CaryCOG | Cary Church of God
Join us, as Pastor Patrick Jensen brings today's message: "Way of the Cross"
Today's Message: "Way of the Cross"
Scripture Location: Matthew 27:32-44
Matthew 27:32-44 NKJV
I. The Way of the Cross is the way of bitterness to the flesh in community (Matthew 27:32-34)
a. Introduction
b. What we first notice, is that community is inherent in the path that leads to the Skull. As we travel towards death, both the death of our bodies and the death of our sinful nature, we have the blessed consolation that it is not a path carved by loneliness, not one chiseled out by solitude, but one where the path is worn by saints that have gone before and saints here and now that travel this path with us.
c. It is Simon, who was made to “bear” the cross, in the Greek, Airo – which means to lift, raise, and take up.
d. Indeed, should we not all be on the Way of the Cross, despite the bitterness to our carnality that might follow? It is none other, than the way of the Christian. If we belong to Christ, we must also follow him to the place of the Skull. In other, words, we must go outside the camp, the safety net, the world, the comfortable, and to a way that leads to the celestial city. Listen again, to the author of Hebrews as he exhorts us once more!
e. So we have seen that if we want to traverse the Way of the Cross, we need not be
Lyrics:
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless Your name
Isaac Watts
II. The Way of the Cross is the way of losing worldly possessions (Matthew 27:35)
a. Once the train of mourning and mockery find their destination at the place of the skull, there Jesus is stripped to his tunic and his robe, a priestly robe without seam is bargained for. Indeed, the gospel of John is unique in its description of the coat.
b. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus prays for the soldiers, for the Father to forgive them in their ignorance. For it is indeed in their ignorance that they fulfill yet another prophecy from the Psalms. Listen to the prophecy some hundreds of years earlier.
c. Thus, the lesson for us, Beloved is that the Way of the Cross is the way of detachment from our possessions. We must, at any moment be willing to let go of our possessions. However, too often we are the rich young ruler, who turns away in despair when the questions arises to this way of the cross. Jesus exclaims to him:
d. It is as the song says, but can we follow its direction: We bow down, we lay our crowns, at the feet of Jesus.
e. Like the rich young ruler, we follow the commands, we adhere to the teachings, we give our tithes, we give our time, and we hope He may never ask for more. But what if he does? What will be your response?
Lyrics:
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them through his blood.
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless Your name
Isaac Watts
III. The Way of the Cross is the way of vile accusation (Matthew 27:36-44)
a. What is interesting about the first accusation, is that it is a true statement. Jesus is indeed the King of the Jews, but the inscription was not one written in honor but rather as a mockery, as if to underscore the question, “how could a king be hanging on a cross?”
b. However, there are times that the accusation from the enemy of our souls, and when it comes through human agency, does have truth, but the intent is to mock so as to cast reproach on the truth of who Jesus is. There are two lessons here, however, in how the Lord may obtain even greater glory through the accusation:
c. Then, there are those who pass by offering three gestures of accusation (v. 39)
d. Now we move to the accusations of the religious.
Lyrics:
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above to bear it to dark Calvary.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.
George Bernnard
IV. The Way of the Cross is the way of divine access and resurrection (Matthew 27:50-53)
a. It is the way of access because the veil of the temple was torn into. That which divided us from God was destroyed. The veil was the curtain to separate the most holy place from us who stood outside. Only once a year was the high priest allowed to enter only after a ceremonial cleansing to make atonement.
b. Second, the way of the cross leads inevitable to death but also to that which follows, resurrection. Can you sense the life that is coming as you walk the road to Golgotha? Once the flesh is crucified, the seeds of resurrection are sown and a newness begins to encircle our minds, souls, behaviors, and perspectives.
c. If you are dead on the inside today, if you find that you have veered from the narrow way of the cross and have walked the broad way of this world, which by the way, leads to destruction, come now and set yourself on this way of the cross, it is the way of life!
Lyrics:
To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.
George Bernnard