The Cross of CrossFit
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Not everything equals crossfit. There are certain things required to be crossfit certain things that go into it. Without these elements it may be fitness but it is not crossfitness. Taken from google here is what makes crossfitness different.
crossfit is hardcore
crossfit is not for the feint of heart
crossfit focuses on core strength and conditioning
crossfit hits all 10 major fitness domains
stamina
strength
flexibility
speed
coordination
power
agility
balance
accuracy
cardiovascular
respiratory endurance
crossfit holds community hi and so everyone knows your name
every class is different
equipment is simple and basic
progress is tracked
it costs more
it has its own lingo
the desire to vomit is encouraged and a good thing
It is not for everyone and not every who claims crossfit is crossfit. Our passage in Luke before us brings us to the crucifixion of Jesus. This is the pinnacle of the Christian faith - this is what separates Christianity apart from every other religion. Without the cross there is no Christianity and without the cross of Christ it is impossible to be spiritually crossfit.
23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Here in Luke we come to the cross for our crossfit journey. Let us look this morning at the cross and view it in terms of our crossfit journey. This is the cross of crossfit.
26 As they led him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him. 28 But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children.
29 Look, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others—criminals—were also led away to be executed with him. 33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.
35 The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 An inscription was above him: This Is the King of the Jews.
39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment?
41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The Weight of the Cross
The Weight of the Cross
26 As they led him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him. 28 But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children.
29 Look, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Crucifixion was a common method of carrying out the death sentence in the Roman Empire. It was the cruelest and most painful method of death. Not invented by Rome but certainly perfected by them. Usually reserved for the worst of the criminals. By law a Roman citizen couldn’t be crucified. The criminal destined to die was made to carry their own method of death - the crossbeam of the cross. Usually weighed somewhere between 75- 125 lbs. At approximately 9:00 AM they led Jesus away to be crucified - walking him throughout the city to the place of crucifixion. Not taking the shortest route but winding through the city to display what Rome did to those who went against her.
The Romans seized a man by the name of Simon who we see is a Cyrenian or one from the place of Cyrene. A place in North Africa about 800 miles away. No doubt a visiting Passover pilgrim visiting Jerusalem. Forced to carry the cross for Jesus.
Perhaps due to the weakness of Jesus? Up until the night of His arrest Jesus was most likely in top physical shape and fitness. From the hours of 9 PM Thursday and 9 AM Friday Jesus suffered many things and it took a toll on Him.
Emotional stress to the point sweating blood - which actually results in the skin becoming fragile and tender to the touch.
Jesus suffered physical beating at the home of the high priest
Jesus suffered a sleepless night
Jesus was forced to walk over two miles
Jesus on top of that was scourged
Scourging was the legal preliminary to every Roman execution and only women and Roman senators or soldiers (except deserters) were exempt. The goal of scourging was to weaken the victim to a state just short of collapse and death. The back was struck with a cat of nine tails leather straps with iron balls, bones and metal shards at the ends. The iron balls would produce deep contusions and the others straps would cut into the skin and would shred the flesh from the back.
The severe scourging most probably left Jesus in a pre-shock state and near death already. In a serious and critical state Jesus perhaps couldnt carry the cross. I think it is also a picture of this only the guilty carry their cross. Jesus was innocent therefore Simon carried His cross - Simon was innocent you say - but what about in the face of God? Simon knew what it was to take up the cross and follow Jesus - associated and identified with Him
There is a weight of the cross even great than the weight itself and the weight it symbolized of the guilt. A large crowd followed Jesus including women who were mourning and lamenting Him. Jesus turns and speaks to them (probably couldnt have done this while carrying the cross). Jesus says Daughters of Jerusalem dont weep over me - weep for yourselves and your children. Jesus isnt concerned for Himself - He is concerned what His rejection and persecution means for His people.
41 As he approached and saw the city, he wept for it, 42 saying, “If you knew this day what would bring peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come on you when your enemies will build a barricade around you, surround you, and hem you in on every side.
44 They will crush you and your children among you to the ground, and they will not leave one stone on another in your midst, because you did not recognize the time when God visited you.”
The nation of Israel would be judged for crucifying Jesus and rejecting their Messiah. Jesus knew this and this is why He said weep for yourselves. Tribulation would come to the nation. Jesus says the days are coming when they will say blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed. Verse 30 is a quote from Hosea 10 repeated in Revelation 6:15-17
8 The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed; thorns and thistles will grow over their altars. They will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”
15 Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?”
Jesus then says something peculiar to us but would be known by them. For if they do these things when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry? Green wood is hard to burn and dry wood is perfect fuel for fire. The idea is if this is the fate of the innocent - Jesus, what will happen to the guilty? Thats the true weight of the cross - judgment.
The Focus of the Cross
The Focus of the Cross
32 Two others—criminals—were also led away to be executed with him. 33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.
No two other criminals were also led away to be executed with Jesus. The only difference being there was no conflict of mind on whether to condemn these other two. They were absolutely declared guilty and deserving, but Jesus was declared innocent and still condemned. When they arrived at the place called The Skull - Golgotha in Aramaic, Calvary from the Latin - they crucified him there along with the two criminals.
