Remembering Jesus: What Happened?

John 20:24 – 27

Remembering Jesus: What Happened?

It has become fashionable to follow and create theories denying the death and resurrection of Jesus. So what really happened? We are going to follow the testimony of the witnesses. One of them, John was an eye witness to the events. Mark, a teenager at the time, recalls what he and Peter knew of the events. Matthew, tells us what he knows. Luke was the investigator who questioned witnesses and examined the medical evidence, C. S. I. like.

1. On Tuesday night, Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.

Mark, who barely escaped that night testifies, “Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” [Mark 14:44]

The thing about Judas was that he was a close follower of Jesus. In fact, he was numbered as one of the special group known as “disciples” and later to become the authoritative “Apostles.” Why did he do it? Nobody knows. John tells us he was a thief [John 12:6], so maybe it was for the 30 pieces of silver. Church mythology has theorized it was to force Jesus to begin a rebellion.

2. On Friday before dawn Jesus is illegally tried twice.

The first trial was before Annas who was the Father-in-law of Caiaphas, the current High Priest. At this trial Caiaphas prophesied, “that it would be good if one man died for the people.” [John 18:14]

The second trial was the formal trial before the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was the ruling body of that time, made up mostly of religious leaders. This trial was held at Caiaphas’ home [Luke 22:54]. MANY false witness were brought against Jesus [Mark 14:55 – 56, Matthew 26:59 – 60] but they were not able to convict Him. In fact, He was convicted on his confession:

Matthew tells us, “But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." “Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Mark witnessed, “The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned him as worthy of death.” [Mark 14:63 – 64]

It is here that Jesus is first beaten, “Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.” [Mark 14:65]

Peter is present at this trial, but has his own problems. In fact, Peter ends up denying knowing Jesus, not once, not twice, but three times. It was a sad night for Jesus’ followers. One disciple betrays – leads a mob – to arrest Jesus. Another, one of the leaders, denies knowing Jesus. It sure looks like the enemy is winning the war at this point.

3. Friday, just after dawn.

Jesus is formally condemned by the Sanhedrin [Luke 22:66 – 71]. It appears to be an attempt to put a legal stamp on the events of the night.

Seeing the conviction, it appears that Judas repents. Matthew tells us, “When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. [4] "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility.” [Matthew 27:3 – 4] Now that’s cold. Judas is “seized with remorse” and he admits to having “sinned.” The religious leaders of the day respond with “that’s your responsibility.”

People do not have the power to pardon sin. Judas went to the wrong place, to the wrong people, when he should have gone to the only source of forgiveness... Jesus. That is really hard to do after you’ve betrayed Jesus with a kiss.

After the formal trial, Jesus is then sent to Pilate. [John 18:28 – 38] Pilate is the Roman governor. The Jews were allowed all forms of punishment, except the one the religious leaders wanted this time – death [John 18:31]. Before Pilate, Jesus is accused of “perverting” the country, opposing paying taxes, and claiming to be King [Luke 23:2]. Pilate finds Jesus innocent [Luke 23:4, John 18:34].

Pilate sends Jesus to King Herod Antipas [Luke 23:6 – 12] because Jesus is from Galilee. Luke, the historian, notes that day, two bitter enemies became friends [Luke23:12]. Sadly enemies join in a common cause, against Jesus.

Jesus, failing to provide entertainment for King Herod, is shuffled back to Pilate and sentenced to death [John 19:14]. Apparently this was not done without considerable stress on Pilate. For instance Matthew relates this detail, “While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” [Matthew 27:19].

In what may have been a cruel piece of amusement or an attempt to free Jesus, Pilate puts the crowd to a vote. Mark gives us this detail, “Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.” [Mark 15:6 – 8]. Here is an “insurrectionist” and “murder” who is placed next to Jesus. To put this in modern context, Barabbas is a terrorist who has viciously murdered innocent people. He’s not a soldier, he’s not a freedom fighter, he is a simple terrorist.

Before the vote, Jesus is “flogged.” John, who was there said it went down this way, “With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. [39] But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release `the king of the Jews'?" They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.” [John 18:38b – 19:1] After the flogging, Pilate has another vote: Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." [5] When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!” [John 19:4 – 5]

Flogging is very brutal. Typically the victim was whipped 39 times with a whip that included stones and sharp objects. The idea was for the stones to bruise and tenderize the skin and cause bleeding. The sharp objects were there to tear away the flesh. A crown of thorns was put on Jesus head [John 19:2] and a purple robe was added for the mocking effect of royalty [John 19:2].

