Fearless: Barnabas
Barnabas was a Levite named an Apostle in Acts 14:14 part of the council of Jerusalem, stoned near Cypress, John Mark witnessed his death, he was the apostle of encouragement, and a peacemaker.
Barnabas was not afraid of the cost of discipleship in three areas.
1. He was not afraid to give (everything)
He gave up his property: There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them. and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles. (Acts 4:34-37 NLT)
Later he supports himself: Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves? (1Corinthians 9:6 NLT). Finally he is martyred: John Mark witnessed his stoning. I had a youth pastor that was really giving. He had the habit of giving away things including the best shirt he had in his closet with his brother. I decided to pick up the habit. I gave away things in college and it worked it has made me more giving! Go figure if you give stuff away it makes you more giving. One time we were really struggling with medical bills for our daughter and we have received several anonymous gifts from people in our church. Someone gave us $10,000 one time and $8,000 another time for these medical bills. Barnabas is the picture of fearlessness in becoming less and less bound by the materialism that our world lives by.
2. He was not afraid of being inclusive (even of dangerous people)
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus. (Acts 9:26-27 NLT)
One time my wife and I were flying without our kids, which doesn't happen very often, and there was a baby in front of us that was really crying and having a hard time. We were not even in the air yet and then flight attendant told this family they would have to calm down their child before they could take off. Like the plane would not function mechanically if he was crying or something. Everyone around the family including us was outraged! We all understood it was a baby there was nothing they could do, not one of us was mad we were all sympathetic. This is how Barnabas was with dangerous people he did it with Saul (who became the great Paul) and he did it when he took John Mark with him on his missionary Journey. How will you be fearless and include people who might not fit the "status quo" or might even be dangerous.
3. He was not afraid of failure; or better said he believed in second chances (John Mark and Paul)
After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.” Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there. (Acts 15:36-41 NLT)
Paul later said about John Mark, Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. (2 4:11 NLT). When I was in 8th grade I went on a youth retreat with our Church. We stopped at a really back country truck stop, I took the chance to stretch my legs and use the restroom. as I was leaving I came across a rack with lots of cassette tapes on them of all the popular music; Lynard Skynard, Grateful Dead, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, Credence Clearwater Revival, didn't I say this was one of those truck stops! Don't laugh You know you listened to them too! So I though it would be cool to steal some tapes and take them back to the van to show all the guys. As I got back to the van and showed all the guys they said, "are you crazy" and at that very moment I felt a hand grab my shoulder. I was caught. The owner let me off easy and my youth pastor gave me a second chance, and let me back into the group after my mother got a hold of me! This was a very nice move on his part to give me grace because I needed it at the time. For us as Christians we should really believe and hold to the statement "Grace is True". Barnabas was fearless in the face of failure and showed many people great Grace. Will You?
Joni and Friend Family retreat is where I see lots of Fearless people. Tegan Mickle is one of those who do not flinch in the face of fear and disability and go and serve and love all those people that the world has maybe forgotten. Here is her story.
Translate Desperate Imitation of Christ
Monday, January 30, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
FEARLESS: STEPHEN
Fearless: Stephen (Acts 6-7)
Stephen is an example of fearlessness to us today because of three attributes he exhibited in His life and Martyrdom
1. Stephen Was Not Afraid to Serve (he served anyone and everyone)
"Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them." (Acts 6:5-6 NLT)
We have had for the past year a Youth Ministry Intern at Creekside who has served our Church selflessly and he has accomplished some amazing things in Service to the Lord. These are just a few of the things Abe Kuhn has done for Creekside while he was here...
1. Youth ministry meetings Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday 2. The landing Celebrate Recovery youth program on Fridays 3. Cox elementary after-school tutoring 4. Organized and helped with monthly youth outreaches 5. Set up and broken down chairs at least 160 times for our church meetings 6. Painted the lines in the parking lot so Creeksiders know where to park 7. Been in charge of the working order of the youth center and improved it in many ways. 8. Been trained in theology and Christian living by reading one book a month. 9. Helped overhaul our youth website 10. Helped plan and execute a successful houseboat camp and English camp in Germany.
