Unmoved By The Cross?

UNMOVED BY THE CROSS?

John 19:23-24

INTRODUCTION

A. OPENING STORY

1. Two men had indulged in every sinful activity imaginable while away on a business trip together. In the morning, as they were making their way to the airport, one man challenged the other. He said, “I dare you to go over to that Cathedral over there and confess everything you did last night to the priest. I ‘ll bet you $500 you can’t do that – it would give the priest a heart attack!”

2. The other man said, “Easy money! I’ll do it, no problem.” He walked into the Cathedral and went into the confessional and began with, “Father, forgive me for I have sinned.” And then in graphic detail he told of every escapade of the night before.

3. But the priest, being very perceptive, was able to discern the insincerity of the man’s confession. He said, “Son, your penance will be to walk to the front of the Cathedral and kneel before the life size statue of Jesus, dying on the cross. And I want you to look into the suffering face of the Savior, and I want you to say, “Jesus, all this you did for me, and I COULDN’T CARE LESS!”

4. The man came out laughing from the confessional booth, demanding the $500 from the bet. But his friend said, “Oh no! It’s not complete yet, not until you do your penance.” “I’ll do it,” he said, “it’s no big deal.”

5. So he walked to the front of the statue, flippantly knelt and said, “Jesus all this you did for me and I…..” And just then, the teachings of his childhood came back to him, something he’d heard and learned echoed in his mind – it was John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”

6. He cleared his throat and tried again, “Lord Jesus, all this you did for me….” He couldn’t complete the sentence, because a terrible sense of betrayal took hold of him. Instead, genuine repentance finally welled up in his heart and he repented for his sins.

7. We’re going to go back 2,000 years ago to a hill called Calvary and look at some soldiers who “couldn’t care less” about Jesus!

B. TEXT

23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did” John 19:23-24.

C. THESIS

1. Try to picture this scene for a moment. These men, were witnessing THE most significant event in all of history – YET they missed it – because they were too busy looking down, throwing dice, rather than looking UP – and beholding the Christ. What a tragedy to be so close to the Cross, BUT so far from Christ.

2. I mean, these guys were touching the very Son of God – yet they weren’t touched BY Him. And what we discover today is that, the reasons the soldiers were unmoved by the Cross, are the same reasons people today are not moved. TITLE: Are You “UnMoved By The Cross?”

I. WHY PEOPLE ARE UNMOVED BY THE CROSS

A. CRUCIFIXIONS WERE COMMON

1. Crucifixions were very routine to these men. It was the way criminals paid the ultimate penalty for their crimes.

2. Tradition tells us that around the time when Jesus was a teenager, there was a rebellion near where He lived. The Roman army crushed the rebellion but they didn’t want it to happen again, so they crucified an Israelite every 30 feet for 10 miles – some 1,700 people. [Skip Gray, The Way of The Cross]

3. So for these soldiers, crucifixions were their job – it was what they did for a living. They were numb to it; it was just another day at the office. Yes, they heard the screams & cries for mercy, but they’d learned to ignore it.

4. Some of you have been around Christianity and Church all your lives and you’ve gotten used to the story of Jesus. You no longer hear the sounds of the hammering & the weeping; you no longer see the pain & the violence & the blood. Your hearts have become hard and you’ve closed your ears and eyes. Oh God! Open our hearts to you, Jesus!

5. These soldiers were unmoved by the cross because...