Who needs the Cross?

On this Good Friday, perhaps we should forego the story of the Cross of Christ.  We have evolved beyond our need for such a bloody story, haven’t we?  Joe and Alice American do not sin anymore.  Oh, we make mistakes.  We err in judgment, but sin and vice?  That’s the stuff of fanaticism, the worst kind of fanaticism, too-  religious!  Who needs the Cross?   We can correct our course with better understanding of our behavior, can’t we?   The Cross brings us such a sense of guilt, maybe it is best to take it down and replace it with a symbol less offensive.  We could use the dove, a symbol of peace.  God knows this old world needs peace. Or,  we could borrow Noah’s rainbow, a symbol full of hope, without all the overtones of judgment.

Who needs the Cross? 

I Do!   

That man that stared back at me in the mirror this morning, left to himself, is a rebel against God. It is the nature he was born into. He is naturally selfish, prideful. He does not love God naturally. He loves stuff, pleasure, and such things. Yes, I am a man in need of a Savior and His Cross! The uncompromising word of God offends our self-esteem for He says that in our ‘natural state’ we  are "objects of wrath." (Ephesians 2:3, NIV)  My only hope is a Savior;  not a Teacher, not a Mentor, but one who will save me from sin.  Yes, I need the Cross! “God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also long dead.  . . . What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people.” (Galatians 6:14)

In truth, the Cross is a beautiful symbol. There God’s love and holiness met.  In our Communion service tonight, I will hold the Cup and the Bread in my hands, as I stand under the Cross, profoundly grateful that God chose mercy and forgiveness, that He provided a sacrifice for my sin and removed my guilt and shame.

The word from the Word this Good Friday celebrates the triumph of God’s righteousness.  We must never reject sin or reserve Hell only for Neo-Nazis, pedophiles, and murderers.  The indictment stands – “all (*Jerry and you) have sinned and fallen short.”  But God, intervened and closed the gap between His Perfection and my sin at the Cross. "When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s judgment. For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God—all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God." (Romans 5:6-11, NLT)

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Alas And Did My Saviour Bleed (Hudson)

(a beautiful version of this old hymn found at this link)

Alas, and did my Savior bleed,

And did my Sov'reign die!

Would He devote that sacred head,

For sinners such as I?

Well might the sun in darkness hide,

And shut His glories in,

When Christ the mighty Maker died,

For man the creature's sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face

While Calvary's cross appears.

Dissolve my heart in thankfulness

And melt mine eyes to tears!

But drops of grief can ne'er repay

The debt of love I owe,

Here, Lord, I give myself away,

'Tis all that I can do.

At the cross, at the cross,

Where I first saw the light,

And the burden of my heart rolled away.

It was there by faith I received my sight

And now I am happy all the day.

Isaac Watts | Ralph E. Hudson

© Words: Public Domain

You can live confidently, today!

At the Passover, Jesus told the disciples that His time was near. Fearful words!  Later, on the short walk through the darkness to the olive grove where there was a garden called Gethsemane they tried to sort out their confusion. Once again, he told them “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ”‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’" (Matthew 26:31, NIV) As He went to prayer, they fell asleep.

With a start they awoke when one of them saw the light of flaming torches coming their way. Tension rose, but Jesus would not run.  Danger came; Roman soldiers and armed temple police, accompanied by Judas. Jesus stepped forward, they fell back. He asked them who they sought. They answered that they were looking for Jesus. Judas moved forward and kissed the Master in betrayal, a signal that led the soldiers to seize Him. Peter, cornered and desperate, pulled a sword from his waistband and took a wild swing at the nearest man, who ducked, but not quickly enough to save his ear which was sliced away. Before further chaos could break out, the Man in custody showed amazing grace and leadership. He told Peter to put his sword away, asked the soldiers to let His disciples go, and then gently healed Malchus’ ear. He was not cornered at all. He was walking in His Father’s will. "Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:11, NIV)

How is it that men in the same place can experience such different responses? Many were full of fear, only One was full of faith. Jesus knew He was walking in the will of God. Oh, what a difference that assurance makes. Was He eager to suffer? Not at all.  “Father, let this cup pass,” He prayed, but ultimately finished, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”  Secure in God’s grace, He found courageous confidence for that walk to the Cross.

Has life apparently cornered you, Christian? Are the problems overwhelming, the future clouded with no good choices? Is there no way out, no way around?

Study the men in the Garden and follow the One at the center, the One facing the greatest trial, Who knew the deepest peace. Kneel! Find your place in the Father’s will. Wrestle with the emotions. Jesus did! His stress was intense, His desire to walk away from the Cross, but He didn’t.  Instead, He submitted Himself to the plan of God. Faith is both a gift and a choice. God gives us His Word, the well from which faith flows.  But, we cannot live in faith’s assurance without the choice to accept and submit to that Word.

