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March 20, 2005

Sermon Archive

MEANING OF THE CROSS:

THY WILL BE DONE

    

THERE WERE THE CHEERING CROWDS. THERE WERE THE PALMS WAVING. THERE THE SHOUTS FROM THE CROWD "HOSANNA. HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST" AS HE RODE BY ON A COLT. WHAT A CELEBRATION! WHAT A TRIUMPH!

AND IT HAD NOT ONLY BEEN THE TRIUMPH OF THAT DAY. IT HAD BEEN THREE YEARS OF TRIUMPH. SINCE JESUS HAD BEEN BAPTIZED BY JOHN IN THE WILDERNESS, IT HAD BEEN HEALINGS, A SERMON ON THE MOUNT, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, LIVES CHANGED FOREVER.

ZACCHEAUS, THE HATED TAX COLLECTOR, HAD RETURNED FOUR FOLD TO ALL HE HAD DEFRAUDED. MARY MAGDALENE HAD GONE FROM NO WHERE IN HER LIFE TO BEING A DISCIPLE.

JESUS CERTAINLY HAD TRIUMPHED. AND BECAUSE OF JESUS, MANY OTHERS HAD FOUND THEY COULD TRIUMPH IN THEIR LIVES TOO. IN FACT, BECAUSE JESUS TRIUMPHED, HE CAN HELP YOU TRIUMPH IN YOUR LIFE TOO.

YET, ALL THIS HAPPENED ON THAT FIRST PALM SUNDAY. STILL, IT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK.

FOR ON MONDAY, JESUS ENTERED THE TEMPLE AND OVERTURNED THE TABLES ON THE MONEY CHANGERS WHO WERE CHEATING THE PEOPLE IN THE LORD'S TEMPLE.

THEN AFTER HE HAD TAUGHT THE PEOPLE, IN THE EVENING, HE WOULD LEAVE JERUSALEM TO STAY IN A SAFE PLACE, IN BETHANY, TWO MILES AWAY.

SOON IT WAS THURSDAY, THURSDAY EVENING, IN FACT, IN AN UPPER ROOM. JESUS WASHED THE DISCIPLES' FEET. AND PERHAPS THEY BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND HIS OTHER PURPOSE, HIS WILLINGNESS TO BE A SUFFERING SERVANT.

THEN THE DISCIPLES WALKED WITH JESUS AS THEY SANG HYMNS TO THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE, JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY WALLS, WELL WITHIN RANGE OF THE JERUSALEM AUTHORITIES.

WE REMEMBER AS JESUS KNELT DOWN AND PRAYED. GREAT DROPS OF PERSPIRATION BLOOD ROLLED DOWN FROM HIS FOREHEAD, AND THE BEGINNING OF HIS PRAYER, "IF IT BE POSSIBLE, LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME." UNFORTUNATELY, THE DISCIPLES SLEPT THROUGH THESE MOMENTS OF PERSONAL AGONY FOR JESUS.

THEN, SUDDENLY, THE TEMPLE GUARDS ENTERED THE GARDEN. JUDAS ID'ED JESUS WITH A KISS. HE WAS HUSTLED AWAY.

NEXT THERE WERE THE MOCK TRIALS IN THE NIGHT WHEN NO ONE IN THE CITY WAS AWAKE. JESUS FIRST STOOD BEFORE CAIAPHIS, THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND HIS FALSE ACCUSERS.

IN THE COURTYARD WAS THE DISCIPLE PETER. IN THE SILENCE OF THE NIGHT, THE ROOSTER CROWED. PETER HAD JUST DENIED EVER KNEW JESUS NOT ONCE BUT THREE TIMES.

FINALLY, JESUS WAS TAKEN TO PILATE. AND AFTER HEARING THE DEMANDS OF THE CROWD TO "CRUCIFY, CRUCIFY," JESUS WAS STRIPPED AND BEATEN WITH A CAT OF NINE TAILS. HE WAS MOCKED AND SPAT UPON. YET, THIS WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

NEXT, HE WAS MADE TO CARRY HIS OWN CROSS, THEN TO LIE UPON IT, AS NAILS WERE POUNDED INTO WRISTS AND FEET. THERE WAS BLOOD. JESUS BLOOD. THE BLOOD OF THE PERFECT SON OF GOD.

AFTER SOLDERS LIFTED THE CROSS UP, HE WAS LEFT TO HANG THERE AND DIE, BETWEEN TWO THIEVES.

