Unmoved By The Cross
Good Friday - 2005
It was only a few days before His death. Jesus was in Jerusalem. Philip comes up to Jesus and tells Him that there are a group of Greeks who have come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast who want to see Him. AND - this simple request to see Him, really stirred in Jesus heart… YOU SEE – it reminded Him of the fast approaching hour… (The Hour) WHEN – He would be lifted up… WHEN - all would see Him… AND WHEN - the wall between Jew & Gentile… AND – between man & God, would be removed for all time… To the Greeks request to see Him Jesus replied;
“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27“Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” 33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. – John 12:23-33
“But I, when I am lifted up from the earth , will draw all men to myself. He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die ”
UNDERSTAND - there is an awesome power in the cross of Christ. IT - is at the cross that sinners are convicted; the arrogant are humbled; the hardened are broken, the skeptic convinced, the weak strengthened and the repentant are forgiven..
Max Lucado in his book No Wonder They Call Him Savior, says of the cross;
The cross rests on the time line of history like a compelling diamond. Its tragedy summons all sufferers. Its absurdity attracts all cynics. It’s hope lures all searchers…
My what a piece of wood! History - has idolized it and despised it; gold plated it and burned it; worn it and trashed it. History has done everything to it but ignore it.
That’s the one option that the cross does not offer. No one can ignore it! You can’t ignore a piece of lumber that suspends the greatest claim in history. A crucified carpenter claiming that he is God on earth? Divine? Eternal? The death-slayer?
Paul wrote the following words in 1 Cor 1:18;
“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it IS the power of God…”
NOW - a crucified Savior does not sound unusual to us… BUT - for a Jew in Paul’s day – it was a total contradiction of terms. It was like saying “icy cold flames or hot ice.” It would be like calling a pizza place and asking for a (small-large) pizza or asking for a (meat lovers- vegetarian) pizza. A - crucified Messiah defied all Jewish reasoning.
YOU SEE - every hope they had in a Messiah was a strong and powerful king coming to defeat their enemies. YES - they wanted a powerful conquering hero and instead they got a stumbling block.. TO - the Jewish mind the cross was a contradiction… AND TO – the Roman mind a crucified God was a joke, it was just plain ridiculous…
QUESTION – what is the cross to you?
Max Lucado shares in one of his books about a time when he was sitting and having coffee with a Canadian college student named Ian. NOW - Ian had grow up in church and had taken courses on theology and he had even at one time wanted to go into the ministry… BUT - he quit because something just didn’t click… HE - asked Max, “What really matters? What really counts? Don’t give me religion, give me what really matters..” Max goes on to say the following….
In your bible of over 1,000 pages what matters? Among all the do’s and don’ts and shoulds and shouldn’ts, what is essential?
What would you have said to Ian? Would you have spoken of the evil of the world or maybe the eminence of heaven? Would you have quoted Jn 3:16 or Acts 2:38 or maybe 1 Cor 13? What really matters?
You’ve probably wrestled with this question. Maybe you’ve gone through the acts of religion and faith and yet found yourself more often than not as dry as a well…
Is this all there is? Sunday school attendance, pretty songs, faithful tithing. Golden crosses. Three piece suits. Bible choirs. Leather bibles. It’s nice and all but where is the heart of it?
NOW - Max at the time was unable to give Ian an answer…. BUT – if he had another chance he said that he knows what he would share with him, it’s a passage written by a Pharisee turned Gospel warrior…
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. – 1 Cor 15:3-5
What is it that matters? What is it that is of first importance? – The cross….AND – that is what I want to talk about tonight… Good Friday 2005… The cross… AND – I want to do it by taking a look at a group of people who were there (at the cross) when Jesus was lifted up 2,000 years ago…
After the soldiers had nailed Jesus to the cross, they divided up his clothes into four parts, one for each of them. But his outer garment was made from a single piece of cloth, and it did not have any seams. 24The soldiers said to each other, "Let’s not rip it apart. We will gamble to see who gets it." This happened so that the Scriptures would come true, which say, "They divided up my clothes and gambled for my garments." The soldiers then did what they had decided.
– John 19:23,24
TRY - to picture that scene for a moment. These soldiers, these men… Were witnessing THE most significant event in all of history… YET - they are unmoved by it. I MEAN - they were not moved by the cross in the least…
AND YOU KNOW – I don’t think these soldiers are alone in this… LISTEN - I am convinced that a lot of people today are not moved by the cross… AND – that most are not as moved a they should be…
QUESTION – why aren’t people moved by the cross? WHY – did the cross not move the Roman soldiers that day?
