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The True Cross
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Sermon Delivered 7/13/03 Text: John 19:16-35
Crosses are common today. To be sure they are on and in many churches and church signs. I regularly see the cross symbol on bumper stickers and are popular jewelry adornments, especially on necklaces. I have seen cross’ worn by Christians and, I have a cross tie tac that I wear from time to time. Likewise, I have seen crosses on rock stars and even Goth girls and guys. However, the purpose of this message is to remind us of the Christian significance of the cross. We must remember that the cross is neither a talisman nor a good luck charm. It is neither merely a pretty ornament nor an insignificant symbol. The cross is a symbol of pain, distress, burden bearing and above all a symbol of death. Historically, crosses, the instrument of capital punishment, come in five different varieties. (†) The Latin cross or crux immissa, was the kind of cross on which our Savior died. Above our Lord’s head, on the projecting beam, was placed the "title." (X) St. Andrew’s cross or crux decussata is in the shape of a capital X. It is called St. Andrew’s cross because history says the Apostle Andrew was crucified on this kind of cross. (T) St. Anthony’s cross or crux commissa, so called because history says he was crucified on this kind of cross where the upright beam has a cross beam sitting on the top like a capital "T." (+) The Greek cross, which looks like the plus sign. The oldest style cross is the crux simplex, which is a
single upright beam (I)
without a transom or crosspiece.
There are two key Old Testament passages that point to
the crucifixion of Christ on a cross. Turn with me to
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 "And if a
man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death,
and thou hang him on a tree: 23 His body shall not remain all night
upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he
that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not
defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance."
In fact, no one would know this verse has any
connection to the crucifixion of Christ without Galatians 3:13 which says, "Christ hath redeemed
us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is
written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"
Psalm 22
describes the Christ being crucified on the cross and the results. The key
verse is 16 "For dogs
have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they
pierced my hands and my feet."
A person crucified in Jesus' day was first of all
scourged (beaten with a whip consisting of thongs with pieces of metal or
bone attached to the end) or at least flogged until the blood flowed.
After the beating, the victim was forced to bear the crossbeam to the
execution site in order to signify that life was already over and to break
the will to live. A tablet detailing the crime(s) was often placed around
the criminal's neck and then fastened to the cross. At the site the
prisoner was often tied (the normal method) or nailed (if a quicker death
was desired) to the crossbeam. The nail would be driven through at the
base of the palm of the hand. The beam with the body was then lifted and
tied to the already affixed upright pole. Pins or a small wooden block
were placed halfway up to provide a seat for the body lest the nails tear
open the wounds or the ropes force the arms from their sockets. Finally
the feet were tied or nailed to the post. Death was slow and hideously
painful and caused by the loss of blood circulation and coronary failure.
Often the soldiers would break the victims legs with a club, causing
massive shock, the inability to push up their body to get a breath. This
hastened death.
But why? That brings us to our next point…
What was the purpose of the Cross of Christ? Why did
Christ choose to die such a heinous death? 1
Peter 2:24 gives us the
answer, "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that
we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes
ye were healed." Turn to Colossians 2:13-14
"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us,
which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his
cross;"
Let me explain our situation more in depth. Before we
are saved we were the enemies of God and that’s a bad position to
be in! But it is even worse than that. We are completely powerless
to change our enemy status with God because our sins make that impossible.
But God in His mercy had an answer. He sent Christ to pay for our sins by
dying on the cross. Turn to Ephesians 2:12-17.
This will help us to better understand the purpose of the cross.
"That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise,
having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ
Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken
down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished
in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained
in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so
making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto
God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them
that were nigh."
There is another passage that explains the purpose of
the cross. Colossians 1:19-22
"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by
him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether
they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that
were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works,
yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through
death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his
sight:" The purpose of the cross is that we might have peace with God.
1 Corinthians 1:18-24
"For the preaching of the cross is to
them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the
power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom
of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is
the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of
this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by
wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to
save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the
Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified,
unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power
of God, and the wisdom of God."
The message of the Cross of Christ is powerful! I
cannot say it any better that the Apostle Paul said it, "For the preaching
of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are
saved it is the power of God… it pleased God by the foolishness of
preaching to save them that believe…we preach Christ crucified."
I told you at the beginning of this message that the
cross is a symbol of death. It is a symbol of the atoning death of Jesus
Christ. But it is also a symbol of death for the Christian. Paul told the
Colossians Christians "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ
in God." Colossians 3:3. What does that mean? It means that our sin
nature has been crucified (Romans 6:6). That means that we can live a life
of victory over sin. Galatians 5:24
says, "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts." The Christian’s focus in on the cross of Christ and
serving Him and not on the world. Galatians 6:14
"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said it
this way, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Galatians 2:20
Don’t let the cross become mundane. It must never
become just an ornament or a beautiful piece of jewelry. We must always
remember the pain of the cross. Christ suffered there for us. We
must always remember the purpose of the cross. Christ paid for our
sins that we might have peace with God. We must always remember the
power of the cross. It is the power of God unto salvation. We must
always remember the pattern of the cross. We are crucified with
Christ. |
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