Pastor Ayo Fatokun
Texts: John 19:1-21; Luke 23:1-43
There was a catastrophic event in the form of an earthquake and Tsunami that happened in Japan recently. It is a clear testimony that the end of this sinful and wicked world is drawing nearer by the day. We Christians should at every point, remember the Cross – the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This message is a three-fold sermon cautioning us against the impending danger and doom that will soon envelope this present system of mundane life.
1. What Jesus did on the Cross.
2. What He asked us to do with the Cross
3. How does He want us to relate to the Cross:
The 6 things Jesus did on his way to the cross and even on the cross are contained in the main thoughts above.
1. What Jesus did on the cross:
(i)The stripes on His back are a symbol of our divine healing experience which he bought for us with His blood.
ii) The crown of tongs on His head signifying his redeeming us from evil thinking and speaking and all other negative ideas.
John 19:2 (KJV)
And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,
Romans 12:2 (KJV)
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
iii) The nails on His hands are symbolic of the price He paid for our evil works because we, Christians, have the tendency to compromise our faith, soiling our Christian testimony with what we do to earn our daily bread and how we earn it.
iv) The blood that flowed through His hands is symbolic of His redemption for us-His redeeming us from our sinful habits and evil practices.
v) He had his side pierced with a spear with blood and water oozing from it.
John 19:32 (KJV)
Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
This is through cleansing and freedom from the punishment for our wrong relationships with people. The blood that flowed from Him symbolizes our relationships with the outsiders- friends, colleagues and neighbours.
vi) His death is symbolic of His final payment of our debts. Here, the fig tree which Jesus cursed was an object of deception as it produced leaves without fruits which attracted Jesus’ attention to it.
2. What Jesus asked us to do with the cross.
John 3:14-21 (KJV)
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: [15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. [21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
i) Deal with little, little foxes that can spoil the ‘vine’.
Song 2:15 (KJV)
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
ii) Come into the light-the light of the Word. Say goodbye to darkness and embrace the light of the gospel. John 3:14-21
3. How does Jesus want us to relate to the cross?
i) Identify with His death on the cross.
Luke 23:39-43 (KJV)
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. [40]But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?[41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.[42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. [43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Galatians 2:20 (KJV)
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.
ii) Accept His sacrifice on the cross.
John 3:3-5, 16 (KJV)
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. [4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? [5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Consider the prodigal son example and the story of Israelites’’ rebellious lifestyles.
iii)Don’t nail Him to the cross again. Refuse to compromise your faith. Learn to stay focused.
Matthew 25:13 (KJV)
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
2 Cor. 5:17 (KJV)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Tim. 2:19 (KJV)
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Hebrews 6:1-3 (KJV)
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, [2] Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. [3] And this will we do, if God permit.
Deut. 30:19-20 (KJV)
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: [20] That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Don’t remember the former things- let the past remain dead in the grave and press on to glory.
Philip. 3:14-16 (KJV)
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. [16] Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Choose to live for righteousness in Christ. Choose to live for God not only in public but in secret, in private. Don’t live in hypocrisy. Don’t live a ‘double-standard’ Christian life anymore. Live to fear and obey God for your destiny’s sake. Remember Lot’s wife.
Genesis 19:26 (KJV)
But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
REPENT from your sinful ways. Learn to FOCUS on the WORD. Learn to obey instructions from the WORD.
