Today you will be with me
The way of the cross • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
The way of the Cross
The way of the Cross
Title: The way of the cross pt2.
Text: Luke 23:35-43; 1st Corinthians 1:18; 1st Peter 2:7-8
D.T. What the world sees a foolishness; we see as victory
Introduction: Today we continue our series “The way of the Cross.” This series will focus on the 7 words Jesus spoke while on the cross. These words are also going to serve as a type of road map for the nature of salvation itself. Salvation in Christ Jesus unfolds in 2 ways. First there is the saving event. That would be Christ's sacrifice, and our acceptance of that sacrifice. However salvation goes beyond the simple moment we are saved, it’s a process of growing in our faith, and becoming more like Jesus every day. The 7 words of Jesus on the cross help us better understand Salvation as a whole, from the event which saves us, and the perpetual growth which happens afterwards. The second word of the cross comes to us from Luke 23:35-43
And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The nature of crucifixion
While this was a form of execution, it was much more
Crucifixion was a type of execution used in very certain cases; whenever Rome wanted to send a message.
Crucifixion was free advertising at the expense of the one being executed.
Each cross was a Billboard
Just as the length of I-70 is littered with Billboards across the whole state of Missouri; so too were these cross billboards placed along all the roads of Rome.
This advertisement was both a warning and statement
The warning? This is what happens when you mess with Rome
The message? This person failed; their revolution failed, their friends will fail.
This series “The way of the Cross” ironic considering conventional wisdom says the way of the cross is a pathway to ruin and failure.
However Christianity doesn’t always conform to conventional wisdom. Sometimes it’s message is one of foolishness.
This idea leads us to the situation when Jesus speaks from the cross for the second time.
The message of foolishness (READ Luke 23:35-43
Jesus was crucified with 2 thieves on either side of him
These “thieves” wouldn’t be pickpockets who robbed a few market stalls.
Remember they are being crucified. This means they are like zealots who are working in rebellion against Rome
They likely robbed Rome for the purpose of funding a rebellion against Rome.
White supremacy groups robbing armored cars.
These men were eventually caught and crucified
Each man had 2 opposite responses to Jesus on the cross.
The first saw Jesus and asked “Aren’t you the one we’ve been waiting for? What are you doing here? Get out of here and take us with you
The second thieves rebuked the other and admitted their guilt. Rather than question Jesus. He sees Jesus and realizes he’s getting ready to return to his kingdom victorious. The man begs Jesus to remember him as he enters his kingdom
Jesus turns to the other criminal and says Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.
What caused Jesus to reward this man's faith with Salvation as he was dying on the cross?
What did this criminal say to get this response? Why didn’t Jesus offer this salvation to the other criminal?
The first criminal saw the fact that Jesus was on the cross as foolishness. He was the messiah they’ve been waiting for, why on earth was he being crucified?
The second criminal saw Jesus on the cross and he saw victory. He knew this moment was going to escort Jesus into his kingdom. The second criminal was saved because he saw victory in the cross.
Which brings us to the main point of today's message
What the world sees a foolishness; we see as victory
There are multiple passages which remind us of this
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1st Peter 2:7-8 (Why was Jesus a stone of offense? There are a couple of reasons. However one of the biggest is the fact that Jesus was crucified. Many cannot fathom the messiah dying in such a way
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
Do we see victory in the cross?
Jesus adopted the failure and shame associated with the humiliation of the cross so we don’t have to bear that burden.
Have we learned to see victory in what the world sees as foolishness
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
Seeing the possibility of victory in suffering seems foolish to the world
Seeing the possibility of victory in hardship suffered by us or loved ones as an avenue to proclaim Christ’s victory seems foolish to the world
Conclusion: To those who see victory in the foolishness, to those who see victory in the Cross, Jesus says “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” Do you want to see a victory?
