Cross Training

A Message given by Pastor Jeff Haight

West Point Community Covenant Church March 9, 2008

In preparation for the Easter season I would like for us to go back in our minds eye almost 2000 years, to a day that has been known for centuries as Good Friday. For years I could never see what could possibly be good about this day, the day that Jesus was killed. I've come to know, He wasn't killed. He came and lived His life for this very reason, to redeem mankind. He gave His life, so that in his death He could absorb the evil that was going to destroy the world. On that one day Jesus willingly took all the vile nasty sins of the world on Himself. He became the scape goat for us.

The cross has always had a wondrous attraction, we wear it as jewelry, we have it tattooed on our bodies, we set it up between a couple candles in the sanctuary, we have it on our walls as art. The cross was a horrible instrument of torture, it was unbelievably cruel. In fact if you were a Roman citizen and were guilty of some capital offense there was a law that stated they could not kill you on a cross, because it was so barbaric. But still it has a wondrous attraction, because on that old cross our dear Savior died.

Most of us have seen the Passion of the Christ, and by all estimations this was a pretty good depiction of what actual happened. So I would like for us to imagine ourselves there. Go back 200 years to that day we will always refer to as Good Friday. Try to put yourself in first century Palestine. Smell the smells, feel the mass of humanity as they press upon the city to celebrate Pass-Over. Feel the excitement. What happened that day? The day our savior was suffering on that cruel old cross, and where were the guys who had spent the last 3 years with Him? And what were the others who played a part placing him there thinking? Some of us might find we might relate to some of these people.

The religious leaders were slapping themselves on the back, congratulating themselves. Finally they had gotten rid of this trouble maker. They managed to have Him killed right during pass-over so everyone could see, they were in charge here. Who did that punk carpenter think he was, trying to turn their religious order upside down. Who did he think he was driving out all those who were selling goods and exchanging money in the temple. They received a pretty good kick back off the space rental from those merchants, and that Jesus had the audacity to drive them out. Twice. He said this temple was going to be destroyed and raised back in 3 days, Who did he think he was. It took 40 years to build this temple. Now he' s out there with a couple common criminals hanging on the cross. We had him placed right there in the middle just like he is their ring leader. That' ll show him. Then everything went dark, creepy darkness over the whole area, darkness that seemed to swallow the light, to absorb it somehow, even the candles that were hurriedly lit seemed to give off only shadows. What if we made a mistake? What have we done?

Oh well, He got what he had coming, and it didn' t even cost them a cent.

That traitor who had betrayed Him had a twinge of conscience and came back threw the 30 pieces of silver on the floor, said it was blood money. All money is, after all, somebodies blood money. Still spends. They could take the money and buy property to make a new cemetery to burry all the foreigners and riff rafe so they wouldn' t have to take up space in their cemetery. All those stinking poor people. How fitting since that carpenter loved the those poor people so much. That Judas was pretty upset, wonder what happened to him. He kept saying , What have I done?

Judas was beside himself with grief alright. He never thought it would go this far, he stumbled out of the temple. The temple guards roughed him up a bit on his way out, they thought he was drunk, but he didn' t care. He was just blinded by grief over what he had done. How could he live with himself after this. He never though it would go this far. He just wanted a little extra cash, and he though Jesus could take care of himself. He was hoping for a showdown between the religious leaders who were always exploiting the people. Jesus would never do that, he was always looking out for people. Tears dripped off his beard onto his clean feet. Clean because Jesus had taken a basin and washed them right before they celebrated Pass-Over together then sent him out to do what he had to do. How could he have let Satan lie to him like this, how could he have betrayed the one who loved him so much. The last time he saw Jesus he was so badly beaten he could scarcely see, the one he betrayed with a kiss. He was responsible for this. He started these events in motion, all for 30 lousy pieces of silver. Sold out his Lord for a couple months pay. He couldn' t bear the thought, and had to stop the pain somehow. So he went and hung himself. Judgement was pronounced and in the words of our Lord, Woe to that one by whom the son of man is betrayed, it would have been better for him if he had never been born. The Son of man went on to glory, and the betrayer went to eternal punishment, to that place where the fire is not quenched and the worm never dies. Weeping and gnashing of teeth forever are his lot. Where for all eternity he continues to ask himself, What have I done?