ONE - reason why the Roman soldiers were unmoved by the cross is because of
Familiarity…
UNDERSTAND – Jesus was not the first guy that these guys had seen lifted up on a cross… According to Josephus, after Herod the Great died, the Roman governor of Syria, crucified 2,000 men in order to quell an uprising. By the time of Christ Rome had already crucified more than 30,000 people in and around Judea.
Skip Gray in his book, The Way of The Cross says,
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 10 meters along the road for a distance of 16 kilometers. The sight of some 1,700 people, dead or dying in agony, on crosses spaced every 30 feet for 10 miles must have made an incredible impression on the mind of a teenager.
SO - you see, these soldiers probably had performed so many crucifixions that it was methodical to them. It was their job – it was what they did for a living. They had become numb, they were used to it, just another day at the office. AND - though they heard the screams and the cries for mercy, they had learned to ignore them… That way they could get the job done and get home in time for dinner.
AND GUYS - my fear for us today is that for many the cross has lost it’s impact because of familiarity. I MEAN - we see crosses everywhere; on top of buildings, on tomb stones, tee shirts, on the jewelry that we wear. YES – crosses are everywhere.
NOW - the law of familiarity says, “that no matter how valuable, given enough time, everything will be taken for granted.” (AND - we see that played out in life all the time don’t we? WITH - our spouse, kids, parents)
QUESTION - is it possible for Christians who attend church regularly to no longer be moved by the cross because it has become too familiar. IS IT – possible for Christians to reach a point in their life where they can sing about the cross - without even realizing the impact of the words you are singing…
QUESTION – when you hold the cup and cracker in your hands are you moved…?
Were you moved tonight when you sang…?
About the cross…
About how His blood washes away your sin?
[Tim…] - don’t let the cross become so familiar to you that you are no longer moved by it. .
ANOTHER REASON – why the soldiers were not moved by the cross, was because they had…
Hard Feelings Towards the People Of God
Roman soldiers hated to be stationed in Palestine. The religious restrictions, the racial prejudice and rebellious people made Jerusalem one of their least favorite assignments.
THEREFORE - when one of their superiors said, “We have a Jewish rebel here and we want you to torture and crucify him,” THEY – couldn’t wait for the opportunity to release their frustration. THAT’S WHY - the Roman soldiers punched Jesus with their fists… THAT’S WHY - they mocked him with the robe, crown of thorns and… THAT’S WHY - they spit on him, kicked him and pulled out his beard by the handful.
Do you remember the pictures of that US soldier that was beaten, killed and drug through the streets of Somalia? Those who murdered him did not know him… HE – was just a victim of their hatred of America. LIKEWISE – when the Romans soldiers beat on Jesus, it wasn’t personal (Jesus was not the first Jew they had beat up and he was not the last). Jesus was just a convenient target for their frustration and hatred for the Jewish people. The cross of Christ did not move them… because of how they felt about the people of God..
AND LISTEN – people today are still unmoved by the cross for the same reason…
Maybe you are not moved by the cross because you have hard feelings against the people that the cross represents. A Christian exploited you, a church offended you, a brother betrayed you, a preacher turned you off…
BUT LISTEN – my challenge to you today, Good Friday 2005… IS - for you to see beyond the hypocritical imperfect followers of Christ and see Christ himself. TO – see beyond any had feelings you may have and see the cross. GUYS – don’t let other people cause you to no longer be moved by the power & beauty of the cross…
AND [Tim, Laurie…] – I am convinced that it is almost impossible to moved by the cross… at least not to the degree that God wants to move you… IF – you are holding hard feeling toward someone… BECAUSE – if the cross is about anything it is about what Jesus ENDURED…. SO THAT – we could be ONE not only with God but with each other.
