1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,480 Sermon title for this morning is the cross. 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:08,680 When we look at the idea of a cross in our time, we see them 3 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:13,160 on church steeples, buildings, we see them in books. 4 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:18,040 Bibles have embossed crosses on them and we have this idea of a 5 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:20,280 cross. But in ancient times, during the 6 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:25,640 times of Jesus, when the government of its time, those 7 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:30,680 days wanted to execute a criminal, they would oftentimes 8 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:35,840 do so by nailing them to a cross was a very common practice in 9 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,120 those days. And we're not, we're not used to 10 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:39,560 that. I don't think any of us here has 11 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,360 ever seen a live person hanging on a cross. 12 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:47,160 So this morning we want to kind of go all over the place a 13 00:00:47,160 --> 00:00:50,360 little bit in this topic of the cross. 14 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,920 What did it do? What did it mean for Jesus? 15 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:56,880 What would the impact? What's the impact of it? 16 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:00,560 Well, let's look, first of all, what the cross did. 17 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:04,519 What did the cross do? It brought an end to life. 18 00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:09,920 It killed its victim in a very slow, prolonged, agonizing, 19 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:15,120 painful, humiliating way. First there was the there's the 20 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,000 process of nailing this person on it. 21 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,480 And then was put up right in the hole and it stood there. 22 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,400 This person is hanging there, dying slowly, bleeding and 23 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:29,640 dying. The idea behind it was to make 24 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:33,040 it last. To execute with a sword was too 25 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:37,480 swift, too too too too quick. They wanted this person to feel, 26 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,720 and they did. The Roman government had some 27 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:44,200 rules. One of the rules, one of the 28 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,720 laws, was that you could not crucify a Roman citizen. 29 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:51,760 That was too dehumanizing, too degrading. 30 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,040 And no matter what you did, if you're a Roman citizen, you 31 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:57,080 would never be nailed on a cross. 32 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:01,520 It didn't happen. History has it. 33 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:05,280 Tradition says so. I don't know if it's true. 34 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,320 I believe it possibly is, but the Apostle Peter was crucified. 35 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,480 It's not in the Bible, but the Apostle Peter, according to 36 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:16,320 tradition, was crucified. He didn't think himself worthy 37 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:18,240 to be crucified like his Lord Jesus. 38 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,440 So he asked to be crucified upside down. 39 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,840 There's there's records, there's stories that of that. 40 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,960 Now did it happen? I cannot say, but very possibly 41 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:28,720 because a lot of people were crucified. 42 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,520 But then the Apostle Paul, tradition has it, he was not 43 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:34,080 crucified. He was beheaded. 44 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,360 Now, why might that be? Well, Paul was a Roman citizen. 45 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:39,520 He was a Jew. Peter was a Jew. 46 00:02:39,920 --> 00:02:41,720 Paul was a Roman citizen, Peter was not. 47 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:47,720 It makes sense. Another thing about the cross, 48 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:51,080 it was a form of communication for the Roman government to 49 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,440 really show who's in power and who's boss and who's not. 50 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,480 Of course, the man who got nailed to the cross was not in 51 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,000 power. Of course, they were vanquished, 52 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:03,560 but then let's look at the teachings of Jesus and we'll 53 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:04,760 bring this together eventually here. 54 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,840 Let's look at the teachings of Jesus for just for a little bit. 55 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,440 And it's amazing and it's surprising to me how often He 56 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:16,600 referenced the cross. You can jot these scriptures 57 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:21,120 down if you want. Matthew 10 verse 38 or Matthew 58 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:29,840 16 verse 24 or Luke 9 verse 23 and Luke 1427, The most 59 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:34,280 disgusting, despicable, abhorrent method of execution. 60 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:38,400 He says that, by the way, is the standard or the level to which 61 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:40,280 you have to be willing to go to follow me. 62 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,720 Those are Jesus words. Then later Paul as an apostle 63 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:48,040 takes this teaching and he goes and uses that as his foundation 64 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:51,160 for planting churches. 1st Corinthians 18. 