Break Trail W2

Hey vertical. Today we continue a 3 week series on Easter. If you noticed the name of the series is call “Break Trail.”

A trail-breaker is someone who goes ahead, who makes a new way, and who invites others to follow along behind them. In so many ways, that's exactly what Jesus did for us.

Last week we talked about how Jesus break trail in the the realm of pain and suffering. Therefore, he can understand our pain and we are able to mature in our faith during hard times.

So in the next three weeks we will look at different ways in which Jesus exemplified the realities of our faith. Here is the main point:

Main Point: Jesus’ kindness on the cross exemplified that we ought to reject self-centeredness and embrace humility.

• Who is the kindest person you know? What makes them so kind?

Wade Capps is the kindest person I know. He is friendly, generous and considerate. Always putting others ahead of himself.

Sometimes you meet someone who's just genuinely kind, right? If you're anything like me, I love super-kind people, but they also make me think, "Hmm . . . I thought I was a pretty good person, but compared to them, I'm the worst!"

We associate kind people with good people and unkind people with bad people. At the same time we are use to treating “good” people good and not being nice to bad people. Why would we? right?

Here is the problem. We have a tendency to think we are better than others. Most of the time, most of us want to be "good" people.

But if we are truly honest, we know that:

We don't tell the whole truth.

We let our tempers or attitudes get the best of us.

We take risks that hurt someone else.

We try to do something nice for someone but it backfires.

But we are not “bad” people, according to our own standards.

Here lies a problem with our culture today. We want to be "good," but the Bible is clear that while we have the ability to do good things, we, mankind, are not good based on the standard that God set up for us.

Side Note: This is important because God is the only objective standard of morality.

The culture tells that there are things that are “bad” for you but not for “me.” This sounds good but it literally contradicts itself in practice.

The Bible clearly speaks of good and bad. It also explains why we, humans, have value.

Moral relativism steals from God. Morals are not invented, they are discovered.

My point is that while we have the ability to do good, is not enough to be better than “bad” people. We need to be transform and become like Jesus.

Anyway, Today we're going to see a third way Jesus blazed a new trail for us. This time, Jesus set yet another new standard for loving God and others while on the cross. To give you context on a story you may be familiar with. Jesus is taken to be crucified and Luke describes Jesus being crucified with two other Criminals. Again, sometimes we read this and omit the excrucaiting pain that Jesus is suffering while this is happening.

As we read this, remember that Jesus is literally hangin from a cross, beaten, bloody, dehydrated and in tremendous pain. And then this happens

Let’s read Luke 23:39-43

Luke 23:39–43 ESV

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

WOW. What a moment. Did you catch the significance of this moment and how Jesus is leading by his example.

Principle #1 Jesus broke trail for us exemplifying how to reject self-centeredness

While Jesus was in His last moments on the cross, He chose to spend some of His final breaths communicating with one of the men dying alongside Him.

One of the realities of Jesus that we need to remember is that while Jesus is God, while on earth He was also a man that was tempted like you and I. (Hebrews 4:15 “15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”)

Jesus would have had every right to focus on Himself in that moment. The pain He was experiencing would have been excruciating. But instead, Jesus chose to show kindness to the man suffering beside Him. He invited a convicted criminal to join Him in the afterlife, where there would be no more suffering.

Even while He was suffering, Jesus was thinking of people like you and me. Even in this painful, broken place, Jesus chose to show love to someone who didn't deserve it.

Principle #2 Jesus broke trail for us exemplifying how to embrace humility.

Read Philippians 2:5-8

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus could have come to earth in a display of power and authority and let everyone know exactly who He was. But He didn't. Instead, Jesus chose . . .

Humility over power.

Sacrifice over selfishness.

Kindness over control.

In His life and death, Jesus consistently chose us over Himself. That's what love looks like.

When Jesus looked at one of those "bad" guys dying alongside Him . . .

He didn't shame him

He didn't reject him.

He didn't tell him it was too late.

Jesus welcomed and embraced him with love. Notice that this love we always talk about out has nothing to do with our ability but it has all to do with his capability.

Jesus doesn't just love us in theory — He loves us personally. He loves us in a way that doesn't just give us hope for life after death, but cares for us in the here and now.

This is the kind of thing that can happen when you experience the compassionate love of Jesus for yourself. It changes you — and then it compels you to share that same love with others.

Jesus compassionately cared for the criminal hanging next to Him. By showing him love, Jesus didn't just care for him in eternity — He cared for him while he was alive and hurting.

How do you need to respond to the love and kindness Jesus has shown US?

Family Groups

Who is the kindest person you know?

How often do you show kindness (friendly, genuine, generous) to people around you?

Read Ephesians 2:8-9. What does this passage tell us about ourselves? What does it tell us about God?

Do you see Jesus as a kind person?

If it’s true Jesus shows us love, what’s one thing you can do this week to respond to that truth?