What has He said? Will you listen and obey? "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it." (Hebrews 4:16, NLT)

Here’s a word from the Word.
“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe." (Psalm 61:1-3, NIV)

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Whom Shall I Fear, God Of Angel Armies

You hear me when I call.

You are my morning song.

Though darkness fills the night

It cannot hide the light.

Whom shall I fear?

You crush the enemy underneath my feet,

You are my sword and shield,

Though troubles linger still,

Whom shall I fear?

I know Who goes before me!

I know Who stands behind!

The God of angel armies is always by my side.

The One who reigns forever,

He is a friend of mine.

The God of angel armies is always by my side!

My strength is in Your name,

For You alone can save.

You will deliver me

Yours is the victory!

Whom shall I fear?

Whom shall I fear?

(And) nothing formed against me shall stand.

You hold the whole world in Your hands.

I'm holding on to Your promises.

You are faithful,

You are faithful.

CCLI Song # 6440288

Chris Tomlin | Ed Cash | Scott Cash

© 2012 S. D. G. Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Sixsteps Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 81005

Oh, Judas!

He was  proud old creature with a terrible job at Dad’s stockyard. I remember him but not affectionately for he would chase me when I was a little boy. That goat led the fattened sheep onto the rail cars that took them to plant that turned them into lamb chops!  He was trained to walk in front of them and they followed meekly into the rail car.  He then circled back to the door to go back to his pen, leaving them destined to die!  He was a “Judas goat!”  The name comes from the tragic person in the story of Jesus this Holy Week.

Judas sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.  Luke says, "The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which begins with the Passover celebration, was drawing near. The leading priests and teachers of religious law were actively plotting Jesus’ murder. But they wanted to kill him without starting a riot, a possibility they greatly feared. Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, and he went over to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted that he was ready to help them, and they promised him a reward." (Luke 22:1-5, NLT)

The Gospels of Luke and John both tell us that Judas became a tool of the devil, used by the evil one to bring about the destruction of Jesus.  So how did Judas open himself to the devil’s influence? On that the Gospels are silent. Was it greed, jealousy, lust for power?  Of this much I am certain; Judas did not start to follow Jesus with an intent to one day betray Him.  He was not a double agent, planted by the Sanhedrin.  Somewhere along the way, he entertained ideas that took root.  As keeper of the disciples’ money, did he ‘borrow’ a little for his own use?  Did he grow bitter when he started to understand that Jesus was not going to start a revolution?  Was he disappointed that he was not included in the Lord’s inner circle with Peter, James, and John?  We’ll never know the exact reason, but we do know that his heart turned! When opportunity presented itself, the devil took advantage of his duplicity. Judas, once captivated by the Master’s message, gave Him up for a slave’s price. Like so many who have followed him, only too late did he realize that the evil one had played him. His shame and regret consumed him!

There are still those who walk Judas’ path. They begin to explore the way of Jesus, sitting among His disciples, serving, but with some part of themselves held in reserve.  Never fully owned by the Lord, never filled with God’s Spirit, they walk among the flock of God until the day that the deceiver steps through the door they have left open.  Deceived they turn on the One they professed to love.  Their waywardness bring division and confusion to the flock of God, and so often, only after the damage is done, do they realize something of what they have done to the Lord they once claimed to love.   My prayer is that these who fall into the deception of the Devil will find Peter’s path of repentance and restoration, not Judas’ end of destruction.

James has this word for us. He warns about living without the anchor of conviction, "adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. " (James 1:8, The Message)  His counsel? "Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field." (James 4:8, The Message)   Proverbs offers this insight - "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity." (Proverbs 11:3, NIV)   The person who gives himself to the Lord, without reservation and remains tender in His presence, is kept by the Spirit from the wiles of the deceiver.   When evil comes seeking an entrance, that person has no secret sin waiting to be exploited, no cracks in his heart that offer access to greater sin.

As we make our way through this Holy Week, let this be our prayer.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

The result?  The very opposite of Judas!  We will never betray Him.
We will exalt Him with praise!  David continues his song.

“Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise." (Psalm 51:9-15, NIV)

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Traitor's Look

How did it feel to take the place

Of honor at the meal,

To take the sop from His own hands,

A prophesy to seal?

Was it because He washed your feet

That you sold Him as a slave?

The Son of Man. the Lamb of God,

Who'd only come to save.

Silver that they paid to you,

From out their precious till,

Was meant to buy a spotless lamb.

A sacrifice to kill;

How heavy was the money bag

that couldn't set you free?

It became a heavy millstone

As you fell into the sea.

Now Judas don't you come too close

I feel that I might see the traitor's look

Upon your face might look too much like me!

'Cause just like you I've sold the Lord,

And often for much less.

And like a wretched traitor I've betrayed

Him with a kiss.

Michael Card

© 1984 Mole End Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.)

CCLI License # 810055