65 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:56,600 It's not verse 18 one verse 18 I believe it is. 66 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,440 He says for the message of the cross is foolishness to those 67 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:04,000 who are perishing, obviously, but to those of us for being 68 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,280 saved, it is the power of God because the cross killed sin. 69 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,000 Jesus lived a life of the cross long before he was nailed to 1. 70 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:16,800 He lived a life of submission to the Father, a life of self 71 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,640 denial, self sacrifice, service to humanity. 72 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:24,480 In other words, he lived a life of the cross, and when Jesus 73 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:27,840 died on the cross, he once and for all broke the power of sin 74 00:04:27,840 --> 00:04:31,760 and death over humanity. Jesus did not lose on the cross. 75 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:35,680 He conquered death by dying on it and then rising to life a few 76 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,960 days later. He willingly gave his life to 77 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,800 die on the cross, and then by doing that, dying on the cross, 78 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,600 rising from the dead, he forever conquered death. 79 00:04:45,840 --> 00:04:50,760 And what is so amazing about the story of the cross is He didn't 80 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,880 do it in anger because he was forced to or he had to. 81 00:04:55,160 --> 00:05:01,720 He volunteered to. What this tells us about Jesus 82 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:05,320 is how much worse we have in his eyes. 83 00:05:06,280 --> 00:05:09,800 You see what some when something is of great importance to you, 84 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:14,040 when something is of great value to you, you will go to great 85 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:16,320 lengths to obtain that, whatever that may be. 86 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,920 The question we need, we need to ask ourselves from time to time 87 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,880 is how much are we worth to Jesus? 88 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,920 What length did He go to to redeem us? 89 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:31,240 He willingly went to the cross on our behalf. 90 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:35,040 He suffered. It's cruelty, it's shame, it's 91 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,240 agony and humiliation. Why? 92 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:43,600 Because He loved us. You ever wondered how much you, 93 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:48,440 I, we are worth to Jesus? He says in Romans 5. 94 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:52,120 Paul says in Romans 5 verse 8, while we were still sinners, 95 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:57,640 Christ died for us. We were not yet even saved when 96 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:01,800 it happened. Now if Jesus would start taking 97 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,120 inventory, and I use this sometimes when I visit with 98 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:06,280 people who are going through hard times. 99 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:08,520 I use this illustration sometimes. 100 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:12,840 If Jesus would start taking inventory of people and He would 101 00:06:12,840 --> 00:06:17,280 have to now put a price tag on each human individual, how much 102 00:06:17,280 --> 00:06:22,080 would you be worth to him or me or us together? 103 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:26,400 If God would put a price tag on each one of us, you know, price 104 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:30,280 tags in the store, Imagine that there would be no one on 105 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:35,080 discount. There'd be no one on sale or 50% 106 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,440 off. Nobody would make the clearance 107 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:43,000 rack in his eyes. You and I, we have eternal 108 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:46,840 value, unending infinite value. Think about that. 109 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:53,080 Jesus as godson, He has infinite value, and yet He was willing to 110 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:57,040 lower himself, become a human and do what? 111 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:04,040 Die on a cross? It does not matter old or young, 112 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:09,720 rich or poor, the richest billionaire to the poorest St. 113 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:14,400 person, the oldest, wisest person to the newborn or the 114 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:17,400 person on the street. If God would put a sticker price 115 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:20,520 on you and me, He would say the life of my son. 116 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:26,400 That would be the price. And this is a free gift that God 117 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,720 extends to us through grace. When we believe in Him, we put 118 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:33,560 our faith in Him, and it's available to every human being 119 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,840 who wants it. God does not show favoritism. 120 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:39,400 I want to mention something here before we get to the scripture 121 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:44,160 passages. Over the last year, something's 122 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,880 been on my mind that I've been really spending a lot of time 123 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,520 thinking about. In my heart, I know what I 124 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:54,680 believe and have for decades, and I've never really paid deep 125 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:58,200 attention to the different various interpretations of the 126 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:03,080 gospel, specifically salvation. But since last year had numerous 127 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:06,000 people come to me with questions about salvation, how do I 128 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,720 understand it? What do I believe about 129 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:10,040 salvation? So on. 130 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,400 So I've done a lot of thinking and reading and listening and so 131 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:15,160 on. And I will just say this. 132 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,840 There are preachers online and in churches and Bible teachers 133 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:19,960 who say Jesus didn't die for everybody. 