CSI: Cross Scene Investigation
Week 3: Investigating the Cross
[Before the message each week, a CSI style drama was performed to examine that weeks evidence]
Last Two Weeks – Investigated the Betrayal of Judas / Learned -Betray Ourselves Investigated the Trial – Pilot’s ignored the Truth about Christ
As you Saw DRAMA – This Week we are Investigating the Cross
For Many in our Culture – the Cross has a lot of Different meanings. What does the cross mean to YOU?
Some: Cross is a Fashion Statement!! Rappers & Pop Artist - large Gold / around neck
Many may remember - Madonna told Spin magazine:
"Crucifixes are sexy because there’s a naked man on them."
Web site in INDIA is advertising Crosses (w/o Christ) popular Fashion Statement. They Claim that wearing a Cross is a universal Fashion statement – not just a Religious One
For OTHERS – Symbol of Their Religious Affiliation / Catholic or Christian
The Cross - HUGE part of our Culture / Churches / Cemeteries / Jewelry
But for MOST it’s Lost its SIGNIFICANCE. We’ve Made it PRETTY – SHINEY GOLD / Fashionable
Reality of the Cross is that is was an Implement of Torture & Death!!
FACTS Crucifixion: Invented by the Persians / Perfected by the Romans. Purpose of the Cross was to Maximize PAIN & SUFFERING / Total Humiliation
Romans Reserved the Cross – Worst Criminals / SLAVES / or those in Rebellion to Caesar
In fact – against Roman Law to use it against most of their Own Citizens / high treason
Typically – the Convicted man - cross beam strapped to Their Shoulders – carry to Place
Thrown down – SKILLED Soldier place Nail – Wrist Bones – careful to miss Artery
Once Driven – SMASH the MAIN Median Nerve / Shock Waves – Brain / Rub against nail
Arms were often tied – Hoisted in AIR to Top of Cross / SHOULDERS – Often Dislocate
Once Secured – Feet would be pulled together / Overlapped / NAILED Straight Through
THOUGH the arms were Secured / Lower body would SAG onto the Nails in the Feet
DEATH – not from Wounds, but from SUFFICATION, / To BREATH – move up & down Nails
Crucifixion was not a Very Bloody / BUT for Jesus – Horribly Bloody. Unlike Most people Crucified / Jesus was Scourged – Not Just a Whip/ Iron balls & bone. Iron would raise up DEEP Welts / Bone would then tear open those Contusions / Though a Common Punishment / Victim was Whipped to Unconsciousness – not DEATH! Often Performed by two Solders on either Side / Shoulders to the Back of the Legs
In the Story of Christ’s suffering – Pilate only Whipped Jesus to SOOTH the Crowd / Wasn’t His intension to Crucify. The Solders – Caught up in the Moment / Placed a Rob on Jesus’ beaten Back
Since he was ACCUSED of Being a KING / Place a Crown of Thorns – Head
Blood was now flowing from Open Wounds on His Back / Head / BOTH RUB – CROSS!!
Finally – Jesus’ heart finally gave out, which was Confirmed by the spear to the Side / Water & Blood
Context, the Cross is no More Fashionable – Then an Electric Chair or a Hang Man’s Noose
Not saying its wrong to wear!! There’s nothing Sexy or Fashionable about Death!!
What does the Cross mean to You?
[Video: What does the cross mean to you? / Sermon Spice]
REALITY – The Cross Contradicts Most of the Ideals we Value in our CULTURE!!
SACRIFICE for OTHERS vs. SELF PROMOTION / GIVING as opposed to GETTING /
Pain vs. Comfort / Nakness vs. Strength
To our SUCCESS Minded Culture – The Cross & the one Who Died On it – FOOLISH!!
"The teaching about the cross is foolishness to those who are lost." 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NCV)
What does the Cross Mean to You?
To those who do not understand, the cross is FOOLISH –“WASTE OF TIME!!”
Yet, Millions of People have found Comfort & Hope in It! Why – Give their lives for it?
Why is a the Symbol of Death & Pain & Suffering – Symbol of LIFE for Christians?
Jesus said “When I have been lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people toward me." John 12:32 (GW)
There’s something about the cross that BECOMES a point of CONNECTION w/ People
Something about the Cross - DRAWS People to Christ / COMPELS People to COME!
What is it? You have to EXAMINE the EVIDENCE!! Examine True Mean & Purpose!!
First thing You’ll Find when you . . . Examine The Evidence of the Cross . . .
1. You’ll Find God’s PROVISION
To Understand the Cross – WE Must Come to Understand OUR NEED!!
As much as we may PRIDE ourselves in Being Good People / Reality – Spiritually Sick
Bible says we are DEAD – Spiritually Speaking - from our Sins. It Says - ALL SINNED / NO ONE - PERFECT / NO ONE Measures Up – God’s Standard
So Our SIN – Cut US ALL OFF from God /
Separation leads to Not only Physical Death / Eternal Spiritual Death!! Bankrupt Morally
Situation Seems HOPELESS – AND IT IS . . . Without Christ.
"You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that Christ was rich, but for you he became poor so that by his becoming poor you might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NCV)
“RICH” – Spiritually Speaking
The Cross was for ME / Penalty You & I Deserved
"When you were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self, God made you alive with Christ, and he forgave all our sins. He canceled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross. God stripped the spiritual rulers and powers of their authority. With the cross, he won the victory and showed the world that they were powerless." Colossians 2:13-15 (NCV)
JESUS PAID THE PENALTY for Your Sin AND MINE!!
