This Vision from the Cross

Introduction

I want to spend a few minutes tonight talking about sight and vision. For most of us we have grown dependent and accustomed to valuing a thing by how we see a thing. If someone is driving a BWM, we have a thought that this person must be well off. Conversely if someone is driving a hooptie, we don’t have the same thought about being well off. A few off us might be a little deeper and think about other reasons.

Here’s another example, growing up, if perhaps you were like me you might have done something, and an adult chastised you, while trying to guide you at the same time, saying something like this: “Mark my words, if you continue, XYZ will happen.” If you were like me you paid attention to those words just long enough to get out of trouble but you didn’t catch the vision of what the adult was trying to say, and in those cases we did it anyway.

The King James Version of says this:

Proverbs 29:18 KJV 1900

Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Turn with me to , and we’re going to pick up the during the last 3 hours on the cross:

Luke 23:32–46 KJV 1900

32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. 44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Did you catch the vision? Turn to your neighbor and ask them did you catch the vision? The topic of our time together tonight is the vision from the cross. Let’s pray.

Luke 23:32 AMP

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be executed with Him.

In the last 3 hours of His life, even through all of the pain, the betrayal understood that He needed to die, so that we would have a chance to live.

Proverbs 29:18 NKJV

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.

I want to close with this. Pastor S.M. Lockridge wrote the following, which I’ve adapted for tonite.

It’s Friday. Jesus is praying. Peter’s a sleeping. Judas is betraying. They don’t have vision, But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday.  Pilate’s struggling.  The council is conspiring. The crowd is vilifying. They don’t have vision, They don’t even know That Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The disciples are running Like sheep without a shepherd. Mary’s crying. Peter is denying. They don’t have vision, But they don’t know That Sunday’s a comin’.

It’s Friday.  The Romans beat my Jesus.  They robe him in scarlet.  They crown him with thorns.  They don’t have vision, But they don’t know That Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. See Jesus walking to Calvary.  His blood dripping.  His body stumbling.  And his spirit’s burdened.  But you see, it’s only Friday, They don’t have vision, Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The world’s winning. People are sinning. And evil’s grinning.   They don’t have vision,.

It’s Friday. The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands To the cross. They nail my Savior’s feet To the cross.  And then they raise him up Next to criminals.  It’s Friday.  But let me tell you something, inspite of not having vision, Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday.  The disciples are questioning.  What has happened to their King.  And the Pharisees are celebrating That their scheming Has been achieved. But they don’t know It’s only Friday and they can’t see.  Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday.  He’s hanging on the cross.  Feeling forsaken by his Father.  Left alone and dying Can nobody save him?  Ooooh It’s Friday, only one at his side saw, but others didn’t.  But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The earth trembles.  The sky grows dark.  My King yields his spirit.  It’s Friday. Hope is lost.  Death has won. Sin has conquered.  and Satan’s just a laughin’, he doesn’t understand the vision.

It’s Friday. Jesus is buried. A soldier stands guard. And a rock is rolled into place, they still don’t have the vision. 

But it’s Friday. It is only Friday.  Sunday is a comin’!