134 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:22,160 He died for the call of the elect. 135 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:25,320 That's it. He didn't die for those who will 136 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:28,360 not be saved. He only died for those who would 137 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:32,000 choose to be saved. And they use different, 138 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:34,200 different words that are maybe hard for some to understand like 139 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,720 predestination and so on. And I won't take time in this 140 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,120 room to unpack it all, but let me just say this. 141 00:08:40,159 --> 00:08:45,200 Jesus never taught that a purse person does not have a choice. 142 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:51,040 And responding to his invitation, he never said that. 143 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:54,840 He never taught that. And this whole point in bringing 144 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,520 us to salvation is he wants a relationship with us. 145 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,600 Why else do you think He calls people to repent and believe and 146 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:05,480 be saved? And it's over and over and over 147 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,240 again in Scripture. Why do you think Jesus 148 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:13,000 constantly called, invited, warned, encouraged, and drew 149 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:17,160 people to Himself if they have no choice and can't reject 150 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:20,880 salvation if He chooses them? Here's what I believe. 151 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:24,800 God wants to have a relationship with you and me, and it's free. 152 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:27,840 If it's not free, it's not a relationship. 153 00:09:29,560 --> 00:09:33,080 And if it's free, it can be terminated, it can be rejected, 154 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:36,760 and sadly, some do. Jesus made it possible for you 155 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:40,040 and me to be in relationship with Him when He took our place 156 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,400 on the cross and He died for our sins. 157 00:09:42,560 --> 00:09:46,680 And today this gift of salvation is free by grace to those who 158 00:09:46,680 --> 00:09:49,040 want it. He draws us to Himself. 159 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:53,360 Yes, but we, you and I, we do the accepting or the rejecting. 160 00:09:54,560 --> 00:09:57,360 There's a very well known verse in Scripture that I've, I'm sure 161 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:01,720 many of you know off by heart. John 316 For God so loved the 162 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,760 world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever 163 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:07,920 believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting 164 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,800 life. This is 1 passage of many, but 165 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:15,200 this passage tells us God so loved humanity, the world, not 166 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:20,400 select, He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever, not 167 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:24,720 only some, whoever believes in him, should not perish but have 168 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:27,560 everlasting life. That means this means we have a 169 00:10:27,560 --> 00:10:30,760 choice. It tells us God valued us far 170 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:35,400 more than we can ever know. Jesus valued and loved human 171 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:39,880 beings above all else. For some people this is a hard 172 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:43,240 thing to understand and accept, and understandably so sometimes, 173 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:45,800 given the environment they've grown up in, or how they've been 174 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:51,560 trained and taught and so on. Is it safe to say that there are 175 00:10:51,560 --> 00:10:56,000 people who love themselves a lot less than God loves them? 176 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:00,360 Just a thought. We are purchased by the blood of 177 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,640 Jesus. That happened when he died. 178 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:06,920 So let's look deeper into the story and how it unfolded. 179 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,960 What was Jesus cross? Let's look at that as well #2 180 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:15,800 what was Jesus cross? Well, we know he died on a 181 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:20,040 wooden cross, but he lived a life of the cross long before 182 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,000 that day when he was nailed to 1. 183 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,800 We know Jesus often said to his followers, if anyone wants to 184 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,960 follow me, let him take up his cross and follow me. 185 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,640 He was not referring to a literal physical cross when he 186 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,160 said those words. He was referring to a lifestyle, 187 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:40,200 to a way of life, and he modeled it before he actually died on 188 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:43,080 it. But nevertheless, it was on Good 189 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:46,040 Friday that Jesus made the final ultimate sacrifice when he 190 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,800 physically died on a Roman cross. 191 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:53,560 But he had already carried a cross of service and ministry 192 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,680 long before now. He was finishing this ministry 193 00:11:56,680 --> 00:12:00,280 with one final act of self sacrifice so that all people 194 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:02,520 could have access to him for all time. 195 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:07,800 When we think of the cross, we all too easily just think of a 196 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:09,840 wooden cross. But on a day like today, we 197 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:13,760 remind ourselves that a cross in the biblical sense is not 198 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:17,840 something pretty, something to admire. 