John observes that Pilate is struggling with his role in the matter. “From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar." When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha)” [John 19:12 – 13]

After the sentence of death Jesus is handed over to the soldiers who administer the third beating of the day. The crown was then crushed down with a staff [Matthew 27:30] and the purple robe is ripped off Jesus’ raw back [Matthew 27:31].

4. Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Jesus is lead away to be crucified. This becomes a circus of sorts. The soldiers “cast lots” to see who got Jesus clothes [Mark 15:24 – 32]. Pilate put an inscription on the cross that was in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The inscription? “King of the Jews.” [John 19:19 – 20]. Jesus is mocked by the crowd [Mark 15:29], mocked by the religious leaders [Mark 15:31], mocked by the soldiers [Luke 23:36].

An interesting turn of events hints at the victory the cross would bring. In Matthew [27:44] we are told the two thieves, being crucified with Jesus, railed on Jesus. However, Luke discovered that one of the thieves had a change of heart. Luke writes, “But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? [41] We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” [Luke 23:40 – 43]

This criminal recognizes who Jesus is, asks for salvation, and gets it.

Jesus’ mom was at the cross when Jesus died. Also there was, Cleopas’ wife, Mary Magdalene, and John. [John 19:25 – 27]

5. Friday, from noon to 3:00 p.m.

Lots of things happened at this time. Maybe the most ominous was the darkness. [Mark 15:33, Matthew 27:45, Luke 23:44]. This was an unnatural event that has been explained various ways. Certainly, this could not have been part of any human plan.

Mark tells it this way: “At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. [34] And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"‑‑which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” [Mark 15:33 – 34]

A thousand years before this event, David, the ancient King of Israel wrote Psalm 22. Psalm 22 described the details of a Roman crucifixion long before there was a Roman empire.

Listen to these remarkable details:

* PS 22:2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, BY NIGHT, and am not silent.

* PS 22:6 But I am a worm and not a man, SCORNED by men and DESPISED by the people.

* PS 22:7 – 8 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."

* PS 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. [Out of join is consistent with the jolt from dropping the cross into the ground. Heart has turned to wax, would have defined the burning sensation in the chest area as the victim struggled to breath.]

* PS 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. [The intense thirst.]

* PS 22:16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. [“Dogs” would have been the common mispronunciation of the word for “Gentile” and refers to the Roman soldiers. The piercing of the hands and feet the nails that were used in the crucifixion.]

* PS 22:17 I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. [The humiliating exposure of hanging on the cross.]

* PS 22:18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

* PS 22:30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. [We see the hope found in our Easter celebration.]

John then describes the last moments on the cross with these words, “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." [29] A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. [30] When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” [John 19:28 – 30]

Notice that Jesus laid His life down, it was not taken or stolen. For the mere mortal it would have been the end. But this is Jesus, the Christ, the King of Glory, the son of God. There is more to the story. Much, much more.

6. In Jerusalem at the time of His death.

Matthew describes the scene this way: “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. [52] The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. [53] They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” [Matthew 27:51 – 53]

The veil in the temple is torn from TOP to BOTTOM. The veil had been on thing separating God’s Holy of Holies from the rest of humanity. It was a symbol of the separation between God and Man due to sin. Since it was torn from top to bottom, we can only understand this as God the Father tore it open Himself... it was not the effect of the earthquake. The mass resurrection was also another supernatural event.

These events are beyond what any conspiracy theory can begin to explain away.

7. Friday afternoon before 6:00 p.m.

The body had to be disposed of quickly. John described what happened this way, “Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. [32] The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. [33] But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. [34] Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. [35] The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. [36] These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," [37] and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced.” [John 19:31 – 37]

Remember this was a professional Roman soldier, not an idiot. The Romans were as efficient at their work as any US Marine. They were the best. The knew death when they saw death. This soldier sees that Jesus is dead and makes sure that Jesus is dead. The flow of water and blood would have been consistent with the fluid build up in the lungs of a person who had been crucified.

Joseph of Armathea is given the body to be buried.

8. Friday after 6:00 p.m. before sunset.

Jesus is buried. He is placed in a tomb that is sealed with a sizable stone. The stones were custom cut and put into groove then rolled down-hill in the grove. Each of these stone weighed around 1 ton. They could be moved only with considerable effort.

It is sad that people could think that a man who had lost the kind of blood Jesus would have in his beatings and crucifixion, not had any water for this long, had spike size nails run through his hands and feet, and had a spear puncture a lung and major artery (if not heart) could recover enough to escape the tomb by rolling away a 1 ton stone and beating 4 Roman soldiers. It’s not going to happen.