11. Spoke to our youth 6 or 7 times 12. But more than all he has done is who he is that touches us. A young man who loves the Lord and is consistently grateful for the opportunity to serve him. Abe we have become so grateful for the opportunity to have had you in our lives for this year. And to have you as a friend from now on. Abe is definitely an example to us of Stephen and his desire to serve the Body of Christ.
2. Stephen Was Filled With the Holy Spirit (and faith)
"Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith)." (Acts 6:5 NLT) "Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people." (Acts 6:8 NLT)
Sin is what hinders the filling of the Holy Spirit, and obedience to God is how the filling of the Spirit is maintained. Ephesians 5:18 commands that we be filled with the Spirit; however, it is not only praying for the filling of the Holy Spirit that accomplishes the filling. Our obedience to God's commands allows the Spirit freedom to work within us. Because we are still infected with sin, it is impossible to be filled with the Spirit all of the time. When we sin, we should immediately confess it to God and renew our commitment to being Spirit-filled and Spirit-led.
3. Stephen Was Completely Bold (in the face of lies and persecution)
When I was a middle school intern after college I had a middle schooler named Michael. He was my bold and say anything middle schooler. One time we were on a rafting and camping trip. We were all in a 15 passenger van together. I know, it's crazy, a van full of middle schoolers! We were traveling down a windy dirt road along a beautiful river. Other people thought it was beautiful too. As we came around a bend in the road straight ahead of us was a couple having sex on a rock right in the middle of the river! At that moment I was desperately hoping that no one had seen these people, but alas it was too obvious and Michael shouted to the entire van "OH MY GOSH LOOK THOSE PEOPLE ARE HAVING SEX!" Chaos ensued on our van of middle schoolers. and for the next hours everybody was talking about it, and there was nothing I could do to diffuse the situation. Michael was very bold but a bad bold not a good bold. Stephen was bold and the right type of bold. He was bold for our Lord. Let's look at some things that he said. "None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke." (Acts 6:10 NLT) "You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you!" (Acts 7:51 NLT) "Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered." (Acts 7:52 NLT) "You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels." (Acts 7:53 NLT) While Stephen was being stoned by the Sanhedrin this is what happened "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, 'Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!'"(Acts 7:55-56 NLT)
"Jesus was standing on the right hand of God--Why "standing," and not sitting, the posture in which the glorified Saviour is elsewhere represented? Clearly, to express the eager interest with which He watched from the skies the scene in that council chamber, and the full tide of His Spirit which He was at that moment engaged in pouring into the heart of His heroic witness, till it beamed in radiance from his very countenance."
(Title: Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary
Author: Jamieson, Robert, Fausset, Andrew Robert, Brown, David
Copyright: JFB, E-text version from www.ccel.org.)
As Stephen was Martyred for the faith, Jesus received him into heaven with a standing ovation, and we can know he embraced Him and said "Well done good and faithful servant, now enter my rest." Will we seek to be fearless and only strive to please the audience of one, and one day hear him say, "well done good and faithful servant, now enter my rest."
Stephen is an example of fearlessness to us today because of three attributes he exhibited in His life and Martyrdom
1. Stephen Was Not Afraid to Serve (he served anyone and everyone)
"Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them." (Acts 6:5-6 NLT)
We have had for the past year a Youth Ministry Intern at Creekside who has served our Church selflessly and he has accomplished some amazing things in Service to the Lord. These are just a few of the things Abe Kuhn has done for Creekside while he was here...
1. Youth ministry meetings Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday 2. The landing Celebrate Recovery youth program on Fridays 3. Cox elementary after-school tutoring 4. Organized and helped with monthly youth outreaches 5. Set up and broken down chairs at least 160 times for our church meetings 6. Painted the lines in the parking lot so Creeksiders know where to park 7. Been in charge of the working order of the youth center and improved it in many ways. 8. Been trained in theology and Christian living by reading one book a month. 9. Helped overhaul our youth website 10. Helped plan and execute a successful houseboat camp and English camp in Germany.