199 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:23,160 It is an instrument of death. And I'm not saying we shouldn't 200 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:25,080 have a beautiful cross hanging somewhere as a reminder. 201 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:28,360 It's not my point. But that's not what a cross is, 202 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:31,120 really. And the other thing about Good 203 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:32,760 Friday, I've often wondered about this. 204 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,520 Why is it called Good Friday? It's good for us. 205 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:38,480 Wasn't good for Jesus in the sense of what he went through, 206 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:40,280 but it's good in the outcome of it. 207 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:47,320 When we talk about Jesus, when we read about Jesus, we find 208 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:51,160 only love and forgiveness from him and all of this, there was 209 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:54,640 no hate or anger or malice in him at all. 210 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:59,280 And on the day he died, he made the biggest payment ever by 211 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:03,200 dying on a cross and giving his blood for our sins. 2nd 212 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:07,800 Corinthians 5 verse 21 the apostle Paul writes for he made 213 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:10,960 him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the 214 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:12,840 righteousness of God. What does that mean? 215 00:13:13,560 --> 00:13:21,400 Our debt became Jesus's debt. He decided to pay for it. 216 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,960 He volunteered for it. God sent him and he he, he says 217 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:26,000 I lay my life down. Nobody takes it from me. 218 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:29,680 I lay it down on my own. So again, does Jesus death on 219 00:13:29,680 --> 00:13:33,200 the cross for me have the same value for me that my life is to 220 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:36,160 him? In other words, would I or do I 221 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,520 hold Jesus as closely to my heart as he holds me to his? 222 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:45,040 By reading the biblical accounts, we know what we're 223 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:49,080 worth to Him, His life, and how. The question becomes, is He 224 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:53,960 worth that much to us too? To understand and appreciate 225 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,120 what He did for us, we must look. 226 00:13:57,120 --> 00:13:59,320 We must study what really happened. 227 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,600 And we know that for Jesus to redeem us from sin, it cost him 228 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:07,760 first and foremost everything. I mentioned that Jesus carried a 229 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:11,520 cross in life, not just when he went to Golgotha, to Calvary. 230 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,200 He carried a cross in his life. But let's look at some of the 231 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:17,000 things that happened even before. 232 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,040 We know the final outcome of Good Friday. 233 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:23,840 He died, was dead, buried in a grave. 234 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:28,120 We know those things. But God choose to use the evil, 235 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:32,000 sinful deeds of mankind to bring this about, to allow a son to be 236 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,840 killed and to die for our sins. So let's look at #3 the pain of 237 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:40,440 the cross. Jesus didn't suffer cheerfully 238 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:43,320 with a smile on his face. There was deep and real pain. 239 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:47,840 In many ways, and I've sometimes said it this way, the cross was 240 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:52,120 not meant to be an easy thing. It was an instrument of self 241 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:55,760 denial of pain. Jesus lived the life of the 242 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:57,480 cross before he physically died on it. 243 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,760 Part of what makes a life of the cross so painful is that it 244 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,680 intersects with one's life at so many levels. 245 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:08,000 And it did that in Jesus life too, and we'll do that in our 246 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:11,920 life too, if we decide to take up our cross and follow Jesus at 247 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:14,200 the human level in his day-to-day life. 248 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:16,520 The Pharisees caused Jesus a lot of pain. 249 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:19,520 So there was pain at that level. They had turned against him 250 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,280 because he interfered with their teachings, their sinful 251 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,120 lifestyles, their corrupt ways. They rejected him. 252 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,680 On Palm Sunday when Jesus wrote into the city of Jerusalem, that 253 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,240 was last Sunday, the crowds, even children were praying, 254 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:34,360 praising and shouting and worshipping and the Pharisees 255 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:37,120 upset about it. They didn't like it. 256 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:41,960 Let's let's read chapter Luke chapter 19, verse 37 and onward 257 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:46,440 to the end of verse 40, Luke 1937 to verse 40. 258 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:48,680 This is now going back to last Sunday. 