Two weeks ago the religious world and even the secular world in general was focused on and talking about the crucifixion of Christ on “Good Friday” and His resurrection on “Easter Sunday”.
This world has moved on to other issues and stories. Christians have not. Jesus’ vicarious death, burial, and resurrection is a weekly remembrance and celebration.
Today’s facebook Friday is from the page of my friend and preaching colleague Tommy Peeler. It’s based on a sermon he heard from Bill Crews in 1984. Our preaching friends may find a 5 point sermon or communion talk from this post.
In the first century thousands were crucified. “During the last siege of Jerusalem hundreds of crosses daily arose, till there seemed not sufficient room nor wood for them” (Alfred Edersheim). Of those thousands crucified, how many of the victims could you name? If crucifixion was such a common but horrible death, what makes the cross of Jesus’ death stand out?
1.The Identity of the Victim
Who was He? He was God come in the flesh (John 1:1-3). He was the Maker of the world (John 1:10). He was the Word become flesh (John 1:14) and He came to reveal the Father (John 1:18)2. The Innocence of the Victim
This is not to say that this never happened. No doubt there were some people crucified who did not deserve it. However, even they did not deserve death for the charges against them, they had sinned and done wrong.It is striking how many connected with the cross declare Jesus’ innocence. Pilate (Luke 23:4, 14-15; 22; John 18:38; 19:4, 6), Herod (Luke 23:14-15), Pilate’s wife (Matt. 27:19), Judas (Matt. 27:4), the thief beside Him (Luke 23:41), and the centurion (Luke 23:47).
New Testament writers often affirm Jesus’ innocence of any sin (II Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; I Peter 2:22; I John 3:5).3. The Willingness of the Victim
No doubt many went to the cross fighting and kicking but He went of His own free-will (John 10:17-18; Matt. 26:39). He could have called a legion of angels to defend Him (Matt. 26:52-54). He went of His own free-will. There was no other way they could have taken Him.4. The Sacrificial Nature of His death
He did not die for His own sin, but for ours (Matt. 20:28; 26:28; Rom. 5:6-8 I Cor. 15:3-4). Isaiah 53:4-7 presents this in a dramatic way.5. The Resurrection of the Victim
How many of those crucified were raised from the dead? He was (John 2:19-22; Matt. 17:22-23; 20:17-19; 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-35; John 20-21) and He gives hope to those who trust and build their lives on Him (John 11:25-26; I Cor. 15).
The cross is one of the great paradoxes of power, love, and justice in all history. As Fleming Rutledge wrote, “The crucifixion is the touchstone of Christian authenticity, the unique feature by which everything else is measured… it is the great paradox that gives the Christian gospel its unsettling power.”
“For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Cor 1:18-25)
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
ThePreachersWord 
Father Barnabas Powell has this to say today on his FAITH ENCOURAGED SUBSTACK.
“Our eternal home isn’t a place of self-centered leisure because our purpose, our reason to exist, is to become like Christ. St. Athanasius of Alexandria, early on, revealed that “The Son of God became man, that we might become god.” (little “g” on purpose!). If our truest destiny is Theosis, to become by grace what Christ is by nature, then we will never be finished in this journey. We will need a community to help us become who we truly are.”
So why are we still…dead in our sins…thinking and imitating Roman society that history claims brutally flogged and nailed people to wooden crosses?
Should we not change our thinking about how Christ the Bride belonging to the Bridegroom died? Should not we see how dying to self-centred leisure made sense to Simon, Rufus and Alexander. (Mark 15:21) and changed their thinking about lifting up the Cross.
Was the Cross of Jesus one of violence? Or is that the perspective that Romans want Christ’s followers to believe?
Could the Cross of Jesus be a living person…personified as the Amygdala, the Almond Branch, that the Teacher of Israel had his smiths replicate in Gold…as the Golden Lamp Stand? (Jeremiah 1.11; Isaiah 11.1; Exodus 25: 31-39)
If so…then would not the Magdalene clinging to the base of the Cross and sitting outside the Tomb…be the Mother of the Gospel and the wife of the Father (Psalm 128:3) who clings to the Lord as she has always done (Joshua 23:8) and let’s go of her children so that they may vindicate her (Luke 7:35)?
Or has what I have just said…nonsense to you?
LikeLike
Pingback: Weekly Recap; April 28-May 2 | ThePreachersWord