The Cross

Intro:

My prayer is that you and everyone of us understand what it means, signifies, implicates and whats at stake. My prayer today is for us all to gain a deeper understanding of The Cross!

The cross is more than pieces of jewelry made its in image, you can find it replicated on t-shirts, hats, windows of cars and buildings. You may take a drive up to the hillside and see one either painted on a rock or dug inside the hilltop as you drive through canyons and valleys. It is more than two beams nailed together, The Cross!

You may be wearing one at the moment. What does it mean to you?

History of the Cross

The New Bible Dictionary,

Theologically, the word ‘cross’ was used as a summary description of the gospel of salvation(explain), that Jesus Christ ‘died for our sins’

The word of the cross’ is also ‘the word of reconciliation (explain)

The shameful spectacle of a victim carrying a patibulum (top cross beam) was so familiar to his hearers that Jesus three times spoke of the road of discipleship as that of cross-bearing (Mt. 10:38; Mk. 8:34; Lk. 14:27). In John 3:14–15 14 Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life

The Necessity of the Cross

Lets look at Mark 8:34 “Then Jesus called the crowd to himself along with his disciples and told them, “If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow me continually,”

What does denying yourself look like? Is it more than, hey I really deserve { fill in the blank?} Is it more than, I denied gossiping about…..fill in the blank? Denying yourself is more than any of these things, it is saying, Lord, the house, checkbook, cars, my mind, my heart and my everything is yours! Thats denying yourself. Now, lets not get things twisted, God gave each and everyone of us certain gifts, a life to enjoy but to seek His kingdom first and all these things will be given to you.When Jesus spoke to his disciples about worry, he said in Luke 12:31 “Instead, be concerned about his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you as well.”

You see in this verse Mark 8:34 “Then Jesus called the crowd to himself along with his disciples and told them, “If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow me continually,”

Jesus says deny yourself, then what? pick up your cross! In the first century, they the disciples and others would surely know what it meant when they saw someone carrying their cross. The carriers would be on there way to being hung on it, their lives taken.

The crucifying of those on the cross were for the the lowest of the low.

The New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition Cross, Crucifixion

Crucifixion was practiced by the Phoenicians and Carthaginians and later used extensively by the Romans. Only slaves, provincials and the lowest types of criminals were crucified, but rarely Roman citizens.

Where and how was Jesus crucified? on the Cross!! I get a little unnerved when I try and say, or others say, “you deserve this or that” how do I deserve anything when my savior, your savior, the savior of the entire world was crucified on the cross!!!!

I was sitting in a restaurant the other day with my wife, a worker behind the counter was asked by a customer, how is your day going? The worker replied, its just a day. I said to myself, then to my wife, is it really just another day? I sat and I pondered the response given by the worker, I immediately thought of the Cross and what Jesus did for us all on that day, it is because of his saving grace we get to enjoy this day! I am asking you today, is it just another day to you? If so, look to the Cross!

In prayer and study this week I came across the following from my reading:

40 Days to the Cross: Reflections from Great Thinkers Reflection

Some are saying, Oh that the world was crucified to me and I to the world!

Note: add debate between the Jews and Greeks here Jew-signs and wonders and Greeks-wisdom. The Cross destroyed them both. 1 Corinthians 1:22 “Jews ask for signs, and Greeks look for wisdom,”

The Messiah the conquerer to come for the Jews and avenge them against the Romans for all their powerful and destructing ways to the Jews and the great Philosophical God of the greeks, who would never believe their God would or could die and certainly die in this type of humiliating manner, to them the Cross?

The Newness of the Cross

The Message of the Cross: Wisdom Unsearchable, Love Indestructible a. A Scandal to the Jews

As they waited for the coming Messiah, they had every expectation that he would be like a military commander, such as General Schwarzkopf of Gulf War fame. He would come to evict the Roman armies from their land and give them back their freedomThe

Are we starting to see the stark contrast of the Cross?

The Message of the Cross: Wisdom Unsearchable, Love Indestructible 2. The Reality of the Cross (1:23–25)

While the world functions on the basis of self-centredness, God functions on the alternative basis of self-denial

the world centers itself on its own wisdom but we rely on God’s power!!

The Message of the Cross: Wisdom Unsearchable, Love Indestructible a. The Cross Creates Division

Here Paul puts forward another polarity: those who are perishing and us who are being saved (18)

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The Need of the Cross

Lets look at a couple of verses: Heberews 12:2

International Standard Version Chapter 12

2 fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, who, in view of the joy set before him,

International Standard Version Chapter 2

Colossians 2:14–15

International Standard Version Chapter 1

Colossians 1:19–20

The New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition Cross, Crucifixion

Theologically, the word ‘cross’ was used as a summary description of the gospel of salvation, that Jesus Christ ‘died for our s

The Message of the Cross: Wisdom Unsearchable, Love Indestructible c. The Cross Engenders Humility

The ground is level at the foot of the cross

salvation is in the cross, reconciliation and redemption is in The Cross!!

Revelation 5:9 “They sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slaughtered. With your blood you purchased us for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation.”

I pray today Lord, I pray for all your children to know you, love you, serve you so that they may have a personal relationship with you. Oh God, you sent your son Jesus to the Cross, while we were still sinners, you sent him to the cross. All debts paid, all sin past, present and future, forgiven! Not only did he take on the sin of the world, he exchanged it for righteousness with you, for all that believe in you, call on your name, believe he was sent, crucified, resurrected and ascended back to heaven to prepare a place for us, so all that call upon him shall be saved. Lord we love you, we thank you for your son Jesus, in Jesus name Amen.

Lord, my God, my savior!! your will be done, not mine!