259 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:52,240 Then as he was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of 260 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:56,720 Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice 261 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,600 and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they 262 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:02,840 had seen, saying, Blessed is the king, who comes in the name of 263 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:05,360 the Lord, peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 264 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:08,160 And some of the Pharisees called to him from the crowd, Teach or 265 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:10,760 rebuke your disciples. But he answered and said to 266 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:14,360 them, If I if I tell you that if these keeps silent, the stones 267 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:18,760 would immediately cry out. For Jesus as a man, it was a 268 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:22,320 very difficult and emotionally hard thing to see the deep 269 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:25,760 rooted and strongly entrenched sin and spiritual blindness of 270 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:27,560 the Jewish leaders, especially the leaders. 271 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,160 The leaders and Pharisees had turned God's laws into 272 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:34,040 self-serving programs that took advantage of the people for 273 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:36,960 their own personal gain and Jesus was deeply troubled by 274 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:39,040 that. But then there are also the 275 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:45,040 disciples, the Last Supper, and even before they were also 276 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:46,600 worshipping. And they're also thinking, yeah, 277 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,120 Jesus is going to come now and we're going to Jerusalem. 278 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:52,320 He's going to inaugurate the Kingdom and we're going to throw 279 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:54,800 out the Romans and we're going to be the national government. 280 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:56,720 They're all excited about what Jesus is going to do. 281 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:58,400 And they're saying, I'll be this and I'll be that. 282 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:02,920 And they were arguing among themselves and what did Jesus 283 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:04,240 do? How did Jesus respond to all of 284 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:08,079 that in fighting and so on. Luke 22, verse 19, let's go 285 00:17:08,079 --> 00:17:11,040 there. Luke 2219 and onward says, and 286 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:14,599 he took bread, gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them, 287 00:17:14,599 --> 00:17:16,599 saying, this is my body which is given for you. 288 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:19,640 Do this in remembrance of me. That was communion which we'll 289 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:21,200 celebrate here at the end of this sermon. 290 00:17:22,599 --> 00:17:24,880 He brought His disciples together for the Passover meal 291 00:17:25,079 --> 00:17:30,600 to bind them together to to bond them together in one unity, and 292 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:37,400 didn't go as as it could have. Let's read verse verse 20. 293 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:40,640 And then on likewise He also took the cup after supper, 294 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:43,280 saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is 295 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:45,280 shed for you. But behold, the hand of my 296 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:48,560 betrayer is with me on the table, and truly the Son of Man 297 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:51,520 goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he 298 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:54,240 is betrayed. Then they began to question 299 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:57,560 among themselves which of them it was who would do this thing? 300 00:17:57,800 --> 00:17:59,760 Who's going to be right? Verse 24. 301 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,360 Now there was also a dispute among them as to which of them 302 00:18:02,360 --> 00:18:03,760 should be considered the greatest. 303 00:18:04,120 --> 00:18:06,840 What? They weren't getting it. 304 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:11,840 While Jesus was trying to teach his disciples about sacrifice 305 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:14,640 and suffering, the disciples were already jockeying for 306 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:17,640 position in what they believed would be the new government. 307 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:23,720 They completely missed the point where Jesus was getting ready to 308 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:26,200 suffer. They were getting ready to rule. 309 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,960 They were blind. Are there times in our lives 310 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:33,960 when we're blind? When we fail to see what's 311 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:39,960 happening in our own lives, in the lives of others, this is an 312 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:42,880 area of weakness in the church. Many times people see following 313 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:47,400 Jesus as something to gain status and position and control. 314 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:52,640 Fast forward and and from Palm Sunday to Thursday night. 315 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:56,480 Then Friday morning it was the Pharisees who egged the crowd on 316 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:58,840 and stoked their anger. Was they who said crucify him, 317 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:01,280 crucify him. Not just did the Pharisees hurt 318 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:04,560 Jesus, not just did the disciples hurt Jesus, so did the 319 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:07,200 people. Again, back to to Palm Sunday. 320 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:13,560 We're back to Luke 19 verse 41. As he drew near, he saw the city 321 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:16,760 and wept over it, saying if you had known even you, especially 322 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:20,680 in this day, this your day, that things that make for peace, but 323 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:22,200 now they're hidden from your eyes. 324 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:25,000 For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an 325 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:27,320 embankment around you, surround you, enclose you and on every 326 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:30,000 side and level you and your children within you to the 327 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:31,920 ground. And they will not leave on you 328 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:34,520 and you one stone upon another, because you did not know the 329 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:37,640 time of your visitation. Jesus saw this coming. 