A. We want to Welcome all of you to the Lewes Church of Christ. What a special day and a special time!
B. Series: For the last month, I’ve been preaching a sermon series that has been inspired by Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Now, I’m not much of a movie goer, but I got the privilege of seeing this movie on opening day, the first showing. Promptly at 1:20 p.m., the first screen read, “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities...By his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5-6; 714BC.” And then for two hours and six minutes, I was there! I not only saw the movie, I experienced the Life of Christ– from the garden, through the betrayal, the arrest, the scourging, the cross, the surrender, the empty tomb– it’s not a movie. It’s an encounter. It was powerful. And I was so glad I didn’t get any popcorn, because it would have still been in the bag.
C. I walked out of the theater totally speechless. I mumbled “good-bye” to my companions and went and set in my car. For the next three hours, my mind was totally captivated by the Gospel of Jesus like never before. If you would have told me a year ago that the star of Lethal Weapon would have every one talking about Jesus– there is no way I would have believed it.
D. In this series, I wanted to discuss some of the themes that were stirred in my heart as I watched this movie. Three weeks ago we looked at Christ’s Passion against the Evil One. Two weeks ago we looked at Christ’s Passion for the Father. Last week we saw Christ’s Passion for People. Today, I want us to look at a theme that the Apostle Paul so eloquently describes in his letter to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 55b-58... “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...... “Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
E. Today, I want us to focus on Christ’s Passion for Victory!
F. This past week, both the men and women from UCONN won the NCAA National Championship. And that is such a great victory, but even that pales in comparison the Ultimate Victory found in Jesus Christ.
G. Mel Gibson addressed 5,000 church leaders in Chicago after a preliminary screening of The Passion of the Christ, “It will probably be savaged by critics. But I’ve had my career, and I’m bored with it. I created a secular utopia for myself in Hollywood, but it was empty. There are more important things. Civilization was changed forever by Christ. Whether you believe it or not, his death will affect you!” Well, Gibson is right. The death of Jesus Christ will affect you– I just pray you’ll allow it to bring Victory!
H. Judgment? I wonder if in this movie, God isn’t making a pretty dramatic effort to reach out to the lost before a final judgment. When the world became so wicked in Noah’s day that he said, “I am going to wipe it clean with a flood.” Before that judgment came, God sent a warning through the preaching of Noah and by the theatrical building of the ark. They couldn’t miss it. When Sodom and Gomorrah became so wicked that God said he was going to destroy it with fire and brimstone, he sent a dramatic warning via those angels who went and told them they were there to destroy the city. When Ninevah became so wicked that God said that it was a stench to my nostrils, I’m going to destroy it. He sent Jonah in a very dramatic way, having been in the belly of a great fish for three days. Jonah preached that if they didn’t repent they would be destroyed and they believed him and repented.
God has in the past found some pretty unique ways to warn and plead before judgment falls. And if America, who has been so blessed by God, continues to scoff at the Bible, degrade marriage, kill the unborn, exploit the poor, eat, drink and drug its way into mindlessness, eventually judgement will come because God is not mocked. But it seems to me that this may be a very dramatic way to warn us to bring us back to himself before it is too late.
After my first viewing of this film, I left thinking, “Wow, the gospel story of Jesus will surge world-wide!” And then I thought, “Woe! The gospel story of Jesus Christ will surge world-wide. I wonder if judgment isn’t near!” I’m praying for a massive turning to God in repentance. Today I want to share 2 thoughts.
I. Ultimate Victory is only through Jesus!
A. “Thanks be to God! He gives us Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”– 1 Corinthians 15:57
B. There were four scenes in Mel Gibson’s film that very clearly pointed to Christ’s Passion for Victory!
1. Foot stomp: One of the most powerful scenes came at the beginning of the movie where Jesus is laying prostrate in the Garden pouring out his soul to the Father and pleading with him for Help. Satan, who is also there sends a poisonous snake Christ’s way in order to kill him. Jesus, acting as if nothing is happening, rises to his feet and (stomp) stomps the head of the snake– which foreshadowed exactly what Jesus would do in his death, burial and resurrection! And that fulfilled what Genesis 3:15 records when God said to Satan, “He will crush your head and you will strike his heal.”
2. “It is accomplished”: Then remember from the cross, Jesus speaks some of his last words, “It is accomplished!” You have to ask, “What was accomplished?” His mission, His purpose was accomplished. And “Victory” was achieved! He died for our sin! (Here is a letter written to a local advice column along with the response.. Dear Eutychus: Our preacher said on Easter, that Jesus just swooned on the cross and that the disciples nursed him back to health. What do you think? Sincerely, Bewildered..........Dear Bewildered: Beat your preacher with a cat-of-nine tails with 39 heavy strokes, nail him to a cross, hang him in the sun for 6 hours, embalm him, put him in an airless tomb for 36 hours, and see what happens. Sincerely, Eutychus) Make no mistake. Jesus died, but for victory.
3. Satan’s scream: Remember Satan’s scream? Now, I confessed this three weeks ago, but Mel Gibson’s The Passion of Christ, actually changed my theology. In the last scene of the movie that included the Devil, he is sitting on the ground and he is emotional. At first I jumped to the conclusion that He was laughing because Jesus was killed. And I have always thought that Satan and all his hoards of demons would be having a party. They instigated the murder of Jesus. But as the camera went vertical to allow me to have a bigger picture, I realized that in the movie, Satan wasn’t laughing. He was in agony. Why was he crying? Why was wailing? He was crushed! He knew he had lost! He knew He was doomed! Jesus had won the Victory!
