Quest for Truth 161 Burden of the Cross

Quest for Truth – HPN

Our opening gets off to a rough start, thanks to David the Retrobot. Technical difficulties means that we have to skip the usual segments to meet the Hosts, and other random things.

The Main Topic is from an outline of a recet sermon that Nathan preached. There’s still a little bit of a hiccup as we move through the following outline, thanks to Callie the Retrobot for putting David in his p[lace, and correcting Keith on the opening scripture passage.

SERMON: THE BURDEN OF THE CROSS

TEXT ((Matt 16:24-25)

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Intro:

The cross has always been synonymous with suffering. It was a cruel mode of torturous death, and it was how our savior died.

So when we see Christ calling us to carry our cross, we realize this isn’t going to be pleasant. However, it is necessary.

Jesus knew the death he would have to die. It was evident in even the word picture he used for us: THE CROSS!

In order to carry our cross, let’s take a look at what this entailed for Christ…and then what it will take for us

I. The Stress of the Cross

1. Jesus in garden (Matt 26:36-46)
   

   36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. 43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

   • “felt heavy” (Matt 26:37)
   • it’s not sin to be stressed! Jesus felt Heavy.
   • Stress of what was to come (wrath of God)
   • Stress of inattentive friends (fell asleep)

   BELIEVER: “I come not bringing peace, but a sword” (Matt 10:34-39)
   

   34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
   37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

   • We may have to deal with tough times. Our friends may not understand. Jesus does. He will always be there. (Matt 28:20; Hebrews 13:5)

   • 20.Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen

   • 5. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

II. The Sadness of the Cross

1. (Matt 26:38)
2. “JERUSALEM!” (Matt 23:37)
   

   37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

   • Jesus greatly cared for the lost. We should also.
3. “Crucify Him!”. (mark 15:7-15)
   

   7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. 11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. 12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? 13 And they cried out again, Crucify him. 14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. 15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

   • If they hated Jesus, they’ll hate his followers also. This could lead to some sad times in life.
4. BELIEVER: “they that sew in tears…”.
   (Psa 126:5-6) They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

   He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed,
   Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

   • Godly sorrow yields God-blessed results!
   • We may suffer persecution, but in the end God will reward His children.

III. The Surrender of the Cross

Trusted God to know what was best. Was obedient.

1. Even though there was stress, Jesus surrendered to the Father’s will. (Matt 26:39) We should follow that example.
2. Phil 2:5-8. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
3. BELIEVERS: (Romans 12:1-2)
   

   1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 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.

IV. The Satisfaction of the Cross.

1. Hebrews 12:2. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ”
   • When on the cross, Jesus said “it is finished.” The Greek Word was tetelestai. It was a term used in marketplaces of the day. It meant “paid in full!”
   • Jesus satisfied the requirements to pay for our sin! The believer in Christ had his debt there paid in full!
2. Christ didn’t just surrender to what God had planned, he saw it through to the end. We, too, have a burden to bear…a mission to see through to the end. 2 Tim 4:6-8

   6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

V. The satisfaction we should be seeking is not our own, but God’s!

The Salvation of the Cross

1. John 3:16
2. BELIEVERS: share it! (Matt 28:18-20).
3. LOST: accept it! (Romans 10:9-13).
   

   “9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Conclusion:

yes, there’s work for us here as believers. Yes, there is suffering. But for those who trust in Christ, it will all be worth it in the end.

Furthermore, should we not be willing to
take up our crosses? Jesus took his, and he did it for us!

((preached in Donaldson and Forrest City AR))

((Antioch Houston Arkansas 3-25-18)