330 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:39,720 And in 76 AD it literally happened. 331 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:44,640 Jerusalem was destroyed. So Thursday, Palm Sunday, 332 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:48,240 through the week, teaching in the temple, Thursday night, 333 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:51,680 Friday morning, people just kept missing it. 334 00:19:54,360 --> 00:19:59,920 Then there was Gethsemane. Jesus was hurt by the judgement. 335 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:03,400 The hardest thing for him was to experience the punishment of sin 336 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:04,880 when he had done nothing to deserve it. 337 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:09,320 Matthew 26, we read. Then Jesus came with him to a 338 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:14,120 place, verse 36, Matthew 2636. Jesus came with them to a place 339 00:20:14,120 --> 00:20:16,560 called Gethsemane and said to the disciples, sit here while I 340 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,200 go and pray over there. And he took with him Peter and 341 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:24,240 the two sons of Zebedee. And he began to be sorrowful and 342 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:29,640 deeply distressed. Then he said to them, My soul is 343 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:34,000 exceedingly sorrowful even to death, Stay here and watch with 344 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:35,760 me. He went a little farther and 345 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,560 fell on his face and prayed, saying, Oh my Father, if it is 346 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:40,760 possible, let this cup pass for me. 347 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,760 Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will. 348 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:46,400 Then he came to his disciples and found him sleeping, and said 349 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:49,240 to Peter, What could you not watch with me one hour? 350 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:52,000 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. 351 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:54,920 The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 352 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:57,720 Again a second time he went away and prayed, saying, Oh my 353 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:01,160 Father, if this cup cannot pass away from me unless I drink it, 354 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:03,680 your will be done. And he came and found them 355 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:06,040 asleep again, for the for their eyes were heavy. 356 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:08,560 So he left them, went away again, and prayed the third 357 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,800 time, saying the same words. Then he came to his disciples 358 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,240 and said to them, Are you still sleeping and resting? 359 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:17,600 Behold the hours at hand. The Son of Man is being betrayed 360 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:20,560 into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. 361 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:24,800 See, my betrayer is at hand. This was the most agonizing time 362 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,520 in his life, and he agonized alone. 363 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:32,200 Then the soldiers came. They arrested him, bound him up 364 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,680 and off. He was led to the high priest it 365 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:40,480 says in John 18 verse 12 and on says then the detachment of 366 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,240 troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested 367 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:46,200 Jesus and bound him. They led Him away to Anas first, 368 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:49,000 for He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest 369 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,120 that year when he was before the leaders. 370 00:21:51,120 --> 00:21:52,480 And remember this is early Friday. 371 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:58,560 He was treated very poorly. They spat in his face. 372 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:02,200 We read Matthew 26 verse 67. They spat in his face, they beat 373 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:04,360 on him, they struck him with palms with their hands, saying 374 00:22:04,360 --> 00:22:06,400 prophecies to us. Christ, who's the one who struck 375 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:09,320 you? There was not a lot of good 376 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:11,160 about that except that we got redeemed. 377 00:22:12,360 --> 00:22:13,840 After that, he was sent to Pilot. 378 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:16,880 Things did not go any better. Pilot actually wanted to release 379 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,440 him because he said, I don't see any reason why he should be 380 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:22,440 killed. And that's when they said, if 381 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:24,360 you release this man, you're no, you're not. 382 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:27,600 You're no friend of Caesar. Pilots saw what was happening. 383 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:29,200 They were starting. They're cornering him. 384 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:33,000 So he sided with a crowd, handed Barabbas over to be released and 385 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:36,920 Jesus to be crucified. It says in John 19 verse one it 386 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:41,320 says So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him and the 387 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:44,320 soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on his head. 388 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,400 They put on him a purple robe and they said hail king of the 389 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,200 Jews, and they struck him with their hands. 