4. Resurrection: Victory was clearly seen in the Resurrection. I was a bit scared that the conclusion of the movie would be ruined by a brief “faith only” spiel. But I was so amazed and so inspired by the conclusion and not a word was spoken.. Mary, Mary Magdalen and John had just taken the dead body of Jesus off the cross and Mary-his mother just held him...... Then the screen went completely dark and I thought, “Oh no, they can’t stop it here. And I sat at the edge of my seat half way anticipating the credits. Instead, the darkness was overcome by the piercing light as the stone rolled away and you realized you were in the tomb. His grave clothes fluttered by the breeze and then Jesus stood up and headed out the door. Victory was given. What death did to Jesus is nothing compared to what Jesus did to death. V.I.C.T.O.R.Y.
II. Ultimate Victory is for us!
A. Thanks be to God! He gives us Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”– 1 Corinthians 15:57
B. Ultimate Victory is available to every one of us! John 3:16– “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” Christ’s victory means victory for me! And for you.
C. One Bible Theologian was asked, “What is has been the greatest truth you have ever discovered?” After a moment the great theologian responded, “The greatest truth I have ever discovered is this... Jesus loves me.” The event of the cross was given that we may discover the greatest truth ever known– Jesus loves me!” Victory is available!
D. MAX LUCADO, in his book, Six Hours One Friday, tells the story of a missionary in Brazil who discovered a tribe of Indians in a remote part of the jungle. They lived near a large river. The tribe was in need of medical attention. A contagious disease was ravaging the population. People were dying daily. A hospital was not too terribly far away- just across the river, but the Indians would not cross it because they believed it was inhabited by evil spirits. To enter the water would mean certain death. The missionary explained how he had crossed the river and was unharmed. They were not impressed. He then took them to the bank and placed his hand in the water. They still wouldn’t go in. He walked into the water up to his waist and splashed water on his face. It didn’t matter. They were still afraid to enter the river. Finally, he dove into the river, swam beneath the surface until he emerged on the other side. He punched a triumphant fist into the air. He had entered the water and escaped. It was then that the Indians broke out into a cheer and followed him across. That’s exactly what Jesus did! He told the people of His day that they need not fear the river of death, but they wouldn’t believe. He touched a dead boy and called him back to life. They still didn’t believe. He whispered life into the body of a dead girl and got the same result. He let a dead man spend 4 days in a tomb and then called him out and the people still didn’t believe Him. Finally, He entered the river of death and came out on the other side. Victory!
E. Victory in Jesus: O Victory in Jesus, My Savior, forever, He sought me and he Bought me with His redeeming Blood; He Loved me ere I knew Him, And all my Love is due Him, He Plunged me to Victory,
Beneath the Cleansing Flood.
F. Ultimate Victory is only found in Jesus. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but through me!” And the good news of the gospel is this, Ultimate Victory is available to everyone of us! It’s our choice. Ultimate Victory in life is for the choosing! Our desire today is for everyone present to consider the Passion of the Christ and choose Victory! You do that through Faith, Personal Repentance and Submission to Him. It’s totally up to you.
Conclusion of Power: When the movie was over, I sat in silence for several minutes as the credits rolled and just listened to the sniffles throughout the theater. No one said a word and many just lingered. Afer much reflection and contemplation– one word kept coming to my mind: Power!
I watched, sensed and felt the overwhelming Power of Almighty God through the movie The Passion of the Christ. After watching Jesus sweat blood in anguish in the Garden, and spiritually wrestle with ever-present evil, I watched Him stomp the head of the snake with power.
I watched this man take more physical abuse than any one man would ever be able to stand, and I watched the surprise on the Roman soldier’s faces when Jesus stood up in power.
I watched a Man who’d been flogged to within an inch of his life, fearlessly tell the most politically powerful man in that arena that he had no power over Him. Even when he was offered a chance at freedom, He held firm in power.
I saw a man– a man of unending peace– who rocked the spiritual and political leadership of the day to its very core because of His power. I saw a man, who by any rational thought should have already been dead, carry a cross that other healthy men struggled to move. Power.
I shed a tear when He unselfishly pardoned a man next to Him. With power he boldly promised the criminal that he would be with Him in paradise. Power to forgive.
I watched a man who didn’t die at the will of men, but gave up His own spirit to God the Father. Even though it was His ultimate destiny to die for our sins, man would not kill Him on their terms. He died according to the will and the plan of the Almighty God. No amount of beating and torture could change it. He died on His terms. That’s power.
I watched a man’s death shake the earth, rip up the temple and sent his executioners running in fear. Power. No other man could ever shake the earth in life, much less in death. Power.
I saw blood and water flow form his side with power. The Roman soldier who pierced his side had probably participated in hundreds of deaths. Yet he was awed by Christ’s power.
In the final scene, the darkness of the tomb was overcome by the removal of the stone. The grave clothes fluttered as Jesus stood in power!
I have to confess that even after my second encounter with this movie, when the movie was over I was still too intimidated to do what I wanted to do. I wanted to stand and shout, “Glory and Honor and Power!” I watched Him die and his death rocked the world. I was in awe. Then, when the stone rolled away in the final scene, I saw Jesus stand anew– and I wanted to shout– “Glory!”
I didn’t do it then, but let me do it now! “Glory and Honor and Power– to Jesus for ever and ever and ever. Amen?” “Thanks be to God! He gives us Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”– 1 Corinthians 15:57