The women begin a watch of the tomb. [Matthew 27:61] Around sunset they returned to prepare spices and ointments. [Luke 23:56]

9. Saturday morning.

The religious leaders when to Pilate and demanded a guard. [Matthew 27:62 – 66] You see they remembered Jesus saying He would rise from the dead. Oddly enough, the disciples seemed to have forgotten. So they sealed the stone with a Roman seal and set a guard. Again these were the finest soldiers in the world who would have forfeited their lives if their charge escaped. They would not have sealed an empty tomb, nor would they have moved the body. If they did, then they would have produced it when rumors of the resurrection began to fly.

10. Sunday before sunrise.

Matthew gives us these details: “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. [3] His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. [4] The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.” [Matthew 28:2 – 4]

By the time the women are able to return to the tomb, the stone is rolled away so that everyone could see that it is empty!

Jesus has died Friday, probably around 3:00 p.m. and was buried before sunset. He laid, dead, in the tomb all of Saturday and about 10 hours of Sunday. That makes 3 days, and counting the supernatural night of Friday, 3 nights.

11. Sunday just after sunrise.

The women didn’t find the body. Instead they found a stone that had been rolled away, an empty tomb, and an angel announcing Jesus’ resurrection. Matthew tells this part of the story like this: “The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: `He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.” [Matthew 28:5 – 9]

Jesus made 5 appearances that day. To Mary Madgalene [John 20:11 – 18, Mark 16:9 – 11], to the women [Matthew 28:9 – 10], to the two on the road to Emmaus [Mark 16:12 – 13, Luke 24:13 – 32], to Peter [Luke 24:34], then to the 10 other disciples [Mark 16:14, Luke 24:36 – 43, John 20:19 — 25]. In the next 40 days, Jesus would make 5 more appearances and be seen by more than 500 people.

12. Finally we get to Thomas.

How many of us have said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” [John 20:25b]?

Ok, we haven’t said it out loud. But do you really believe?

* Is it believing when you don’t say something to someone who needs to hear about the life changing encounter with a living Jesus Christ?

* Is it believing when you knowingly and deliberately do something you know is wrong or avoid doing something you know is right?

* Is it believing when you find other things to do than come to the place God has chosen to meet His people at the appointed time?

* Is it believing when you don’t experience the life changing resurrection of Jesus Christ for yourself?

Today is the day for you to end your doubt and declare, along with Thomas: “My Lord and my God!” Will you do so now?

Holiness Teaching (Introduction: part one)

Holiness Teachings (Introduction: part one)

B.T. Roberts re-examined.

1Pe 1:13 – 16 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [14] As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, [15] but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, [16] since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Notice that 1. Holiness is based on the mind and its connection with actions (v 16). 2. Holiness is concerned about NOT conforming to the passions of our former ignorance (v 14). 3. Holiness is about being *like* God (v 15).

Basis:

The words “sanctification” and “holiness,” in the Bible, mean the same thing.

1. Holiness implies victory over outward sin.

a. It is dependent on the state of justification.

b. A person who is holy does not commit sin.

Rom 6:14 “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

c. Implies grace has dominion in our lives.... In the struggle between sin and grace: grace wins!

1 Jn 3:9 “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.”

d. If you imagine you are holy but do what God’s forbids OR neglects to do what God commands... you are deceived!

“His so-called faith is fatal presumption.”

2. Holiness is a state of being that prompts good works.

a. This state is the condition of the soul which prompts us to perform good actions.

b. It is the imitation of Jesus.

1 Peter 1:14 – 16 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, [15] but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, [16] since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

c. Notice this does not say to DO holy things, but BE holy.

1 Thes. 3:13 “So that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”

d. When the HEART that is established; then the habits will be right.

3. Holiness implies deliverance from all wrong dispositions, tempers, and desires.

a. Deliverance from indulgence in the right in an unlawful manner or to an inordinate degree.

b. Sinful dispositions: anger, pride, and covetousness.

c. Wrong tempers: what is not delivered, yielded to God.

“In a holy person all his powers of body and mind are brought into harmony with the will of God.”

1 Thes. 5:23 “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(Peace is the surest sign of sanctification.)

1.) The body is so far sanctified as to be blameless. (Free from “the cravings for indulgences which were fast hastening him on to destruction.”)

2.) The affections, passions, desires, and propensities are so subdued that they are the occasion of good, and not harm.

3.) The intellect, the judgement, the will, and the imagination are made pure and holy in all things.