I’ve Gotten My FAIR SHARE of Traffic Tickets / Even been to Court a FEW TIMES
THANK God -Penalty Wasn’t so High I couldn’t Pay it!! Maybe – why I haven’t learned
The Penalty for our SIN? Death!! To High a Price / Price that meant Eternal Separation
God was NOT WILLING that You or I should Perish / Sent His Son to PAY MY PRICE!!
Mel Gibson said that when he made The Passion, it was his Hand that Helds the Nail / Did it to say – “I PUT HIM THERE”
We may MAKE LITE OF OUR SIN / *”Little Slip – BOO BOO” / “Only Human” / “Consenting Adults”
MAYBE THAT’S WHY WE HAVEN’T LEARNED YET!! Cost Jesus His BLOOD
The CROSS . . . Displays God’s Incredible Provision for Our Sin / Price we couldn’t Pay
DO YOU APPRECIATE THE PRICE GOD PAID FOR YOUR SIN?!?!
2. If You Examine The Evidence of the Cross . . .You’ll See God’s POWER
Although he died on the cross in weakness, he now lives by the mighty power of God. We, too, are weak, but we live in him and have God’s power—the power we use in dealing with you. 2 Corinthians 13:4 (NLT)
Oxymoron: Pretty Ugly / Working Vacation / Jumbo Shrimp / Healthy Tan / Microsoft Works
PAUL: POWER in Weakness / LIFE in Death / Welcome ti the Upside Down World of God
God loves to CONFOUND the Wisdom & Normative Thinking of THIS WORLD
And that’s what He Did when He Sent His OWN Son to Die on the CROSS!!
Yet through His DEATH – We See GREAT POWER & Strength!!
I remember weeping as I read The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe many years ago!
Those same tears came to my Eyes as I watch the Movie – Last Fall and. . . . . Saw how Aslan – the Mighty Lion – Laid down his Life for Edwin because he Disobeyed. He slowly Walked into the Enemies Camp / Allowing Himself to be Shaved & Mocked
And then the Evil Witch – Thinking she Had Won – Slew him with Her Knife!!
With ONE SWIPE, Aslan could have Defeated His Enemies. With One Growl – Sent Evil army running
With One BITE – The mighty ASLAN could have Crushed the Witches Skull
But that Mighty Beast Laid Down His Life to Save Another!!
Old Hymns says – “He could have called 10,000 Angels”!! ONE WORD!!
WHAT HELD HIM From Calling the Host of Heaven? What Held him to that Cross?
POWER of LOVE - For You & Me / God Loved us SO Much - Willing to Give HIS ALL!!
Power of FORGIVENESS - Though HE was offended by Our Sin / God took first Steps
He CROSSED all the Barriers / Came to OUR WORLD / Took on Human Flesh
AND Through His Death – RECONCILED US BACK TO HIMSELF!! Ingenious!! GOD
[Outloud] He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds! 1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)
“HEALED”!! FORGIVEN!! LOVED!! Words that Demonstrate God’s Power on the CROSS
1 Corinthians 1:18 (CEV)The message about the cross . . . is God’s power at work. . . .IN YOUR LIFE AND MINE!!
Have You EXPERIENCED the Life Changing Power of the Cross in Your Life?
3. If You Examine The Evidence of the Cross . .You’ll Feel God’s PRESENCE
One of the Biggest Complaints I hear From People About God is: “If God is So Loving. . .
“. . .why - so much PAIN In the WORLD?”
“Why Do Innocent Children Die?”
“Where IS God when I Suffer? Where is God - I Hurt?” That MAYBE Your Question?
It SEEMS at times – God is up there in Heaven – Aloof from our Pain!
It’s Like we are LEFT alone to the Good Fortune or Bad Luck of this World!!
This Life of PAIN & MISERY that Many People endure seems Pointless & Hopeless!!
For Some – They just want to scream! “GOD!! WHERE ARE YOU??”
Don’t you see him? Look - Closely!!
He’s THERE!! On the Cross
That this World is UNJUST – NO DOUBT!!
That Life is Often Unfair – Absolutely!!
The Innocent Suffer and the Just Seem to Go Unjustified!! BUT NOT FOREVER!!
Until Then – God takes up His Place BESIDE us in this World of Pain & Misery
HE DID NOT EXEMPT HIMSELF FROM THE WORST ABUSE & TORTURE! He Was MOCKED by the Crowds / He was Abandoned by His Friends /
He Felt Alone & Forsaken!! His own words bear this out – Quoted Psalm 22 “My God . . .”
Interesting that the very next Chapter is the 23rd Psalm –Speaks about Care of Shepherd
[Outloud] Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life. Romans 6:5-8
NEW LIFE!! That’s what the Cross is ALL ABOUT!! We must first DIE. May Seem Depressing, but its NOT!! LETTING GO – LETTING GOD have Control
PROVISION / POWER / PRESENCE
PRAYER OF SALVATION
SONG – If not For Grace
COMMUNION
Three People I’ll Invite for Easter:
1. ________________________
2. ________________________
3. ________________________
[The audio, drama, and graphic resources for this series are available at the website of Pinellas Community Church - www.PinellasChurch.org. Click the "PCC RESOURCES" link]