Then there is that big fisherman. Big tough guy scared of nothing who was going to stand by Jesus till the end. He had his sword. He trusted in his courage. He wasn't scared of those Romans, they were in His land and it' s time they drove them back to Rome. Jesus could do it to, he has seen the miracles, if we just all rally behind him, God was going to restore Israel to it' s proper place. But he had failed. A skinny scrawny little slave girl called him out, and brought him down. All she did was say she recognized him. Said he knew Jesus. And he denied it, he denied it 3 times. Big tough guy right, big mouth is about it, all talk and no go. All his life he had been scared of nothing, and then he pretended he didn't know Jesus, when a skinny little girl confronted him. Right when he needed a friend the most, when everyone was out to get him, If he would have spoke up, said it was a lie that he was a good man and never hurt anyone only helped people. Maybe He wouldn't be on the cross right now. But no Mister big tough guy fisherman cussed and denied Him. What have I done?

Then there wa s Pilate. The guy who pronounced sentence on this man who claimed to be, king of the Jews. He did it just to shut up the pompous religious snobs, he didn' t like them but he knew they could make trouble for him. So he gave in. He didn' t believe this genteel man standing before him was capable of any evil. He had seen evil but this man was anything but. Aught, so what. He was just some nameless Jew, by tomorrow nobody will even remember his name. He' d ordered the execution of hundreds of men, what made this one any different? Why did he feel so strange, so dirty? Was it the fact that his wife had a dream and told him, the guy was innocent and she had said, not to have anything to do with this one. She doesn't understand. Sometimes you have to do a little bad just to keep the peace. He had asked the crowd what shall I do with this Jesus? He knew the people loved Jesus but the religious leaders had them stirred up to yell for him to be crucified. He didn't want to have him killed he just went along with them to keep the peace. He didn' t want to have a riot. Tomorrow noone will even remember the carpenter name. He even washed his hands to show that this mans blood was on them, not on him, but still, he didn' t believe that. No one could die unless he said so, and all the washing could not take away the guilt he felt right now. He felt dirty all over, like he had committed some terrible evil in ordering this mans death. He had the servant bring the basin back into his room and washed his hands again, and again, but still he felt dirty. And the nagging thought remained, what have I done?

Then we have poor Mark. He was with Jesus when the soldiers came and they grabbed him. And he squirmed right out of the clothes he was wearing and ran off into the night, naked. Now he is sitting there in his nakedness and his shame, shivering in the cold. How could he run from the one who loved him so much, where could he run to now? He was just a kid the others said, and Jesus defended him said he was spiritually mature, oh man, he let Jesus down. How could he run from Jesus? Maybe Jesus would not be on the cross right now if he had just stood his ground. If he would have stood his ground and not let them take him. He could go to him now, but how could he after what he had done. The shame of it all was just too great. He deserted the one who loved him, what have I done?

Mary was there too. Can you imagine the grief this poor mother felt as she watched her first born hanging on that cross, condemned to die. All the emotions, all the thoughts rushing through her mind. If only I hadn't shared the stories with him about how he was God's child, if I would have just kept my mouth shut. He didn' t have to know about the 2 old people in the temple that said he was the Messiah. He didn' t have to know about the hurried trip to Egypt, the wise men, the angles and the star. It' s my fault. If I hadn't pushed him to make wine at the wedding he might have waited to start his ministry till the timing was better. I should have protected him, not let him take all those religious classes at the synagogue. If I would have kept him away from those old Rabies, that filled his head with God' s plan. If I would have made him tend the sheep instead of hanging out in town. If I would have remarried after Joseph died. Mothers through out the ages have been powered by guilt. But Mary must have been feeling a double portion as she watched her son hang there. I brought him into the world, for this. What have I done?

John was there with Mary. The last words Jesus had spoken to him were a rebuke. Jesus asked him to stay awake and watch and pray with him, and he had fallen asleep. When he friend had needed him the most the was sleeping. He had seen the power of prayer and knew Jesus had an inside track, and he just asked for some extra help, and he failed his Lord. If he had been praying like Jesus asked him too they might be off celebrating the holiday with all the rest of the pilgrims who had came to Jerusalem, instead of being here in the mist of horrible suffering. Why couldn' t he have stayed awake, why couldn't he have prayed? What have I done?

