Your Cross Has A Purpose
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Opening Illustration
Opening Illustration
When I was a kid, I remember Magic Eye.
My parents had VHS tapes of these 3D illusions.
Here is an example of one…
When you initially look at it, it just looks like random, abstract art.
But if you use different technics to look at it…
apparently, you can see some sort of hidden image.
I tried
crossing my eyes,
crossing my arms and feet,
switching my shoes to the other feet,
looking at it upside down,
I could never see it!
But the idea behind a Magic Eye picture is…
THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR!
What may seem random and pointless at first,
has meaning and purpose when you look at it from the right perspective.
Transition to John
Transition to John
That’s a good description of what John is trying to teach us.
This morning we are continuing through the Gospel According to John,
as we come to the death of Jesus.
John wants us to to understand…
THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR!
If we had been there, and saw all the events surrounding Jesus’ death,
we would think He died like any other criminal…
we would think He died too young…
we would think a man who seemed promising in saving Israel,
wasn’t able to overcome the power of His enemies.
But John gives us insight from behind the scenes that we can’t see.
He shows us that:
THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR!
Jesus is coming to His hour.
This is the hour He has been anticipating His whole life,
when He would bear His own cross.
What looks like defeat and failure,
is Jesus’ final act of obedience to the Father in the flesh,
and is JESUS’ GLORY! (as Pastor Jonah said last week)
Title of Sermon
Title of Sermon
What we are going to be encouraged to see this morning through Jesus’ faithful example is…
Your Cross Has a Purpose
Your Cross Has a Purpose
In the same way that Jesus took up His cross,
He’s calling everyone who follows Him to take up their cross.
Even though it feels like failure,
or things happen that don’t make sense to us,
there is a purpose in it.
What Does It Mean to Take Up Your Cross?
What Does It Mean to Take Up Your Cross?
But before we understand what the purpose of our cross is,
we need to understand what it means to take up your cross.
Jesus said to His disciples in…
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Jesus modelled this…
Jesus’ cross has a unique purpose,
in that He dies as the final sacrifice for sin.
Jesus died a substitutionary death for all those who would put their faith in Him.
Whoever believes in Jesus, though they are deserving of hell because of their sin,
Jesus is their substitute…
He took on their sin and died in their place,
and transfers His perfect life of righteousness to their account.
In this way, Jesus’ cross is unique,
and we cannot follow or replace Jesus’ cross.
Rather, His cross becomes a pattern to follow.
But what does it mean to take up your cross?
The cross isn’t an image of inconvenience, struggle, or hardship,
the cross is the image of a violent death.
To take up your cross is to die to yourself!
You die to yourself so that you can live a life of obedience and submission to God.
It means saying no to the desire and will of your flesh
and yes to the desire and will of God.
Taking up your cross is not a commitment to a miserable life.
There is much misguided teaching that leads us to believe taking up your cross means:
looking down on yourself… “You’re nothing!”
seeking out pain and hardship… “The more suffering… the more holy!”
enduring abuse, manipulation or exploitation… “Take up your cross!”
Taking up your cross is not seeking to live a life of misery, pain and suffering,
and the more you suffer and the more miserable you are,
the more faithful you’re being to Jesus!
Is that how Jesus lived?
As we’ve been going through the Gospel According to John is that how you’ve seen Jesus?
Just looking for misery and pain wherever He could…
Always had a frown on His face…
Never enjoyed anything in His life?
NO!
Jesus was the embodiment of joy and happiness! Why?
Because He lived in close communion with the Father…
Because He lived to please the Father…
Because He walked in obedience to the Father…
And His obedience brought rejection, ridicule, and suffering,
but He was willing to endure it because of the joy He had in obeying His Father.
Jesus’ cross was suffering that came as a result of being faithful to God.
So it is with our lives.
We will find the deepest joy and happiness in our lives,
not when we fulfill our deepest fleshly pleasures and desires,
but when we walk in obedience to our heavenly Father!
Taking up our cross is enduring whatever suffering and shame may come,
as a result of our faithful obedience to the will of God!
Faithfully following Jesus may cost you relationships… (family, friends, or maybe even your marriage)
Faithfully following Jesus may cost you financially… (loss of job, or loss of income from working less/giving more)
Faithfully following Jesus may cost you status… (loss of respect from people who know you)
Faithfully following Jesus will cost you something in this life,
and that cost is what it means to take up your cross and follow Jesus.
