1May 30, 2021
“The Centrality of the Cross”
Central to the Christian
witness is the message of the cross. We learn of its healing power. It speaks
the story of salvation by grace.
As Moses raised a bronze
serpent, Jesus must be raised up on a cross. The upraised serpent in the desert
brought healing through the forgiving love of God. This took place simply by
looking to the upraised serpent.
The cross brings eternal
life to those who look to the cross with the eyes of faith. The way of the
cross calls for faith in Christ who hangs upon the cross. He offers healing
power through life.
Look
and know that God loves you –
I.
Look beyond the cross – the source of
God’s love – “For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
A.
The
Father offered up His only Son although it was done through the sinful acts of
others.
1.
The
30 pieces of silver Judas received is quite a cheap price for the Father’s only
Son. Equal to 120 days work – That’s 24 weeks - About ½ a year’s pay.
2.
The
cash spent to betray Jesus was recognized as “blood money”. It was currency,
which had been compromised. So it couldn’t be placed back into the
treasury.
a. It was the price of betrayal.
b.
At what price would you sell out a friend?
At
what price are some willing to push a co-worker “under the bus” to advance
their own career? Or, betray her secret to win another’s attention or
admiration? Refusing to help because you didn’t want to get your hands dirty?
Could you be charged with similar crimes against humanity?
3.
Sin
simply causes life to be cheapened. And our integrity compromised.
B.
The
purpose of the Father offering up His Son was the reconciliation of the world.
Sin only cheapens life – Christ restores it to its original value. You have
worth – real worth not based on what you see or value in yourself. But on what
the Father determines to be of real worth.
Transition: We
look to the one on the cross to see the source of the Father’s love. Look to
the one on the cross who is giving you this worth!
II.
Look to the One on
the cross
–Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the
desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up. John 3:14
A.
Sin
produces nothing but sickness, and pain and death.
B.
Likewise,
Jesus was lifted up on a cross. The cross was the supreme exaltation of Jesus –
in being lifted up Christ draws all sorts of people to Himself - without any
regard for nationality, ethnic affiliation or status.
Transition: We
look to the one on the cross to see the source of God’s love. We look to the
one on the cross who is giving you this worth. We look at the cross where there
is a sacrifice of life for you!
III.
Look at the cross –a sacrifice for you
– that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. John 3:15
A.
The
sacrifice of Christ on a cross was a sacrifice for a purpose that people might
believe in Him. John will use the word “believe” 98 times in his gospel. John’s
purpose was that his readers might believe and continue to believe in Christ
and Him alone.
People
are not to believe in John the Baptist or their preacher or anyone else. To
this day people are called to believe in Christ through the testimony and the
message of the cross.
B.
The
purpose of such believing is to have eternal life. This life, which Jesus
offers, is an infinitely high quality of life in living fellowship with God
both now and forever. It is a life, which has no end. It is an abundant life –
a life with purpose, and power.
Salvation comes simply in a look – a look at the cross and a look in faith. Certainly, the way of the cross calls for faith in Christ who hangs upon the cross. It is the power of new life.
1 The Trinity copyright (C) Ed Riojas, Higher Things
No comments:
Post a Comment