AND LISTEN – when you have hard feeling and you are moved by the cross you are moved to get over it…
YES BECAUSE - of familiarity and hard feelings toward the people of God the Romans soldiers like many still today were unmoved by the cross… AND – a final reason they were unmoved by the cross was because of;
Material Things
THERE WAS SOME DICE-THROWING THAT WENT ON AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS. IMAGINE THE SCENE. THE SOLDIERS ARE HUDDLED IN A CIRCLE, THEIR EYES TURNED DOWNWARD. THE CRIMINAL ABOVE THEM IS FORGOTTEN. THEY GAMBLE FOR SOME USED CLOTHES. (THE TUNIC, THE CLOAK, THE SANDALS) ARE ALL UP FOR GRABS. EACH SOLDIER LAYS HIS LUCK ON THE HARD EARTH, HOPING TO EXPAND HIS WARDROBE AT THE EXPENSE OF A CRUCIFIED CARPENTER.
QUESTION - HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT THAT SCENE MUST HAVE LOOKED LIKE TO JESUS? AS HE LOOKED DOWNWARD PAST HIS BLOODY FEET AT THE CIRCLE OF GAMBLERS, WHAT DID HE THINK? WHAT EMOTIONS DID HE FEEL?
HE MUST HAVE BEEN AMAZED. HERE ARE COMMON SOLDIERS WITNESSING THE WORLD’S MOST UNCOMMON EVENT AND THEY DON’T EVEN KNOW IT. AS FAR AS THEY’RE CONCERNED, IT’S JUST ANOTHER FRIDAY MORNING AND HE’S JUST ANOTHER CRIMINAL.
“COME ON, HURRY UP; IT’S MY TURN!” “ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT-THIS THROW IS FOR THE SANDALS.” CASTING LOTS FOR THE POSSESSIONS CHRIST. HEADS DUCKED. EYES DOWNWARD. CROSS FORGOTTEN. THE SYMBOLISM IS STRIKING. DO YOU SEE IT!
THE SOLDIERS ARE SO CLOSE TO THE CROSS BUT SO FAR THE CHRIST. NOW, THEY CERTAINLY DIDN’T MIND CUTTING UP THE BODY OF JESUS, BUT HIS CLOTHES, THOSE MATERIAL POSSESSIONS , THOSE THEY ROLLED DICE FOR .
UNDERSTAND - THEY WERE SO BUSY LOOKING DOWN… THEY – WERE SO CAUGHT UP IN THINKING ABOUT MATERIAL THINGS EARTHLY POSSESSIONS THAT THEY NEVER LOOKED UP TO SEE THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.
AND GUYS – I can’t help but see some powerful symbolism here. UNDERSTAND – we can get so caught up in pursuing the things & status that this world says we need… THAT – we don’t have the time… TO - ‘really’ slow and look up at the cross..
LISTEN – I’m convinced that the power of the cross… is not found in quick and momentary glances… BUT INSTEAD – in wide eyed focused obsession… AND – the cross is worth that obsession … BECAUSE – there is nothing in this world more important then the cross… (Do you believe that?)
Legendary U.C.L.A. basketball coach John Wooden who led his team to 7 consecutive national Championships is a great guy and a strong Christian. A reporter once ask him how he was able to remain so clam amidst all the pressure of the game? Coach Wooden with a grin on face replied, “Well I carry a cross in my pocket. And when things get difficult and crazy in a game I reach into my pocket and feel that cross, and it reminds me that there is something much more important than basketball…”
The apostle Paul said it this way;
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance ; that Christ Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures…’ 1 Cor 15:3,4
“The message of the cross…to us who are being saved…IS the power of God…”
AND - Jesus said;
“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. (Notice that He did not say the hour has come for the Son of Man to be crucified) 24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
GUYS – my goal tonight is really simple…
…It’s that you will be moved by the cross.
• moved by what Jesus did/endured & went through…
• moved that He did it all for you
• moved to lay not just your sins, but your burdens down at it’s feet
• moved to embrace the cross for new life
• moved to like Jesus… DIE – to yourself so that you can produce many seeds & bring glory to God…
AND – just one quick thought before we move on… YOU KNOW – another reason why I think we are not moved by the cross is because it’s empty… NOW – I have always like the empty cross… BECAUSE – it’s reminds us that Jesus is no longer there,, BUT - has risen…
BUT – read something a guy wrote that got me to rethink this a little… when he made the following statement, “have we thrown the baby out with the bath water… Have we lost something by removing Jesus from the cross… I mean doesn’t our cross look awfully sanitized? Doesn’t it permit us to overlook the pain and agony of that cruel death. To paraphrase the little all lady in the hamburger commercial – “Where’s the blood?”
Clip From ‘The Passion’