But although it feels life a sacrifice,
the truth you will realize is that you’re trading earthly, temporal happiness,
for something of far greater value…
eternal joy and happiness in the presence of Jesus!
That is what we would be sacrificing if we refuse to follow Jesus…
24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
Billboard
As we will see from Jesus’ example…
Your Cross Has A Purpose
To Teach You to Die to Yourself and:
Love God’s Children
Fulfill God’s Plan
Pursue God’s Mission
Prayer for Illumination
Prayer for Illumination
Lord…
Scripture
Scripture
Announce
Announce
John 19:16-42.
Read
Read
16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, 17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” 38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
Transition
The first thing you need to see is…
Your Cross Has A Purpose:
To Teach You to Die to Yourself and…
1. Love God’s People
1. Love God’s People
John 19:16-27.
Verse 17 tells us,
“he went out, bearing his own cross”
The very act of Him being willing to bear a cross in obedience to the Father
shows Jesus’ willingness to die to Himself,
and love God’s people.
What About the Jewish Leaders & Pilate?
The Jewish leaders and Pilate on the other hand,
were not operating on a desire to obey God...
Instead, they were seeking to please man and their own desires,
which is why they were willing to condemn Jesus to death.
We see their pride, blindness and selfish desires continue in this passage,
as they fight over what was written on the sign that was put on the cross.
We see this in verses 19-22.
It was normal to have a sign fixed to the cross indicating the person’s crime.
Pilate had put on the sign,
“Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”
Although he didn’t realize how true his words actually were.
It is likely that Pilate meant it as a taunt to the Jews who had intimidated him,
and they were not happy about it.
They went to Pilate to get him to change it, but he refused.
As Jesus hangs on the cross in humility and submission,
those who condemned Him are fighting for power and control.
The Soldiers
The soldiers in charge of Jesus’ execution are also acting only out of self-interest.
Overseeing crucifixions was not pretty work,
but the perk of the job was they got to keep the condemned person’s possessions.
The soldiers divided up Jesus’ garments into four.
But they were not willing to divide Jesus’ tunic.
This was an undergarment that was typically
like a long shirt.
Short or long sleeves, and
knee or ankle length.
Usually pieces were sewn together to make it,
but Jesus’ was seamless,
which made it more valuable.
So the soldiers, not caring about the innocent man dying on the cross, but only themselves,
cast lots to see who would get it.
And What About Jesus?
As all of this is going on, what is Jesus doing?
Loving God’s People...
26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
While everyone else is acting out of pride, and selfishness,
Jesus is taking up His cross in obedience to His Father.
He is dying to Himself and putting others first,
by showing love and concern for others.
Jesus is taking care of His mother,
who we assume is a widow.
We don’t read anything about Joseph during Jesus’ ministry (but we do about Mary)
It seems as though Jesus has assumed the role of providing for His mother,
and He now makes sure that she will be taken care of after His death,
as He commands the disciple He loved to take her in as his own mother.
(Again, most believe this to be John)
SUMMARY
The Jewish leaders and Pilate are fighting for power and control,
while Jesus is surrendering to the Father in humble submission.
The soldiers are focussed on themselves and what they can get,
while Jesus is focussing on others and their needs.
While everyone else in this section is acting out of pride and selfishness,
Jesus is bearing His own cross,
dying to Himself,
and loving others!
APPLY
APPLY
This is the example of Jesus we are called to follow!
When we choose to follow Jesus,
we are choosing to die to ourselves,
and focus on loving others.
The problem is that we struggle to do that.
If you’ve been born again, you have God’s Spirit,
but you still have your sinful flesh.
Your flesh still longs to focus on yourself:
“What will get ME more money?”
“What will make ME look the best?”
“What will make ME feel good/give me pleasure?”
At the center of all these desires is… YOU & ME!
But Jesus calls us to something higher than the fulfilment of our own desires…
To follow Jesus is to take up your own cross daily, and that cross has a purpose!
It’s to wake up every day and die to yourself,
seeking to love and obey God by:
“Loving God’s People”!
Practical Application
Practical Application
Rather than thinking about what you wish your husband or wife would do for you,
ask what you can do for them!
Rather than thinking about how your kids aren’t doing enough, and how they can do more,
think about how you can love them, serve them, and disciple them.
Rather than thinking about how you can earn more money, get into a better position at work,
think about how you can surrender more of your life to serving and loving God’s people.
SUMMARY
Jesus calls us to a very high standard,
and that standard is a cross!
It’s dying to yourself so that you can love others.
Jesus modelled this sacrificial love for us,
and it brought Him incredible joy!