11. Spoke to our youth 6 or 7 times 12. But more than all he has done is who he is that touches us. A young man who loves the Lord and is consistently grateful for the opportunity to serve him. Abe we have become so grateful for the opportunity to have had you in our lives for this year. And to have you as a friend from now on. Abe is definitely an example to us of Stephen and his desire to serve the Body of Christ.
2. Stephen Was Filled With the Holy Spirit (and faith)
"Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith)." (Acts 6:5 NLT) "Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people." (Acts 6:8 NLT)
Sin is what hinders the filling of the Holy Spirit, and obedience to God is how the filling of the Spirit is maintained. Ephesians 5:18 commands that we be filled with the Spirit; however, it is not only praying for the filling of the Holy Spirit that accomplishes the filling. Our obedience to God's commands allows the Spirit freedom to work within us. Because we are still infected with sin, it is impossible to be filled with the Spirit all of the time. When we sin, we should immediately confess it to God and renew our commitment to being Spirit-filled and Spirit-led.
3. Stephen Was Completely Bold (in the face of lies and persecution)
When I was a middle school intern after college I had a middle schooler named Michael. He was my bold and say anything middle schooler. One time we were on a rafting and camping trip. We were all in a 15 passenger van together. I know, it's crazy, a van full of middle schoolers! We were traveling down a windy dirt road along a beautiful river. Other people thought it was beautiful too. As we came around a bend in the road straight ahead of us was a couple having sex on a rock right in the middle of the river! At that moment I was desperately hoping that no one had seen these people, but alas it was too obvious and Michael shouted to the entire van "OH MY GOSH LOOK THOSE PEOPLE ARE HAVING SEX!" Chaos ensued on our van of middle schoolers. and for the next hours everybody was talking about it, and there was nothing I could do to diffuse the situation. Michael was very bold but a bad bold not a good bold. Stephen was bold and the right type of bold. He was bold for our Lord. Let's look at some things that he said. "None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke." (Acts 6:10 NLT) "You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you!" (Acts 7:51 NLT) "Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered." (Acts 7:52 NLT) "You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels." (Acts 7:53 NLT) While Stephen was being stoned by the Sanhedrin this is what happened "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, 'Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!'"(Acts 7:55-56 NLT)
"Jesus was standing on the right hand of God--Why "standing," and not sitting, the posture in which the glorified Saviour is elsewhere represented? Clearly, to express the eager interest with which He watched from the skies the scene in that council chamber, and the full tide of His Spirit which He was at that moment engaged in pouring into the heart of His heroic witness, till it beamed in radiance from his very countenance."
(Title: Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary
Author: Jamieson, Robert, Fausset, Andrew Robert, Brown, David
Copyright: JFB, E-text version from www.ccel.org.)
As Stephen was Martyred for the faith, Jesus received him into heaven with a standing ovation, and we can know he embraced Him and said "Well done good and faithful servant, now enter my rest." Will we seek to be fearless and only strive to please the audience of one, and one day hear him say, "well done good and faithful servant, now enter my rest."
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Unreached People in the Himilayas
This video is a striking visually beautiful picture of the most unreached people in the world. They live mainly in the Himalaya mountains. What will you do to SEND or GO to make Christ known to them?
Monday, October 17, 2011
FEARLESS: PETER
Peter grew in fearlessness by experiencing a series of victories and failures
One of the greatest victories of my youth ministry life was this summer at Houseboat Camp. There is a skit competition and the best skit wins a coveted prize, "The Golden Ski" (It's not really golden). The winning team gets to hoist the ski aloft and rejoice in the VICTORY!!! The Apostle Peter also experienced great victory in his life. His is one of the greatest stories in the Bible of turnaround, redemption, and freedom. To help us understand how he became such a victorious leader of the Church let's look at some of his victories and failures.
1. Victory #1 Calling Jesus the Messiah (Christ) (Mark 8:27-29)
"Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, "Who do people say that I am?" They told Him, saying, "John the Baptist; and others {say} Elijah; but others, one of the prophets." And He {continued} by questioning them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and *said to Him, "You are the Christ."
2. Failure #1: Walking on water and Falling (Matthew 14:25-33)
"And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God's Son!"
