish people
d) There is not room for racism
e) The Jews obviously mistreated Christ
f) He was not upset with the entire Jewish race
g) We are not allowed to treat and entire religious belief, and entire race, and entire country, and entire people group wrong because of the actions of some.
h) WE are all people and people matter to God
i) Imagine if we lived in a world that looked at people for what they were and not who they were
j) Imagine
3. Christ had been beat, carrying a large cross, probably had not slept in a long time and notice people cried out to Him and He heard them
a) You would think He might have been preoccupied with everything that is going on
b) However, He took time to listen
c) Took time to respond
d) Took time to show His Compassion
e) God never is too busy, God hears our Pleas
f) God responds to our pleas
g) The God of all Comfort is there waiting for you to just open up and weep out loud and comfort you
h) Let Him Hear you
C. Illustration
1. Before service is a tough time for me. Making sure I have all my stuff together, make sure my wireless is working, making sure I have my notes, making sure everything is in place. It is usually pretty hectic. Often people will talk to me. I have to admit it is hard to concentrate because all that stuff going on. I am trying to do a better job at that but it is tough. Christ is always ready, never too busy, never to hectic.
2. Ready and wanting you to crawl up in His lap and listen to you and just comfort you
II. With out (28)
A. Explanation
1. Christ is all knowing
2. There is nothing that Christ does not know
3. Christ knew that he was headed to a better place
4. He knew dying on the Cross would actually be better
5. Dying in Christ mind was not the worse thing that could happen to Him
6. By dying on the Cross He knew that He would be with God in Heaven
7. Now Christ is interesting in that He lived a perfect life
8. Because of Christ Perfection He was able to offer us Salvation
9. He was able to offer us Eternal Joy
10. He provided a way to Heaven
B. Application
1. Let apply this to our lives
2. WE know that we all make mistakes, there is no one here who is perfect
3. In fact, if we are honest, we are all screwed up in one way or another
4. Therefore, by ourselves, we have not possible way to make it to heaven
5. WE needed someone to come and offer us a way to Heaven
6. Christ did that for us
7. Christ was willing to be a substitute for us
C. Illustration
1. Imagine if someone were to be found guilty of committing murder. At the sentence trial there was a completely innocent person who offered to take the place of the criminal. Imagine that would be amazing
2. That is what Christ did for Us
3. All we have to do is let Him do it and recognize Christ as Our Savior from the punishment we rightfully deserve because of our sins
III. Watch out (29-31)
A. Explanation
1. These verse are a little discouraging sometimes
2. WE first have to get this idea of Motherhood in our mind
3. I have seen it over and over again, you can do anything to a mother but mess with her kids
4. A mother love for her kids is an amazing display. It is the closest example of the Love of Christ that we have
5. But notice what Christ says
6. Christ be all knowing, knows that times will get bad
7. All mothers want the best for their kids, but there will be times ahead were is will be better not to have a kid
8. Look at Verse 30 (Read 30)
9. To have the cover us, think about it, that will lead to death
10. Christ does not exactly paint a pretty picture here does he?
B. Application
1. What does this mean for us?
2. Christ is talking about living without out Him
3. Have you ever thought about Life without Christ?
4. How could you make it though this life?
5. I can not imagine what that would be like
6. This world is not the easiest place to live
C. Illustration
1. Look at some of these prayer requests. (Read some of them)
2. Folks it is rough out there. I would not want to deal with life without Christ.
3. But Christ offers to be there with us
4. To be there in our struggle
5. You have an option, to live in this world as a loner, without hope, without true love, without a friend that will never leave you,
a) Or to go through life with a friend that will never leave, with true love, with hope, and always having some one there for you
6. Christ wants to join you in this journey we call life
7. Try to do it alone and watch out, you will begin to wish for mountains to fall on you and hills to cover you
8. We need Jesus.
9. Understand we are not guaranteed an easy life; look at Christ’s life. What we are guaranteed is that we will always have someone who will be there for us not matter what.
Conclusion
1. Jesus came to Earth for us, for me, for you, for your neighbor
2. He did this because He loves us
3. Because of this we have a Daddy to crawl up in His lap
4. Because of this we have a someone to Save us from Our Sin
5. Because of this we have a Friend who help us through this Life
6. I have never seen any other King, ruler, president, governor willing to all of that
7. Maybe you are in need to just weep out in Jesus Lap and have Him Comfort You
8. Maybe You need to finally be willing to let God be your Substitute for your all of your sins
9. Maybe you need to let Christ help you through this difficult World
10. If any of those are you, do something about it, talk to me about, come up to this alter, grab a friend and talk to them about it, I do not care what method you use as long as you do it
11. (Pray)
12. Close: Amazing Love