And we too will find joy in sacrificing ourselves for the good of others,
and learn that it more blessed to give than receive!
Transition
The next thing we see is…
Your Cross Has A Purpose:
To Teach You to Die to Yourself and...
2. Fulfill God’s Plan
2. Fulfill God’s Plan
John 19:28-37.
A number of times in this passage,
John tells us that some aspect of Jesus taking up His cross,
was to fulfill Scripture.
The disciples did not understand these things as they were happening,
but after Jesus rose from the dead He showed them how He fulfilled the OT.
John, writing around 50 years after the death of Jesus,
shows us, the reader, how Jesus,
being willing to die to Himself,
fulfilled God’s plan.
EXPLAIN
EXPLAIN
Casting Lots for Jesus’ Clothing
We just talked about the soldiers casting lots to see who would get Jesus’ tunic.
John tells us that was to fulfill Psalm 22:18…
18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
David was experiencing suffering because of his devotion to God,
but continued trusting in God despite intense suffering.
Jesus was the ultimate fulfilment of that passage,
as He suffered at the hands of those who would cast lots for His clothing
as He hung on the cross.
“I Thirst”
The next fulfilment of God’s plan is in verse 28 when Jesus says, “I thirst.”
This is a fulfilment of Ps 69:21…
21 They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.
Once again, David, who has enemies who hate him because of his love for God,
are the cause of great suffering in his life.
He calls out to God to deliver Him,
not knowing that his words would ultimately be fulfilled by the Messiah.
Then John tells us in…
30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Jesus had perfectly fulfilled God’s plan,
through dying to Himself,
and taking up His cross.
“Not one bone broken” & “Look on Him They Have Pierced”
John gives us two more passages that Jesus fulfills.
Usually Romans would leave bodies on the cross for days,
until the person was dead.
But the Jews did not want the bodies on the cross on the Sabbath,
so they asked for their legs to be broken.
This would bring death faster since they couldn’t push themselves us,
and would die of asphyxiation.
They broke the legs of both criminals,
but since Jesus was already dead, they did not break his legs.
One of the soldiers, to make sure,
pierced Jesus’ side with a spear.
John tells us water and blood came out,
showing that Jesus has truly died.
John puts his own reputation on the line,
telling us why these details are important…
35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe.
36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.”
This was a fulfilment of Exodus 12:46.
After Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt,
He instituted the Passover and gave instructions for the meal…
46 It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones.
Jesus fulfilled this as the perfect Passover Lamb,
the final, once for all sacrifice for sin!
John then gives us another fulfilment of God’s plan…
37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”
This was a fulfilment of…
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
Zechariah spoke to Israel that in the future,
God Himself would be pierced,
leading to repentance, cleansing, and renewal.
John tells us God’s plan was fulfilled in Jesus.
SUMMARY
John wants us to understand that Jesus’ cross had a purpose.
As he humbly surrendered His own life,
in even the smallest of details prophesied hundreds of years before they happened,
Jesus’ cross was fulfilling God’s Plan!
APPLY
APPLY
In the same way we are called to take up our cross.
When we do, it teaches us to die to our selves,
and live to “Fulfill God’s Plan”.
Now Jesus, being fully God, knew God’s plan,
and knew how He was fulfilling it in the moment.
Most times we can’t see how God is fulfilling His plan through us,
but we must choose to walk in faith,
believing that He is!
ILLUSTRATE - Job & His Wife
ILLUSTRATE - Job & His Wife
In the OT book of Job,
we learn that he is a upright, and blameless man who fears God.
One day, Satan comes before God to give an account,
and God asks if Satan has noticed Job,
“that there is none like him on the earth”
Satan tells God the only reason Job worships Him
is because God has blessed and protected Job.
So God allows Satan to take and destroy Job’s:
7,000 sheep;
3,000 camels;
500 yoke of oxen; and
10 children;
Job’s response was:
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.
21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
So Satan again came to God,
and says Job only maintains his integrity because he is still healthy.
So God allows Satan to bring suffering through physical pain,
but does not allow him to take his life.
Satan inflicts incredible pain on Job through sores from head to toe.
And then we see two different responses to suffering…
First, Job’s wife…
9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”
And then we see Job’s response…
10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
SUMMARY
Job had no idea what was going on in heaven between God and Satan!
Job had no idea how God was working out His plan through His suffering,
but he was willing to take up His cross follow God,
no matter what God would allow into His life!