390 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:54,040 He gave them what they wanted. Jesus got whipped, beaten, and 391 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:57,360 the Jews insisted on crucifixion and he gave that in that as 392 00:22:57,360 --> 00:23:00,840 well. And He was made to carry a cross 393 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:04,000 to his death. It was a heavy cross and he 394 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,400 couldn't carry it by himself. He was too weak by that time. 395 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:10,760 And so a man coming in from the country was stopped, and you 396 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:13,160 take his cross, and so he had to carry it. 397 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:16,640 But John 19 verse 17 says he, bearing his cross, went out to a 398 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:18,920 place called the place of a skull, which is in Hebrew called 399 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:21,920 Daldatha. And there, outside the city, 400 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:29,400 Jesus was nailed to a cross. Luke 2332 adds a bit more detail 401 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:31,560 to the story. And it says there were also two 402 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:33,880 others criminals LED with him to be put to death. 403 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:37,080 And when they came to the place called Calvary, there they 404 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:40,720 crucified him and the criminals, one on the right hand and the 405 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,720 other on the left. He was just a common criminal. 406 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:47,080 That's how they viewed him. And yet Jesus voluntarily 407 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:51,280 accepted all this as a part of God's plan for him to pay for 408 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:54,160 the sins of the world. He lived out the life of the 409 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:59,960 cross in every aspect, in every part of the way, emotionally, 410 00:23:59,960 --> 00:24:02,080 spiritually, physically, everything. 411 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:06,000 And then he died. His death was no less dramatic 412 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,840 than his suffering. We read in the forces of nature. 413 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:13,800 Even God sent darkness and there was an earthquake and then one 414 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:16,640 of the Gospel that says the Roman centurion said truly, this 415 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:22,240 was the Son of God for salvation to happen, this had to happen. 416 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:26,120 You and I cannot pay for our sins and live. 417 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:28,800 That's a that's a true statement. 418 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:32,360 We, you and I, we cannot pay for our sins and live. 419 00:24:32,360 --> 00:24:34,680 We can only have Jesus pay and then we live. 420 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:38,160 God designed it so that sin cannot survive due to its 421 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:41,200 nature. Sinful living, selfish living, 422 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:44,000 always leads away from God. It destroys. 423 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:48,000 It never brings life. Sin must meet its death by its 424 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:51,560 own actions. When sin happens, a debt is owed 425 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:56,280 and the debt must be paid. In eternity there will be no 426 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:59,320 balance owing. There will be no unpaid debt. 427 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:03,560 All the debt of sin is paid, but held to account for those who 428 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:07,400 won't receive it. For people who reject it, 429 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:09,840 they'll be held accountable for their own sins. 430 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:13,200 They'll spend eternity separated from God. 431 00:25:14,120 --> 00:25:16,360 Sin can only be paid for with life. 432 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:18,600 Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 433 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,680 Hebrews Chapter 9, verse 22. The writer says according to the 434 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:25,120 law, almost all things are purified with blood, and without 435 00:25:25,120 --> 00:25:27,040 shedding of blood there is no remission. 436 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:30,200 God knew from the beginning that because of sin in the world, 437 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:32,840 blood would have to be shed so His people could live. 438 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:37,040 Sin and holiness cannot coexist side by side. 439 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:39,120 So what's the lesson for us in the cross? 440 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,080 What does the cross matter for you and me today? 441 00:25:42,360 --> 00:25:46,640 We can turn to the cross, embrace, welcome it and treasure 442 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:49,480 it, or we can reject it and turn away. 443 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:53,200 The choice is ours to make. There's a judgment coming. 444 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:56,520 And all who repented, who put their faith in Jesus, who are in 445 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:59,080 relationship with Jesus, they will spend eternity with Jesus. 446 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:04,040 We, you and I, we get to choose in the Gospel of Matthew. 447 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:06,800 I won't read the passages. We have the story of Jesus 448 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:09,400 coming in his glory. Matthew 25 He sits on his 449 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:11,360 throne, and the nations are before him. 450 00:26:11,360 --> 00:26:12,920 And he'll separate the sheep from the goats. 