Following in the Footsteps of Jesus

Our preaching them for 2022 is Begin again.

Currently, I have entitled this series “spiritual awakening.”

But this is not so much a preaching series as it is a time to encounter God experientially.

We read through the book of Esther interactively.

We also read a Psalm, three times with times for meditation and listening to what God would say.

I understand that last week Alan had you practice sharing your testimony.

We are going to stay with the interactive message theme this morning.

Today is Palm Sunday - the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem to the cheers of “Hosanna!” which means “save us.”

This week is Holy Week - On Friday we will celebrate a Seder, the Passover meal which would also be the setting for Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples.

Next Sunday, we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Jesus’ victory over sin, death and satan is even more vivid when you view it against the backdrop of the events of Holy Week.

By participating in the events leading up to the Resurrection, you get the full impact of the glorious event that sealed our salvation.

In the Fourth Century, when Christianity became the official religion of Rome, there was quite an interest in going back to Jerusalem and identifying the holy places associated with the events of the Bible.

Pilgrims would follow “The Way of the Cross” or “The way of sorrows” (Via Delorosa) which consisted of fourteen sites of events that took place according to tradition when Jesus was moving from the place of his trial to the place of crucifixion. Other people outside of Jerusalem wanted to have the experience of following in Jesus’ footsteps, so the would set up stations in their cathedrals to remember each of these events.

In the fourteen hundreds the Franciscans were given charge of the holy sites, but it was not safe to travel. Many parts of the Holy Land were contested. So the Franciscans set up Stations of the Cross in chapels all around the world so that people could make their “virtual pilgrimages.”

Today, even protestant believers recognize the stations of the cross as a way of identifying with the suffering and death of Jesus prior to His resurrection. However, they tend to focus only on those events which are found in the scripture.

We are going to commemorate eight of these events by reading them from the scripture.

And then we are going to take a moment of silence after each one to meditate and to listen.

Once again, I want you to feel free to participate by sharing what God is speaking to you.

Try to imagine yourself in Jerusalem on the Passover week.

You were part of the crowd cheering, “Hosanna - save us.”

But now things have taken a unimaginable turn.

What are you thinking and feeling as you “experience” each step, following Jesus to the cross.

What do these events tell you about our Saviour?

What to they speak to you for your life today?

Step 1:  Pilate Condemns Jesus to Die

Matthew 27:11–26 ESV

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. 15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” 24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

One minute of silence

Do you ever wish that Jesus would speak when he is silent?

There are people mocking him. Others, accusing him. They are going to kill him! But still… he is silent.

Maybe if Jesus had spoken they would not have crucified him - do you see why he is sometimes silent?

What about Barabbas?

Now there is a trouble maker!

Someone gets to go free. Why not the trouble maker?

Release the man who stirs up the crowd and kill the silent one.

Maybe the silent one will speak? Maybe he will defend himself? Maybe he will break out and save us all by taking on a legion of soldiers?

Then again, maybe he won’t!

Pilate declares jesus innocent - Barabbas is clearly guilty.

Which one goes free? Where is the justice in that?

Step one - Jesus who is the truth, bore our injustice.

Step 2:  Jesus Accepts His Cross

Matthew 27:27–31 ESV

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

One minute of silence

Jesus is mocked and beaten.

They dressed him up like a king with a royal robe.

Except he was naked - wearing just a robe.

They put a crown on his head, a pointy crown with spikes all around.

Except the spikes were thorns, pointed inward and cutting into his head.

A king needs a scepter, a symbol of his authority.

So they gave him a reed, a limp stalk as a sign of impotence.

And then they beat him with it.

The only think worse than having a limp stick for a scepter is being beaten with your own stick.

That … and being spit on.

Step two - Jesus the ruler of the world, bore our shame.

Step 3:  Simon Helps Carry the Cross

Mark 15:21 ESV

21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.

One minute of silence

Jesus had to let someone else carry his cross.

Why is that so important?

Have you ever taken on a task that you could not finish?

Have you ever had to let someone else help you?

It’s not easy, is it?!?

Simon is named because he was known to the early church.

That experience changed him and made him a Christ-follower.

Jesus, in failing to bear his own cross, made a disciple.

Proving that God uses even our failures for his glory.

Think about that next time you stumble.

We think it is weakness to fail, but even Jesus failed when it came to the most important task of his life - carrying that cross.

Except it wasn’t a failure as we think of failure.

It was an opportunity for God to be glorified.

Step three - Jesus the perfect man, bore our failure.

Step 4:  Jesus Speaks to the Women

Luke 23:27–31 ESV

27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and 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?”

One minute of silence

Women have an important role in scripture.

Jesus is often found talking to women.

Patriarchal societies ignore women, and Rome was a very patriarchal society.

These women were mourning, wailing and expressing their grief openly.

That was the practice in Israel if someone was dead or dying.

They would even pay people to make a spectacle of their grief so that a few people could express the feelings of the many.

Jesus tells them not to grieve for him, but for some future state of humanity.

Grief is so often misplaced.

We grieve for the thinks that we miss in life, but we so often miss grieving over the greatest losses.

Until we know what is truly valuable and eternally important, we will not know how to grieve what God grieves.

And God does grieve, not only for us, but with us.

Step four - God become flesh, bore our grief.

Step 5:  Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments

John 19:23–25 ESV

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.

One minute of silence

Most pictures of Jesus on the cross show a cloth discreetly tied around his waist.