And that is the point of the book of Job…
God didn’t allow testing into to Job’s life to SEE if he would pass the test…
God allowed testing into to Job’s life to PROVE that he would pass the test!
God knew Job’s heart,
and knew that he would remain faithful.
APPLY CONT.
APPLY CONT.
The same is true of your life!
You cannot see how God is working His plan behind the scenes… BUT HE IS!
You do not know what God is doing through what you’re going through… BUT HE IS!
You do not understand how God could possibly bring good out of it… BUT HE IS!
You must learn to have a humble view of yourself
that understands you came into this world
with nothing
deserving nothing,
and that you will leave the world
with nothing
deserving nothing.
Everything that you have or don’t have,
is a result of God’s sovereign plan and will for your life.
But the promise you and I have,
is that when we surrender our lives to God,
take up our cross and follow Jesus, and
learn to die to ourselves…
God is fulfilling His plan in and through us!
God was fulfilling His perfect plan through Jesus’ cross,
so that all who believe in Jesus will have their sins forgiven, and be saved!
God is also working through your cross… IT HAS A PURPOSE!
It’s teaching you to die to yourself and live for God…
It’s teaching you to rely on God rather than yourself…
It’s teaching you to fulfill God’s plan for your life…
SUMMARY
And ultimately what is God’s plan for our lives?
That we find our deepest joy in Him!
And when we do, we can endure trials and suffering,
knowing that God is working His plan,
so that other’s come to know and worship Him!
Which leads us to our next point…
Transition
Your Cross Has A Purpose:
To Teach You to Die to Yourself and...
3. Pursue God’s Mission
3. Pursue God’s Mission
John 19:38-42.
Not only did Jesus take up His cross to fulfill what God prophesied in the past,
but also so that God’s mission would go forward.
That mission is saving a people to Himself!
God’s mission is to dwell with His people.
Jesus is the way people can dwell with God…
Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.”
No one can come to the Father except through Him.
This is why Jesus came,
so that He could reveal the truth of God.
Jesus came as light shining in the darkness,
and anyone who comes to the light is saved.
EXPLAIN
EXPLAIN
That’s exactly what we see in the end of this section,
In John 19:38-42,
We see two men come out of the darkness and step into the light.
First, Joseph of Arimathea
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.
Joseph is mentioned in every gospel account,
but only in connection with Jesus’ burial.
He was a rich man, and also a part of the Sanhedrin,
which condemned Jesus to death,
though Luke tells us that Joseph did not agree.
He was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly,
because he was afraid of the Jews.
He could have lost his position and reputation,
but now it seems that doesn’t matter to him,
as he risks all that to give Jesus a proper and honourable burial.
As a result of Jesus’ suffering on the cross,
Joseph steps out of the darkness and into the light.
The Second Man is Nicodemus
The second man we see come to the light is Nicodemus.
39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.
John is referring back to chapter 3,
where Nicodemus came to Jesus at night.
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
He had honest questions, and was wrestling,
but was afraid of losing his reputation/status.
John mentions Nicodemus again in John 7,
where the religious leaders are debating what to do with Jesus,
and Nicodemus defends Jesus’ right to a fair trial…
50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?”
Nicodemus isn’t publicly identifying with Jesus,
but he is taking a risk.
And now we see Nicodemus coming openly with spices,
to help Joseph give Jesus a proper burial.
SUMMARY
It seems that though both of these men were afraid to identify with Jesus publicly.
Now, following His willing sacrifice on the cross,
they courageously step into the light to honour Jesus,
by taking His body off the cross;
anointing His body with spices; and
giving Him a proper burial.
Both of them make significant sacrifices for Jesus:
Joseph gives His own tomb… (unique and costly)
Nicodemus brings the spices… (extravagant and costly; enough for a royal burial)
Though John doesn’t tell us for sure,
he seems to imply that these men openly stepped into the light,
as disciples of Jesus.
This was the purpose of Jesus’ cross.
As He died to Himself, surrendering Himself to the will of the Father,
He was pursuing God’s mission of building God’s kingdom,
by bringing people to the light!
APPLY
APPLY
This is your purpose as a disciple of Jesus!
This is what Jesus prayed for just hours before His death…
18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
Jesus was sent into the world, to:
live a perfect life;
reveal God’s kingdom through teaching and signs; and
point people back to love for and devotion to God,
so that they would turn from darkness to the light.
And now, Jesus has sent you in the world to do the same thing!
You are called to live your life to the glory of God.
Your marriage,
the way you raise your children,
the way you work,
the way you talk,
the way you spend your money,
all of these things should set you apart from the world.