2 Cor. 7:1 “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

d. Holiness is opposed to all defilement (KJV “filthiness”)

4. Holiness is distinct from justification and subsequent to it.

a. When one is converted (justified) he is far from made holy (doesn’t have victory over sin... immediately).

1 Cor. 3:1 “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.”

(It is natural to grow up. Remaining an infant us unnatural.)

b. It is possible to be “brothers” and “infants in Christ.” Justified... not sinners or backsliders... The were “carnal” but not holy.

The Wow and Woe of Worship

Please note this is part of the series “The Power of the Cross” which can be obtained free from CTA.

(The outline is mine.)

Luke 5:1 – 11

The Wow and Woe of Worship

Imagine the sights and sounds of what is happening in this story. The sounds of the water as it splashes on a beach. The smell of old boats and nets being washed. Watch the exhausted fishermen, backs bent with the disappointment of a fish-less night.

Into all of this steps Jesus and interrupts a perfectly good pity party.

A. Personal disappointment and perceived failure are God’s interruptions.

1. Fishing then was strenuous...

a. It involved boats, casting heavy wet nets, serious competition with others.

b. It involved “toiled all night” [v 5] and high maintenance “washing their nets.” [v 2]

c. This was commercial fishing... so if no fish, no pay.... no food.

2. Personal disappointment and perceived failure are times when God has our attention.

a. Jesus just gets in the boat... doesn’t ask permission.

b. Personal reflection on my disappointment over “alter calls” here.

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, [29] for our "God is a consuming fire.” [Hebrews 12:28 – 29]

B. When God interrupts our lives, God is requiring a response.

1. [v 3c] “And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.”

a. Peter hears what Jesus is saying.

b. Some bond of trust must have developed in listening to Jesus because he is willing to “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” [v 4]

2. Peter’s response: we are tired, we came back empty, BUT...

a. KJV: “Nevertheless.” Peter is willing to do this because Jesus told him to do it.

b. This is a huge act of faith.

3. But Jesus does something special that gets Peter’s attention.

a. Jesus almost breaks the nets and sinks the boat. [vv 6 – 7]

b. This is the “moment of wow” were Peter is amazed, immediately followed by a “moment of woe” when Peter confesses his sinfulness.

“Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” [v 8b ESV]

C. This seems to be the pattern when God shows up.

1. Isaiah 6:5 “Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” [NIV]

a. The word “woe” is a “passionate cry of grief or despair” [Brown-Driver-Briggs]

b. It is the word use to signify being under God’s curse.

2. Here is a holy God, showing up in His glory... verses an unholy human.

a. Doesn’t matter who you are: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” [Romans 2:23 NIV]

b. That is the “moment of woe.” That point were we, looking at the cross, realize what our sins cost Jesus.

Imagine if you were swamped with the memory and realization of every sin you have committed. Your reaction would be the same as Isaiah’s and Peter’s: overwhelming guilt and enormous fear.

3. Why?

a. Because you have been in contact with a holy God.

b. BOTH Peter and Isaiah met God in the everyday ordinary grind of life. FACT: God is found in all things as all times.

c. And that requires a response.

D. The purity of God’s holiness and the dirt of our sinfulness and up to “grace.”

1. Jesus got Peter’s attention with a “wow.” Peter made the leap to “woe.” But Jesus was not finished there.

a. “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” [v 10b ESV]

b. Wow to woe to wow.

2. What is the effect of what is happening?

a. When we humble ourselves and confess our sin... we are cleansed.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [1 John 1:9 ESV]

b. We are then commissioned by God.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” [Acts 1:8 ESV]

c. Then we are irreversibly changed.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” [Romans 12:1 – 2]

3. Maybe we do not respond to God because:

a. We don’t want anyone to know we are in need of forgiveness. (“Duh”)

b. We are afraid to say yes to anything/everything God asks of us. (Such as being His witnesses.)

c. We are not willing to be transformed... we are comfortable with the status quo...

Invitation:

1. Come to the alter and experience the woe of your condition.

2. Commit yourself as a “living sacrifice” and experience the wow of God’s wonderful grace.

3. Compelled by a joy that overshadows all sorrows and fear, live out God’s wonderful grace for all to see!

Come to the Cross

2 Corinthians 5:14 – 17

Come to the Cross

First of our Lent series “Power of the Cross.”

Devotions this week.. At the cross Jesus became the means by which God removed our sins and renewed our hope. It is my hope that we come to the Cross this Lenten season and find in Jesus death and resurrection the blood, that removes our sins. And as we gaze at the cross, we will see it’s shadow point to slightly used, yet empty, tomb and renew our hope.