451 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:16,000 And he'll say to the sheep on his right, come blessed by my 452 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:18,040 Father, and inherit the Kingdom, prepared for the foundation of 453 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:20,160 the world. I was hungry, you fed me, 454 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:23,080 thirsty you give me to drink, a stranger you took me, and naked 455 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:25,040 you clothed me sick, and you visited me. 456 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:26,760 And they'll say, when did we ever do that? 457 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:29,720 And he says what you did to the least of these, you did for me. 458 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:33,120 You see, friends, that's the life of the cross in action. 459 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:36,520 The life of the cross means walking with Jesus, living for 460 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:38,640 Jesus, embracing the opportunities he provides for 461 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:40,360 us. There's also the other side. 462 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:43,760 He also that says in Matthew 25 as well, that he turns to those 463 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:45,400 on his left. He says, depart from you, curse 464 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:48,160 into the everlasting fire, prepare for the devil and his 465 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:51,600 angels. They wonder why he says, you 466 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:54,000 didn't invite me. You didn't give me to drink. 467 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:55,360 You didn't visit me. Is it? 468 00:26:55,360 --> 00:26:59,360 When did we not do it? He said he will say in verse 45, 469 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:02,120 I say to you as much as you did not do it for one of the least 470 00:27:02,120 --> 00:27:05,000 of these didn't do it for me. And they will go into 471 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:07,800 everlasting punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. 472 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:12,480 These are sobering words. On Good Friday was when that 473 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:17,360 divide happened. Unless the story of Easter 474 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:22,680 results in a changed life in US, it's empty and has no meaning. 475 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:24,880 There's no detour, there's no shortcut. 476 00:27:25,120 --> 00:27:27,400 Everyone comes to the cross, to God. 477 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:30,920 That's the only way. His victory on the cross is our 478 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:32,440 salvation. That's the gift. 479 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,120 We don't have to earn it, We don't have to work for it. 480 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:38,160 We just live it out. So I encourage us this morning, 481 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:40,320 let's surrender ourselves to Him continually. 482 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:44,080 Jesus suffering was deep and very real and painful. 483 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:47,240 It was at every level, emotional, spiritual, physical, 484 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:49,880 and in every aspect. He died for us. 485 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:54,480 You see our sins with our names on them, we're laid on Jesus. 486 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:56,200 So what does it do to you and me? 487 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:58,880 Do we just yawn and think, OK, what's for lunch? 488 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:06,320 Are we willing to carry a cross? Where the true Church of Jesus 489 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:08,160 Christ is, there is also a cross. 490 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:12,160 Without faith. Without a cross, there's no 491 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:14,840 hope. Without a cross, it's not really 492 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:17,280 faith. Without the cross, there's 493 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:18,920 really no relationship with Jesus. 494 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:21,960 This morning we again want to celebrate communion. 495 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:25,680 We want to celebrate what Jesus did for us. 496 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:29,160 We want to participate and remind ourselves what Jesus did 497 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:31,200 on the cross for us. He paid our penalty. 498 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:36,200 So as we celebrate communion, may our hearts, our minds and 499 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:38,680 focus be on Jesus and what he did for us. 500 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:43,320 I want to go to prayer and as I pray that the worship team will 501 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:46,680 come up, our ministerial will come forward and distribute the 502 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:49,680 bread and the juice. Then you want to celebrate 503 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:51,000 communion. So that's let's pray. 504 00:28:52,880 --> 00:29:00,720 Lord Jesus, you gave not just much, not just a portion, You 505 00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:04,640 gave everything. You love this world so much that 506 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:07,920 you gave your Son your all so that whoever believes can have 507 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:10,560 eternal life. Whoever believes will have 508 00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:13,800 eternal life. Lord, on this side of eternity, 509 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:17,960 we will never fully understand at all, but we can remind 510 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:20,920 ourselves repeatedly of your love for us and how much you 511 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:24,600 loved us. Lord, may you be our King and 512 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:28,000 Lord, maybe worship you a Savior, but especially also as 513 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:30,480 King and Lord. Help us, Lord, to remember what 514 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:33,760 you did for us. Lord, as we celebrate communion 515 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:37,160 here now, this morning, may our hearts be right with you. 516 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:40,160 Lord, we pray that we'll continually reflect on what 517 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:43,080 you've done for us by dying for our sins and help us to 518 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:46,560 surrender fully and totally at all times. 519 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:48,560 We thank in Jesus name, Amen.