You are called to seek opportunities to pursue the lost.
Your workplace,
Your hobbies/activities/sports,
Being in the community,
are opportunities to engage with people who are in darkness,
so you can point them to the true light of Jesus.
ILLUSTRATE
ILLUSTRATE
I’ve been really encouraged to hear some of you,
sharing how the Lord is working in your hearts,
making you more courageous and bold to share your faith:
with family members…
with strangers in a parking lot…
with coworkers…
APPLY CONT.
APPLY CONT.
This is what we are called to do…
To “GO” into the world and make disciples of Jesus.
Will there be people who disagree… YES!
Will there be people who think you’re weird… YES!
Will there be suffering and loss… YES!
And will there be people who believe in Jesus,
repent and have their sins forgiven,
and share the hope with you that they will live with Jesus for all eternity?
YES!!!
SUMMARY
And this is why you MUST be willing to take up your cross and follow Jesus… because:
Your cross has a purpose.
It’s teaching you to die to yourself,
and pursue God’s mission,
of bringing people to the light!
“Leverage Your Life”
We are really excited to announce the start of our next home group study.
We’re going to be going through a video/teaching series called,
“Leverage Your Life”.
In this series we are going to…
Learn how to leverage your job, skill, and passion where you live, work, and play for the glory of God.
Be sure to sign up!
Pastor Jonah will be sharing more about that shortly.
Closing
Closing
Taking up your cross is not an easy thing to do…
It involves death!
It is an act of surrender that follows Jesus’s example of surrender.
Going back to John 19:30,
John tells us…
30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
You see, Jesus wasn’t killed by His enemies…
He willing laid down His life!
Jesus didn’t die because He was condemned by the Jewish leaders and Pilate…
Jesus didn’t die because He was whipped and beaten…
Jesus didn’t die because He was nailed to a cross…
Jesus died because of His love for those He died to save!
Jesus died because of His love for the Father,
and His desire to fulfill God’s plan!
Jesus died because of His longing to pursue God’s mission,
of bringing people to the light!
You see…
When Jesus humbly surrendered His life, He wasn’t putting His life in the hands of His enemies… He was putting His life in the hands of His loving, almighty Father in heaven!
We struggle with Jesus willingly surrendering His life,
because like Jonah said last week,
we often emphasize the injustice, the weakness, and sadness of Jesus’ death.
We think Jesus’ enemies had the upper hand,
but like Jonah said…
the cross was Jesus’ glory!
He longed to show His love for the Father,
by obeying Him in every word, thought, and deed.
This led Him to being willing to die on the cross,
in perfect submission to the Father.
The cross of Jesus is now the means by which we are saved,
and the very thing we give glory, praise, and worship to Jesus for!
And because of the hope we now have in Jesus,
He calls us to be willing to lay down our lives,
following His example.
This is not an act of intentionally bringing suffering, and disappointment into our lives,
so that we can be as miserable as possible,
so that hopefully God will let us into heaven…
NO!
We surrender our lives to Him out of joy and worship!
We get to tell the world of the greatness of our God,
and share the Good News that they can
know Him…
be known by Him…
and have true joy in life,
knowing they are truly forgiven,
and have the hope of eternal life!
And…
When you surrender your life, you aren’t putting your life in the hands of your enemies… You’re putting your life in the hands of your loving Saviour in heaven!
Your loving Saviour:
who has been raised to the right hand of the Father…
who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth… and
who is coming back for you, so that you can be with Him!
Gospel Call
If you’ve never surrendered your life to Jesus,
I know that can be a scary thing.
Your life is of precious value,
and it’s not a small thing to give it up.
But that’s exactly why Jesus came!
He came to die for you!
To pay for your sins.
Jesus died BECAUSE of how precious your life is to God!
We all know that no one is perfect, and we all sin.
And that sin makes us guilty before God.
And even though you are a sinner Jesus died in your place,
so that if you will die to yourself,
repent of your sins and
put your faith in Jesus,
your sins will be forgiven,
He will give you His Spirit, and
He will give you the hope that you will not experience His judgement,
but live with Him in holiness forever!
The world tries to tell you all sorts of ways it can make you happy
with the treasure of the world…
But Jesus tells us the true treasure that is worth giving our lives for…
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
When you understand the true treasure of heaven,
you’re willing to give up everything for it!
Surrender your life to Jesus today,
and find true joy and riches in Jesus,
and all that He paid for with His own blood!
Let’s pray!
