The Old Rugged Cross: Delivered

Introduction

We have been on a journey looking at the Old Rugged Cross. We have remembered how it was defined, despised, designated, and declared. However, I think the most important aspect of the Old Rugged Cross is to see how it delivers. I want show you on this Easter Sunday from a passage in God’s Word that takes place right on and continues right after the first Easter Sunday.

John 20:24–29 NIV84

24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

What a whirlwind of events! Jesus had be wrongly accused, beaten, tried, publically humiliated, sentenced to death and then crucified on the old rugged cross. He was placed in a borrowed tomb which was sealed before the Sabbath began. To finish the burial rituals, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome arrive early that Sunday morning to find an empty tomb. The Risen Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and tells her to share this good news with the other disciples. Jesus then appears to the disciples but all of them are not there. We see from our scripture today that obviously Thomas was one that was not there. Thomas is typical of lots of us. Perhaps from this passage you can see some similarities. Let me show you how and the old rugged cross delivers us.

It Delivers You From Doubt and Disbelief

First, we see it delivers us from doubt and disbelief.

Doubting Thomas

Doubting Thomas gets a bad deal to be honest with you. Did you know that he has a phrase named after him in the Webster’s dictionary? Doubting Thomas means “an incredulous or habitually doubtful person.” I am sure you have heard that phrase used before! Somewhere along the way, the definition of an incredulous or habitually doubtful person was pinned to this disciple.

Doubting Disciples

Before Thomas was tagged with this, so were other doubting disciples. We see in scripture that Peter and John experienced doubt as well. When the women told them about the empty tomb, they doubted. Luke 24:11

Luke 24:11 NIV84

11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

What about the two that were walking on the Road to Emmaus? They were discussing things about what had happened and this stranger joins them in that walk. They include the stranger in all that took place, talked to him the whole along the whole road, talked scripture with Him, invited Him to dinner, and didn’t know He was Jesus until He broke the bread and gave thanks. They doubted that their Lord had been resurrected!

Doubting Me

As I have studied this and been a Christian now for over 54 years, there have been doubts in my life as well. Not necessarily doubts about a risen Savior, but certainly doubts about what He might think of me. Maybe I am the exception, but I would be willing to think that you have had doubts in your faith as well. Thomas gets the bad deal because he verbalized it more than the others. He said, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand in His side, I will not believe it.”

How many times have you needed to have the evidence? Just a week after Thomas has said that in a room without Jesus, the Lord once again appears in a locked room saying, “Peace be with you!”

John 20:27 NIV84

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

The Old Rugged Cross delivered Thomas from doubt and disbelief.

It Delivers You From Despair

When the doubt and disbelief are delivered, you and I are also delivered from despair. Sometimes, when our faith is challenged or when something blind sides us, we experience despair. I know I do not have to define it as many of us have experienced despair. But just as a reminder, despair is the loss of hope. Don’t you know that the disciples and followers of Jesus were experiencing despair. Just a week before the crucifixion, they were walking in the streets of Jerusalem as the crowds shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!” They had to be on cloud nine! Then to watch their teacher to suffer and die would have compelled them to fall into great despair.

The Despair of Choices

Sometimes, despair comes because of the choices we make. We say, “Jesus cannot help me because I have made bad, bad choices. I have done so many things wrong.” Yet, because of the Old Rugged cross, I have been freed from my past choices. Romans 6:18

Romans 6:18 NIV84

18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

The Despair of Circumstances

Maybe it wasn’t the choice we made that caused such a despair but it was the circumstances surrounding us. Maybe we were born into a family were a line of abuse occured. Maybe we had a neighbor or a co-worker that made poor decisions that led to unavoidable circumstances. Because of the old rugged cross, Jesus has delivered me from my circumstances and as a result, I am defined by my circumstances. Philippians 4:11

Philippians 4:11 NIV84

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

The Despair of Calamity

We have already mentioned that the disciples experienced the despair of calamity. Because of the fallen world in which we live, we all will experience calamity at some point. But because of the old rugged cross, I am set free from the horrific effects of calamities in that they do not define who I am. You see, the old rugged cross was the instrument of death for Jesus, who was placed in a borrowed tomb. Matthew 27:59-60

Matthew 27:59–60 NIV84

59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

When you borrow something, you usually do so to give it back. Do you see what happened? The cross, to the grave, and out from the grave to be with His friends. All the despair and every way it came, has been ultimately delivered by the old rugged cross! We are delivered from doubt, disbelief and despair! If we are delivered from these things, then what are we delivered to?

It Delivers You Dynamically to the ONE Who Can Deliver You

What does it mean?

Delivered to Being Sinless

It means that we can are now sinless in the eyes of God through Jesus. This does not mean that we won’t sin, because we will while we are on this earth. Romans 6:1-2

Romans 6:1–2 NIV84

1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

Because of the cross and now the empty tomb we are delivered from sin.

Delivered to Being Selfless

We are also delivered to being selfless. This was the ultimate example of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV84

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

The cross and the empty tomb delivered Thomas to being skeptic-free.

Delivered to Being Skeptic-free

Jesus said to Thomas,

John 20:27 NIV84

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Do you know what this is?

IYKYK

IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW

Scripture does not tell us if Thomas actually put his hand in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus or the side in which a spear had been thrust. The only thing we see is what is said is verse 28:

John 20:28 NIV84

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

I think Thomas had a magnificent “ah-ha” moment and realized that all he had been taught about Jesus was completely true! Jesus became real to Thomas. Thomas goes from skeptic to a personal confession. “My Lord and My God!”

The cross delivers you dynamically to the empty tomb to the ONE who can deliver you from absolutely EVERYTHING this world gives us!

It Delivers You to Deliver This Message

Let me explain. The Gospel message is about the love of Jesus. That love nailed His hands and feet to the old rugged cross and it caused Him to die for my sin, your sin, and the sin of the world. He paid the price I should have paid.

The Message of the Savior

This is the message of the Savior. John 10:9

John 10:9 NIV84

9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

Thomas got it! He and the disciples had heard this teaching and many other teachings from Jesus. The power of the resurrection helped them see, believe and understand. The message of the Savior is the message of salvation.

The Message of Salvation

Romans 10:9–10 NIV84

9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Have you received that message of salvation? Are you saved from eternal damnation to eternal life? If so, you have a message to share!

The Message to Share

The message to share is that Jesus loves you, He died for you, and He rose from the dead to conquer death for you!

Three things from this passage you need to know.

When it comes to spiritual truth, be prepared to believe what you have not seen!

2. Know the difference between noticing something in God’s Word and perceiving it.

Psalm 119:169 (NIV84)

169 May my cry come before you, O Lord;

give me understanding according to your word.

3. Full acknowledgement of the resurrection of our Lord means allowing the old rugged cross and the empty tomb to point us onward to the Living Lord!

Applicable Truths

Allow the reality of the Living Lord to help you obey Him in everything.

Gather on a regular basis with other believers and expect great things.

In the tough days remember that Jesus says, “Peace be with you.”

Never forget the blessing Jesus gave Thomas:

John 20:29 NIV84

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The greatest thing to remember today… HE LIVES! And He loves you!