Intro: Today is Easter, a day many of us have been looking forward to for a long time now. We’ve been having Easter egg hunts, coloring eggs, buying special outfits, getting flowers, and all kinds of other activities associated with Easter. But, there was another event we remembered this week: Good Friday. Now the excitement is always with Easter. There is a time of solemn remembrance on Good Friday, but the excitement comes on Easter morning, when we remember the resurrection from the dead.
Good Friday is a day we remember the rejection, the mocking, the scourging, and suffering Jesus went through. It is a day of sadness and sorrow. Yet, we know that to get to Easter morning, Jesus had to go through Good Friday.
How do you deal with all the problems you face? God’s plan for Jesus was to die!
We have been talking the last several weeks about times when the world sees a failure, but God sees a success. Today we want to talk about how death can be successful.
I. There is Success in the Death of a Sinless Sacrifice.
Our God is an amazing God. His plans are always perfect. From the beginning, when Adam and Eve sinned, God had a plan to deal with sin. He killed innocent animals and clothed them in the skins. Throughout the Old Testament, we find the record of the Jews and their history. God gave them instructions about making sacrifice. When someone sinned, they needed to take a spotless lamb, and take it to the priest to be killed to atone for their sin. Hebrews 10:11 tells us that the blood of bulls and goats could never take away sin. They covered the sin; looking forward to the day when a perfect sacrifice would be made.
Why did Jesus have to die? There was no other way to have our sins forgiven. All the bulls and goats sacrificed throughout the Old Testament were symbolic of the one perfect sacrifice to be made by Jesus.
There was no other way for our salvation to come about. We were sinners, with a nature inclined to doing wrong. That sin separated us from God. We could not save ourselves. No amount of good works can take away our sins. Only through accepting the sacrifice of Jesus could our sins be forgiven.
The wisdom of God often looks foolish to the world. It seems foolish to find victory in defeat. Yet, that is exactly what Christ did on the cross. The ladies sang a song, “The great divide.” In that it tells that there is a cross to bridge the great divide. If we think about our sins keeping us separated from God, as though there were two mountains with a great chasm between. There would be no way we could get across the chasm ourselves. Yet, if there would be a bridge, we could cross the bridge and get to the other side to be with God.
Now, the bridge has already been built. When Jesus died on the cross, the power of our sins’ separating us from God was broken. Now there was a way to restore our relationship to God and have our sins forgiven. Yet, only those who cross the bridge get to go to heaven and be with God. Many people talk about knowing Jesus paid for their sin; they believe Jesus died and rose again; yet there is still one thing lacking. They have never crossed the bridge - they have never said “Yes, Jesus, I will accept you as my Savior. Please forgive my sins and save me.”
Why did Jesus have to die? It was the only way to provide salvation. Have you received salvation? If today you had to answer the question, would you say you are still thinking about going on the bridge, or have you taken the bridge to cross to fellowship with God.
I want to stop here in the middle of the message and offer anyone here who has never prayed to accept Jesus Christ as Savior a chance to do that right now. Let’s pray.
## Lead through words of sinners’ prayer.
There is success in the death of a sinless sacrifice.
II. There is Success in the Preaching of the Death of a Sinless Sacrifice
God knew that while the world would look at Jesus as a failure, those who were truly wise would accept him as Lord. Yet, God also knew that this message of his love and salvation needed to be shared to the whole world. And he chose an amazing way to spread the good news. God could have given everyone visions; he could have caused great comets and signs in the heavens; he could have sent angels to tell everyone. Yet what plan did he choose to tell the world? You and me. You might think that’s a pretty poor plan - but it’s not. It’s the best way we could tell the good news.
Paul writes in Romans 1:16 - I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. There is great power in the preaching of the gospel. Look with me at 1 Corinthians 1:17-31. READ TEXT
There are a lot of things that go on in the church. Yet the power of God is not shown through baptisms, or offerings, or food drives. Those are all good things; but the power of God is shown through preaching, through the message of the cross. The power of God is the power of the cross.
Paul tells us that to the lost, that message will sound foolish. You will be mocked. Did you ever try to share the gospel with someone who was not ready to hear it? They will laugh at you, make fun of you, even curse you. They can’t understand God’s wisdom in this message.
While we talk about failure and success, let‘s realize that it is a great success to witness to others about the crucified and risen Lord. There were many who mocked the Lord, but the goal of providing our salvation was so great that he endured. Heb. 12:2 tells us Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
The power of God is not in our own strength, but in the message. Some people might laugh at me even if I say nothing about the gospel. But even after I am gone, if I share the gospel, it remains and convicts those who hear it. The gospel is not something just to have philospphical debates about (vs. 20) - we need to either believe or reject: there is no middle ground.
In vs. 23 we see the Jews look for miracles - but the miracle-worker died. The Greeks seek after wisdom. Yet, they would not think it wise to die willingly. Yet, for those with the eyes to see it, this was God’s plan from the start.
Do we boast in the risen Lord? Think about the disciples after the crucifixion. They were confused and sorrowful. When they learn Jesus is alive, they are filled with joy. Dramatic artist Curt Cloninger does a sketch where he suggests maybe Jesus came up behind Peter and yelled “Surprise!” They crucified Crist changed their lives. They were ecstatic about telling everyone what they knew to be true.
Have you placed your faith in Christ and crossed the bridge to eternal life? Then who are you telling about it? This is good news. That’s what the word “gospel” means - good news! This is exciting. Death could not keep Christ. He is the firstfruit: because he conquered death, we have hope that we also can overcome the power of death. If you really believe this is good news, you’ll want to tell someone else. That’s the genius of God’s plan. He let’s us experience how good this news is, then let’s us share it with others.
There is success in telling others about the crucified Christ.
III. There is success in our own death - dying to self.
In 1 Peter 1:21 we are told To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. Are we really willing to suffer pain, suffering, and humiliation? We would rather have praise, flattery, and exaltation. Jesus told us the price we would have to pay to be his follower. In Luke 14: 27-34 he gives us the cost. READ TEXT
We need to decide if we will pay the price. He compares those who don’t to salt that is good for nothing but to be thrown out on the manure heap. I know some Christians who are about that worthless.
This morning, are you willing to follow Christ. It will mean denying self.
Are you willing to give up a life that offers comfort, pleasure and entertainment for a life that offers meaning and purpose. There are times that you realize following Christ doesn’t mean God is going to give you a BMW. In fact, it might even mean you use a bicycle.
Following Christ means taking up our cross. This means we have to die. We have to die to self. Are you willing to pay the price. There are many who want to join the team without coming to the practice sessions. Jesus said to follow him we have to take up our cross.
Following means obedience to his instructions. We need to study what he said, and reorganize our life so we let him set our priorities. Will you pay the price? If so, where will you start changing your life today? Jesus doesn’t want followers on paper. He wants those willing to change and become like him. How do you tell a follower of Christ? He looks like Christ.
When others look at you, can they see Jesus?
Concl: Now, having said that Christ calls us to give up a lot, let’s look at the great news. God’s desire for us is given in John 10:10 - I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly. Jesus gave the example of fruit in John 15. He said you prune fruit vines so they produce more fruit. Why do we deny ourselves? So we will grow, reach others, love God, become like him. Are you experiencing the full blessings that God desires for you. Ephesians 1 tells us Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. The life of following Christ means denial to self, discipline, giving up - but the end reward is unbelievable. Let’s look at the wisdom of God: the death of Christ was a great success. The sharing of the gospel is a great success. Our dying to self and following Christ is a great success. This morning, the question to ask is, “Are YOU a success?”