AND, JESUS' RESPONSE? HIS FIRST WORDS FROM THE CROSS, "FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO." JESUS INTERCEDING WITH GOD ON THEIR BEHALF, ON OUR BEHALF, DESPITE HIS OWN EXCRUCIATING AGONY.

YET, WE KNOW HE FELT THE PAIN OF IT ALL FOR FROM THE CROSS HE CRIED, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?"

FINALLY, JESUS SAID, "IT IS FINISHED." AND, THEN, "INTO THEY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT." AND HE BREATHED HIS LAST.

A PASTOR IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TELLS OF THE DRAMATIZATION OF CHRIST'S TRIAL AND CRUCIFIXION BY THE YOUTH GROUP AT HIS CHURCH. THE YOUTH DIRECTOR PLAYED THE ROLE OF CHRIST, THE YOUTH THE JEERING MOB.

"CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!" THEY SHOUTED, AND THEN THEY DRAGGED THE YOUTH DIRECTOR INTO THE BACK YARD OF THE CHURCH AND HUNG HIM UP ON A IMPROVISED CROSS.

THE PASTOR STOOD TO THE SIDE OF THE ASSEMBLY, TO "SEE HOW THE DRAMA WAS GOING." THE YOUTH WERE HUSHED NOW, AS "CHRIST" HUNG THERE AND SPOKE THESE WORDS TO THE YOUTH GROUP: "EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE DOING THIS TO ME, I STILL LOVE YOU."  AND THEN, THE PASTOR NOTICED AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL STANDING IN THE FRONT OF THE GROUP, TRANSFIXED BY THE SCENE. HE LOOKED AT HER AND SAW TEARS STREAMING DOWN HER FACE.

"AND," THE PASTOR STATES, "I WAS ENVIOUS OF HER." FOR US "PROFESSIONALS" IT WAS A "PERFORMANCE." FOR HER, IT WAS THE REAL THING. SHE WAS THERE. SO OFTEN YOU AND I COME TO A GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE AND MERELY OBSERVE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO CHRIST. WE ARE UNINVOLVED SPECTATORS. AND YET THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD IS HANGING THERE, SUFFERING AND DYING FOR YOUR AND MY SINS ON THE CROSS.

JESUS KNEW THAT IT WOULD TAKE SUFFERING, GREAT SUFFERING, EVEN DEATH ITSELF, TO ACCOMPLISH GOD'S REDEEMING PURPOSE WITH HIS LIFE.

SO STANDING BACK FOR A MOMENT AND LOOKING AT THE WHOLE PICTURE, WHAT DO WE SEE?

ON SUNDAY, WE SAW CHEERING CROWDS AND A TRIUMPHANT  JESUS.

BY FRIDAY, GOOD FRIDAY?, WE SEE A CRUCIFIED LORD ON A CROSS.

HOW CAN WE CONNECT THOSE TWO, A TRIUMPHANT CHRIST AND A LATER A CRUCIFIED ONE.

WE CAN FIND THE ANSWER BY GOING BACK TO THIS. (SHOW ROCK) THIS ROCK SYMBOLIZES THE MUCH LARGER ROCK ON WHICH JESUS KNELT AND PRAYED IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. AND, AGAIN, WHAT DID JESUS SAY? HE FINALLY PRAYED, "NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE."

THE PURPOSE, THEN, THAT JESUS SOUGHT TO FULFILL WHICH MADE HIM ON SUNDAY A TRIUMPHANT LORD AND ON FRIDAY A CRUCIFIED ONE WAS TO DO NOT HIS WILL BUT GOD'S WILL WITH HIS LIFE.

WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE STORY THIS WEEK OF ASHLEY SMITH, A WIDOWED MOTHER WITH A DAUGHTER. WE KNOW OF HER NOW BECAUSE SHE HAD AN UNEXPECTED AND UNWELCOME GUEST IN HER HOME, BRIAN NICHOLS WHO HAD JUST KILLED THREE AND PROBABLY FOUR PEOPLE INCLUDING A JUDGE.

YET, WE HEAR LATER, AFTER BRIAN NICHOLS DID NOT KILL HER BUT VOLUNTARILY GAVE HIMSELF UP, THAT ASHLEY SMITH HAD TOLD HIM THAT GOD HAD SENT HIM TO HER HOME FOR A REASON. EVEN THEN HE HAD TIED HER UP.

NOW, HOW IS THEN THAT A VULNERABLE WOMAN IN GRIEF FOR HER HUSBAND, A MOTHER, AND UNDERSTANDABLY IN FEAR FOR HER OWN LIFE COULD SAY TO A RECENT KILLER, IT IS A GOOD THING THAT YOU CAME TO MY HOME?