Now as I said before Rome didnt invent they only perfected crucifixion as a form of torture and capital punishment. Designed to produce a slow death with maximum pain and suffering. The combination of scourging and crucifixion made the death of the cross especially brutal to endure. The victim’s back was torn open by the scourging and blood clotting again opened when the clothes were removed. The victim thrown on the ground to have their hands fixed to the crossbeam. A nail through the wrists usually severing the median nerve producing excruciating bolts of fiery pain in both arms and gave the person claw like grip. Beyond pain the crucifixion major effect was to inhibit normal breathing. The weight of the body pulling down on the arms and shoulders fixing the muscles in a state of inhalation but inhibited exhalation. Soon producing muscle cramps. To get a good breath pushing on the feet flex the elbows and pull from the shoulders. Searing pain in the feet, twisting of the wrists as the elbows bent scraping the back against the rough wood - each breath purchased only through extreme agony. Soon exhausted the person would die.
Death could come from many sources - shock, blood loss, exhaustion, dehydration, heart failure. How bad was the crucifixion? We have only one word to describe it excruciating - literally the pain of the cross or out of the cross.
In the midst of this pain and suffering we must remember the focus of the cross. Jesus never lost the focus of the cross. He prayed Father forgive them because they do not know what they are doing. Even in death and pain Jesus seeks to offer forgiveness. The focus of the cross is that because of it forgiveness is possible.
The Endurance of the Cross
The Endurance of the Cross
35 The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 An inscription was above him: This Is the King of the Jews. 39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
The people stood watching - beholding - always a crowd to come and see the scene of a wreck. Looking on others in their misfortune. These onlookers are not concerned with compassion but instead they are jeering and ridiculing. Amazingly many of these onlookers were present at the Triumphant Entry of Jesus just a few days earlier at the beginning of the week. Then we see even the leaders were scoffing along with the soldiers and the people.
“If you are the king of the Jews save yourself”
7 Everyone who sees me mocks me; they sneer and shake their heads:
An inscription above Him - This is the King of the Jews - both to mock Jesus and the Jewish people Pilate wrote the inscription. The criminal on the one side insulted Him and said arent you the Messiah? Save yourself and us. Interesting request however. Jesus could save others or He could save Himself but He could not do both. Jesus could not save Himself if He was to save others.
The most important thing to remember is that Jesus was never at any time a victim. He always remained in control.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
The endurance of the cross is that despite great pain and suffering of self - Jesus stayed on the cross out of love. It wasnt the nails that kept Jesus on the cross it was the love for you and me and anyone who would believe in Him for forgiveness of sin that He endured the cross. The endurance of the cross is that loves endures all things. Jesus love for us was greater than the suffering He had to endure for us.
The Result of the Cross
The Result of the Cross
40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The other criminal now rebukes the first - Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are being justly treated for we deserve it based on the things we did. Some Gospels call these men thieves but Luke calls them robbers. The difference is a thief tries to be undetected and takes only possessions a robber is blatant and sometimes injures the victim. The belief is these men were armed robbers perhaps killing someone and that Barabbas was the leader of the men. This criminal then says - Jesus is innocent and has done nothing wrong.
20 For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God. 21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth;
23 when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Trusting Himself to God Jesus died on the cross innocent and produced the result of the cross.
The criminal now turns to Jesus and says Jesus remember me - when you come into your kingdom. This is the shortest sinner’s prayer but notice it is no less effective it has all the necessary elements to find forgiveness resulting in everlasting life at the cross.
He knew and acknowledged his own sin and guilty state because of the sin
He knew Jesus was dying innocently as the Messiah of God
He called out to Jesus and acknowledged Him as Lord and Savior
The result of the cross is immediate and everlasting. Jesus though it cost great physical pain and exertion had to give this man assurance. Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.
There is no wait for entrance to paradise - no purgatory. No need for baptism or sacraments - The only requirement is that you come in by the cross and name of Jesus Christ. There is no other name given under heaven by which men must be saved.
The robber’s theology might have been crude and understanding lacking but Jesus clears the path for him. Promising him entrance into heaven immediately without intermediate state - full access to paradise - the word used is for an enclosed park or pleasure ground.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Luke’s purpose wasn’t to give details about the crucifixion process but instead to show that Jesus was forgiving even as He was dying. In death Jesus had the power to make people right with God. It is because He did not save Himself that He could save others. Love kept Jesus on the cross not nails.
Notice something - Jesus was crucified between two criminals - to illustrate all are given equal access to come to Jesus as Lord and Savior. Salvation is not universal - it is conditional.
Salvation is conditioned upon repentance and faith. Salvation is independent of sacraments or rites. Salvation is also independent of good works.
From Jesus perspective the weight of the cross is one side goes to salvation and one side goes to judgment - the cross divides. Which side are you on? Here we have a literal deathbed conversion - the only one in the Bible. One included so no one can despair, but also only one included so no one can presume. You might trust Jesus right before you die - or you might not have that time. Dont wait for a deathbed conversion.
Despite who your earthly father is or was - look now to your heavenly Father and understand this.
16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
He sent Jesus to die for you - so that through Jesus’s death on the cross you might have life everlasting.