And God has planted the Cross squarely in the center of His grace towards us.... Demonstrating without question His love for us... This morning, inviting us on a journey towards that Cross and our Savior.

Why is this so important?

I. The cross commands our attention.

A. [v 14] The compelling love of Christ for us.

1. Sacrifice for another is the highest honor anyone can achieve.

a. Jesus... God the son... left heaven to be one of us.

“ HEB 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death‑‑that is, the devil‑‑ [15] and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. [16] For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. [17] For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. [18] Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” [Hebrews 2:14 – 18]

b. We cannot underestimate the ways Jesus shared our humanity because that sharing was the key to Him destroying the devil and his works AND freeing us on the Cross.

2. As we look at the cross we understand Jesus died in our place; the just for the unjust.

a. Our sins required justice... someone had to pay the price.

b. However, the sacrifice had to be a “perfect, spotless, sinless” one.

B. We are compelled into relationship with God and the ones God loves.

1. To God because of the debt of love.

2. To the church (collection of those who trust only in what Jesus has done on the cross for their salvation).

3. To the world, as God extends His mercy and grace through us to those who are dying and going to eternal hell BECAUSE they have yet to come to the Cross.

The word “controls” or NIV “compels” is a military image of a band of soldiers fighting as a unit together under a banner. “His banner over us is love.” That love of God and for God drives our lives, directs our steps, and delivers us sin.

II. The cross obliges our affections.

A. [v 14] We have concluded... with certainty of the fact of Christ’s death for us.

1. This conclusion leads us to the duty of no longer living for ourselves [v 15]

a. Problem: We are very self centered. One philosopher (Kant) accused humans as acting selfishly in everything we do.

b. Problem: Our very culture is founded on the “everyone for themself” principle. (Struggle between selfishness and the looters that would take our stuff and “redistribute the wealth.”

2. The thing is we are not to live for ourselves or others... “BUT FOR HIM.”

a. We are obliged to either pay the dead own to sin (“wages of sin”) or the debt of love owed to God.

b. Here’s the deal:

1.) Sin leads to pain, chaos, and misery before death and Hell.

2.) Love leads to joy, peace, and goodness (to mention a few).

B. Why is this so?

1. On the Cross Jesus “redeemed” us.

a. Paul speak for every human when he claimed:

“ I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.” [Romans 7:14b]

b. Redeemed means “to buy back.”

“...Jesus Christ [14] who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” [Titus 2:14]

2. That means:

a. “You are not your own” [1 Corinthians 6:18c]

b. “you were bought at a price.” [1 Corinthians 6:19a]

(Ill. When you were married... you exchanged singleness for unity. When you take a job you exchange your time, creativity, and energy for a pay check. When you get a license you exchange being prohibited for responsible use.)

III. The cross moves our actions.

A. The Cross brings conviction which moves us to action.

1. What you do is based on what you believe. What you believe drives what you do.

a. If you find yourself standing on the road with a large truck speeding towards you... what will you do?

b. It depends on what you believe... (notice the outcome doesn’t depend on what you believe... your actions depend on what you believe).

2. What conviction do we have?

a. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” [Romans 5:6]

b. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” [Romans 5:8]

B. What does this do?

1. When our orientation to God changes... our orientation to others changes.

2. If we were once wrong about God... then we were also wrong about others.

IV. The cross exchanges our asphyxiating lifestyle for the free breath of life.

(“Once I used to exist, now, I’m alive!”)

A. The power of the Cross is only effective for those “in Christ.”

1. [v 17] There is the invitation: “If anyone...”

a. “Limited time offer!”

Maybe today is your last day.

Maybe this is the last time you will be sensitive enough to hear God call your name.

(Ill. Wesley... the person who is waking up... can decide to wake up or go back to sleep.)

b. “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” [Hebrews 4:7b]

Trouble is each time you walk away from God... you make it harder the next time.

Saying no becomes a habit... it sets the heart against responding to God... it hardens your heart.

2. It is a choice... “to be or not to be, that is the question.”

B. What difference will it make?

1. The “old” that is slowly suffocating those without Christ.

a,. We are drowning in our sin, our pull toward sin, and all the illusion of freedom it gives us.

b. We suffocate under the burden of what our sins cost us.

“Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. [3] When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. [4] For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.” [Psalm 32:2 – 4]

2. The new is life!

a. Think of it: Starting over and being clean before God.

b. The joy of the possibility: to live and not just exist.