Simon from Cyrene was just in Jerusalem for pass-over. He was a good Jew and he was here to offer the sacrifice the law required. He was just standing there watching as these 3 guys came struggling up the hill dragging these huge crosses, one guy was so badly beaten he looked scarcely alive and when he almost fell over under the weight if it, Simon reached out his hand to help steady the load. That's when a Roman soldier grabbed him and ordered him to, carry his cross. As he looked into the condemned mans eyes he knew he would follow him, not just up this hill, but anywhere. When Jesus looked at him it was as if he was looking right into his soul. There was no hate in his eyes, only kindness and compassion. How could a religious system ever condemn one of it' s people to this kind of torture. Now as Jesus was hanging there, the leaders were saying all kind of horrible things about him. They were holding handkerchiefs over their mouths to keep out the smell and the flies and were laughing, how could they be so incentive to make fun of him as he hung there in this misery. What has he done Simon asked one of those peasants standing there. He was to good, he made them jealous, was the reply. How could they laugh about the torture of this good man. If this is what being a Jew meant they could take their religion a shove it. And he had carried His cross, What have I done?

The soldiers were there, having done their job now they just waited for the end, it might take 2 days. The centurion who was in charge hoped it wouldn't take that long, it felt like a storm was coming. He had killed lots of men on this spot, and it was not a job he liked. But there was something about this guy, about today, that was different. He didn't fight back or offer any resistance even as they tied a rope on his wrist and jerked his shoulder out of the socket to stretch him on the cross piece. He never cried out, never cursed or spit. Even when they dropped the cross into the hole, and he could hear the flesh tearing. Still, he never cried out. Then there was that freaky moment when he called out in a loud voice, Father forgive them for they know not what they do. It sent chills down his back, and then the darkness came. They lit some torches and the centurion couldnz't take his eyes off the guy in the middle. His breathing seemed to stop even though his head was still up and his eyes were open, and Centurion stepped towards him and fell to the ground as the earth shook, he got back to his feet and staggered a couple steps closer and fell again. Then in a voice that was loud and clear and strong, unlike anything the centurion had ever heard from a dying man on a cross. The man who' s crime was, king of the Jews, called out in a voice loud enough for all to hear. Father into your hands I commit my spirit, it is finished. And with that he bowed his head and breathed his last. The centurion had seen hundreds dies on the cross, but never had he seen anything like this. Surly this man was the Son of God. What have I done?

This is the question we must all ask our selves, because it was not just the religious leaders, or Judas, or Pilate or even the Centurion or any of the others who nailed Jesus on that cruel old rugged cross. It was sin that nailed him there. Your sins and my sins. Oh Lord what have we done? We nailed him there. What have we done? And what can we do now to make it right? Jesus did this for us, He became sin in our place, because He loves us. We not only nailed Him there and we deserved to be there instead of Him. What have we done? And what can we do? The only proper response for us is to love Him back. If you are here today and you don' t know what this means, how can you possibly love Him back, how could He ever forgive you for your part in nailing Him there? All He wants is for you to do is ask. Oh Lord forgive me, and then make Him the Lord of your life. Let Him be the boss. To put our selves into the hands of someone who loves us enough that He was willing to give His life that we might live. This is not to big a stretch. We know He has our best interests at heart. Commit your life to Him so that you don' t have to suffer like He did, commit your life to Him and live.

If you are here today and you are confused over what this means grab me or one of the deacons after church we would be happy to explain it in more detail. Jesus fought for us. He suffered, bled and died to set us free. Are you fighting for Him? Does He inspire you to deeds of greatness and courage and maybe even a little risk? He was there for you, are you there for Him?

Ask yourselves, what have I done, and what can I do?

Let's close in prayer. Lord Jesus forgive us for the part we played in nailing you on that nasty old cross. Lord we thank you for taking our place, for being our scape goat. And now Lord we pray come into our lives and guide and direct us that we might live our lives from this moment on in a manner that will bring glory to you. Thank you Father for giving us your Son and for many a way for a relationship to be restored with you . Lord we pray that we may always have a healthy revulsion towards sin, and a desire to please you. Dear Lord these things we ask in the name of our precious Lord Jesus, who suffered and bled and died for us. Amen