That is supposed to keep the picture “family friendly.”

John tells us that the cloth didn’t stay there.

Most of us are embarrassed just thinking about it.

I wonder how it was for Jesus?

Diane Langberg is a counselor who has been a pioneer in the area of trauma and abuse. I had her as a professor in seminary. She would tell the story of a woman who thought that God could not possibly know what she had suffered as a victim of rape and abuse.

Diane told her to go home, read and meditate on John 19:23. SHe came back astonished to find that Jesus was actually naked on the cross. “They took his clothes, “ she said. He does understand!

Jesus understands abuse, nakedness and what it meas to be violated.

Some commentators remark that given the perverse reputation of Roman soldiers, there may be more to the story than what was allowed to be recorded.

What we do know is that Jesus understands the depravity of what humans can do to one another, and he cares.

Step 5 - Jesus, the Holy One, bore our disgrace.

Step 6:  Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross

Mark 15:23–32 ESV

23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25 And it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

One minute of silence

If you are one of those people who looks away when they show the blood and gore on TV, you probably have a hard time imagining this scene.

If the nails through his hands and feet aren’t enough, he is hoisted up on a pole like a human billboard just as the day is starting to heat up, to warn everyone of what happens to people who get out of line.

The same prophet who rode into town on a donkey to the cheers of all the people is now hanging on a cross in disgrace.

You know that feeling when your team looses after you told everyone they were going to win.

After you bet everything you had on the game.

After you talked smack with your brother-in-law who hates your team.

That feeling that you just want to crawl in a hole and never come out.

Yeah, it kinda like that, only worse because your life really is in danger.

It’s over. You’re a looser.

Your only hope is publicly impaled on a Roman instrument of torture.

You followed this man and look where it led you… look where it led him!

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like loosing.

I’m all about rooting for the underdog when they win.

But I don’t want to hang around when the gloating begins.

Jesus doesn’t have a choice. He’s literally nailed there.

You would think he would be freaking out, but He’s engaged.

We can’t bear to look at him, but he’s watching us.

From his vantage point on the cross, he sees you.

Step 6 - Jesus the King of the Jews, bore our inadequacy.

Step 7:  Jesus Cares for His Mother

John 19:25–27 ESV

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.

One minute of silence

How do I know Jesus was watching from the cross?

Because he recognized people.

He recognized his mother and John, his disciple.

And he wasn’t concerned with what they thought of him - he was concerned about them.

Who would take care of his mother? - it was his duty as the oldest son.

John would love her, because John is the beloved.

He understands what it is to love and to be loved.

Love sees past the brokenness and the nakedness and the spectacle of shame.

Love recognizes the image of God in humanity, because God is love and only by knowing God and becoming like God do we ever learn what it is to truly love.

Jesus is beaten beyond recognition. You might say, he is the son that only a mother could love.

But John is the faithful disciple who is still there within view when everyone else has deserted him.

He’s there, even though he could be in danger.

He the only son that could truly love your mother.

Jesus, in his most desperate hour, is caring for others.

Step seven - Jesus, the Son of God, bore our worries and concerns.

Step 8:  Jesus Dies on the Cross

Mark 15:33–39 ESV

33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

One minute of silence

That was a minute. Three hours had passed!

What does a minute feel like when you are in pain?

What does three hours feel like?

Do you know what it is to feel overwhelmed?

To feel what you don’t want to feel until you can’t even feel what what you want to feel anymore?

Jesus could even feel His Father’s Presence anymore.

Have you ever felt like that? Can’t feel God’s presence anymore?

You are in so much pain that you can’t even feel the one thing that would still be worth living for?

You have forgotten what joy is - not that you don’t want to be joyful, but it just isn’t there.

Life can be so painful, that it is just unbearable sometimes.

And when they try to refresh you, cheer you up, it is all the more bitter.

It’s not fair!

It’s not supposed to be like this!

Does my pain bring you some kind of joy?

Jesus pain brought us joy.

Not that we enjoy seeing him in pain.

But he did it for you and for me, so that we could know true joy.

He took our sin. our judgement and the wrath that was meant for us and held it on that cross until the barrier between God and man was destroyed.

The curtain was ripped.

The glory of God is accessible.

And we say with the centurion, “truly, this is the Son of God.

It’s done.

Jesus broke death, by dying.

He broke pain by suffering.

He broke the power of the devil by taking everything that he could throw at him and holding it for three hours on a cross.

And what he did on that cross changes everything.

Step eight - Jesus the sacrificial lamb, bore our sin.

What does it mean to follow in Jesus’ footsteps?

It means that we don’t just read the story or hear the story, but we put ourselves into the story.

If you can go to Jerusalem and walk the path that Jesus walked, do it!

But for the rest of us, we do it virtually, in our minds and in our hearts as we celebrate and commemorate the season.

Why do we do this?

Because the purpose of following Jesus is to become like Jesus.

Are we going to be nailed to a cross? Not likely! And I certainly hope not!

But we will have suffering, we will feel sorrow, pain and shame.

And when we do, it is good to know that Jesus has already been down that road and he goes before us.

And finally, we note that His death changed everything, so that even though we may experience these things, we do so from a place of victory that Jesus won for us on the cross.

We are blessed to have the virtual experience rather than the actual experience.

But when it comes to the resurrection side of things it’s more real than virtual.

More on that next week.

In the mean time, remember the path that our Saviour walked.

Follow in his footsteps.

And prepare for things to change!