I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE. ASHLEY'S MAIN FOCUS WAS NOT ON HERSELF, AMAZINGLY ENOUGH. HER MAIN FOCUS WAS NOT ON HER CROSS TO BEAR IN THOSE HORRIBLE HOURS. HER MAIN FOCUS WAS ON WHAT SHE SENSED GOD WANTED TO DO WITH HER LIFE.

AND, BECAUSE HER MAIN FOCUS WAS ON NOT HER WILL BUT GOD'S WILL, SHE FOUND NOT ONLY THE WITS AND WORDS SHE NEEDED FOR HERSELF BUT FOUND WHAT TO SAY TO BRIAN TOO. "THERE IS A GREATER PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE." WHEN HE ASKED HER WHAT THAT COULD BE, SHE REPLIED, "PERHAPS YOU TOO CAN TELL OTHERS ABOUT GOD."

IT IS AMAZING WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN WE KEEP OUR FOCUS NOT ON OUR WILL BUT ON GOD'S WILL.

WE REMEMBER THE THIEVES ON THEIR CROSSES ON EITHER SIDE OF JESUS. ONE RIDICULED JESUS BUT THE OTHER SAID TO JESUS, "REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM." AND JESUS' RESPONSE? "TODAY YOU SHALL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE."

THE DIFFERENCE? THE SECOND THIEF CHANGED HIS FOCUS FROM HIMSELF TO CHRIST.

WHEN I THINK OF ALBERT SCHWEITZER, SISTER TERESA, PEOPLE WHO HAVE INSPIRED ME, WHAT REALLY IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES?

AGAIN, THEY FOCUSED NOT ON WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO WITH THEIR LIVES BUT ON WHAT GOD WANTED TO DO WITH THEIR LIVES.

OF COURSE, EVEN IF WE WANT TO, IT IS NOT ALWAYS THAT EASY TO FOCUS ON WHAT GOD WANTS FOR OUR LIVES.

IT CAN BE DIFFICULT WHEN WE CHOOSE NOT TO DO GOD'S WILL WITH OUR LIVES. WE CAN CHOOSE OTHER DIRECTIONS, IDOLS.

THERE IS OUR SINFULNESS THAT CAN OBVIOUSLY GET IN THE WAY.

AND IT CAN BE ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TO FOCUS ON GOD'S WILL FOR OUR LIVES IF THERE HAS BEEN A CROSS DROPPED ACROSS OUR PATH IN LIFE.

OR IF, HEAVEN FORBID, IF GOD ASKS US TO CARRY A CROSS IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER TO FULFILL GOD'S PURPOSE WITH OUR LIVES.

THERE TOO IS THE FEAR THAT IF WE COMMIT OUR LIFE TO GOD, TO CHRIST, THAT THE SACRIFICE WILL BE TOO MUCH.

THERE ARE MANY REASONS IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO KEEP OUR FOCUS ON GOD'S WILL.

YET, JESUS WHETHER IN TRIUMPH AS ON THE FIRST PALM SUNDAY OR IN CARRYING A CROSS LATER THAT WEEK, KEPT HIS FOCUS NOT ON HIS WILL BUT ON GOD'S WILL.

IN CLOSING, PERHAPS THE HYMN "TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY" SAYS IT BEST.

VERSE 3, "TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY, LET HIM BE THY GUIDE, AND RUN NOT BEFORE HIM, WHATEVER BETIDE. IN JOY OR IN SORROW, STILL FOLLOW THE LORD, AND, LOOKING TO JESUS, STILL TRUST IN HIS WORD."

AND, FINALLY, GOD, CHRIST'S INVITATION TO YOU TODAY? 

VERSE 4, "TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY, BE CALM IN THY SOUL, EACH THOUGHT AND EACH MOTIVE, BENEATH HIS CONTROL. THUS LED BY THE SPIRIT TO FOUNTAINS OF LOVE, THOU SOON SHALL BE FITTED FOR SERVICE ABOVE."

I INVITE YOU, LIKE JESUS, TO FOCUS NOT ON YOUR WILL, BUT "THINE WILL BE DONE."

LET US PRAY.

 

 

DEAR GOD,

THANK YOU FOR FOCUSING ON GOD'S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE.
FORGIVE US WHEN WE FOCUS ON OUR WILL AND NOT YOURS.  HELP US "IN JOY OR IN SORROW" TO FOLLOW YOU.
AMEN.

 

 

 

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