JOURNEY TO THE CROSS
Matt 27:36
36 And sitting down they watched him there;
There are some who come to the Cross in the early part of their lives, and who, in relinquishing themselves to its protection in the dew of their youth, are saved from much of the world’s suffering and shame.
There are some who never come at all, whose natures seem too shallow to need, or too worldly to desire, its cleansing and redeeming fires. (1 Cor 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,)
A lighthouse is salvation to them who are lost and perishing at sea.
Water is a lifesaver to those lost and perishing in the desert.
But there are others who wander far, who taste life’s bitterness, who grope and sigh for rest, who in lonely hours cry with bitter cry for an answer to the burning questions of the brain. They wander far in lone and perilous ways, but at last they come to the sheltering Cross of Christ. Tired, and with a sigh they sink down before it, and, as weary children, stretch forth their hands in humble faith and, accepting its deliverance, find rest.
I want to talk about the cruelty inflicted upon Jesus as He journeyed to the cross.
Mark 14:50
50 And they all forsook him, and fled.
Mark 14:56
56 For many bare false witness against him,
Mark 14:65
65 And some began to spit on him,
Mark 14:65
the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
Mark 15:7
7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
Mark 15:12-14
12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
Mark 15:17
platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
Mark 15:19
19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him,
Mark 15:15
he had scourged him,
Mark 15:24
24 And when they had crucified him,
John 19:30
he said, It is finished:
It was inhuman what they did to Him.
And so I stand at a distance and look at the cross and I’m thinking, “that’s crazy that someone could do that to a man.
And, it’s amazing that a man would go through all that to purchase salvation for mankind.”
So I stand and look, and as I look around;
I see those that love Him and talk of His love.
I see those who have been set free from enslaving habits, who are rejoicing in their freedom.
I remember what they said about Him and it pierces my soul.
Thus my journey begins.
(Use your own testimony)
35yrs ago being a non-Christian and very rebellious God began a chain of events in my life that led me to the cross.
Even though while growing up as a young child, the Lord dealt with me almost daily.
At 18yrs old the journey began with a family member pleading with me to go to church. I finally gave in and went only to walk away after a couple of times because I just couldn’t give it all to Jesus.
All through the next 10yrs God’s pursuit was relentless. I was constantly under conviction because of the sins, I was committing, and still I never would give in.
Then on Nov. 17, 1977 my twin brother was killed tragically on the job. For two days I lived in misery and made everyone around me miserable.
After his funeral, about mid-day, I began to stand off and look real hard at that cross. It took me from about mid-day to mid-night to get there but I made it.
There were some things that I experienced on the way, but nothing like Jesus experienced.
I experienced desperation (I had to tell Him I was sorry for my sins)
I had a need for mercy.
I experienced uncontrollable tears.
I had an unbearable load of sin. A tremendous awareness of my lost condition, and unbearable guilt.
But you know? When I arrived at the cross, it wasn’t what I expected.
Instead of judgment, I received mercy and a pair of open arms.
My tears eventually turned to joy.
The guilt was removed. I was forgiven and accepted.
The path is clearly marked. There’s no problem in finding the cross this morning
Heb 12:2
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Have you taken the journey? If not, you need to be on your way.