3. Failure #2: Denying he knew Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75)
"Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied {it} before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." When he had gone out to the gateway, another {servant-girl} saw him and *said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied {it} with an oath, "I do not know the man." A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are {one} of them; for even the way you talk gives you away." Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly"
I can remember a time in my life when I hurt so deeply that I told God one day, "If this is how bad it is going to hurt, leave me alone I don't want anything to do with you!" That is one of the worst and awful things I could have said in denying God. I denied God like Peter . Thankfully He did not listen to that request, and even that same day God used me to lead a teenager to Christ! Just like Peter God did not abandon me even though we both denied Him. God is good and as as Timothy 2:13 says, "If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself." Denying us would be like Him Denying Himself...He CANNOT do it!
4. Victory #2: Starting the Church
In Acts 2:23-24 Peter preached his first famous sermon that started the Church. The conclusion of his sermon was pretty powerful!
"this Man (Jesus) delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. "But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power."
Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook almost by accident. Since it's inception it has easily been the most successful social networking technology. Facebook currently has 500 million users worldwide 50% of those are daily users. Those numbers pale in comparison to those who call themselves Christians. Those who currently call themselves Christians is nearly 2 billion worldwide! Eat your hear out Mark Zuckerberg! With Peter's incredible final victory he preached a great sermon full of passion and on that day won 3,000 men to Christ (not including women and children!). That day was a start of a worldwide movement that is 2 billion strong. You and I have faced victories, and failures. Let's take heart that God is controlling and ordaining all things even the "bad stuff" to work toward the glory of his matchless name! we are promised this in Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to {His} purpose." Rest in his great and glorious plan through victories and failures!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
FEARLESS: JESUS
Fearless: Jesus
Jesus was fearless in the face of the cross
1. What was the cross?
Physically the cross was excruciating and we actually get the term 'excruciating' from the word 'crucify'. The night before the cross Jesus spent the whole night praying and the scripture says his sweat was 'as drops of blood'. This is actually a physical condition called Hematidrosis. It is a very rare condition in which a human being sweats blood. It may occur when a person is suffering extreme levels of stress, for example, facing his or her own death. Several historical references have been described; notably by Leonardo da Vinci: describing a soldier who sweated blood before battle, men unexpectedly given a death sentence, as well as descriptions in the Bible, that Jesus experienced hematidrosis when he was praying in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:44). So before His trial even started He had lost a lot of blood. So He then was sent to the high priest's palace, later that night. The arresting party brings Jesus to the Sanhedrin (Jewish supreme court); according to Luke's Gospel, Jesus is beaten up by his Jewish guards prior to his examination. The court then examines him, in the course of which, according to John's Gospel, Jesus is struck in the face by one of the Jewish officials; the court then determines he deserves to die. According to Matthew's Gospel, the court then "spat in his face and struck him with their fists". They then send him to Pontius Pilate. At the governor's palace, early morning. Pilate, the Roman governor, examines Jesus, decides he is innocent; so to try to appease the crowd Pilate flogs Jesus. This practice was commonly called 40 lashes minus one. The Romans had perfected a way to torture someone, and leave them at death's door but not kill them. They would whip or flog a person with a whip called a "cat of nine tails". This had dried clay, glass, bone, metal, and other sharp objects within it to produce the most severe amount of carnage possible. Doctors have researched this form of torture and have concluded that much of a persons flesh would be removed during the process (the Journal of the American Medical Association, March 21, 1986, Volume 256, William D. Edwards, MD; Wesley J. Gabel, MDiv; Floyd E Hosmer, MS, AMI). Jesus returns to trial, Pilate hoping that the punishment would appease the Jews, but the Jewish leaders and the crowd demand Jesus’ death; Pilate gives them the choice of saving Barabbas, a criminal, or saving Jesus. In response to the screaming mob Pilate sends Jesus out to be crucified. Jesus then is made to carry his cross to Golgotha (which means 'place of the skull') and there is crucified. Crucifixion was a slow and painful death. When hung on a cross you would have to pull yourself up to even catch a breath, and then fall back down, and typically a person would not be able to pull themselves up anymore from the exhaustion and then die a slow death of asphyxiation (not being able to breathe). Jesus is crucified and the same day dies. This is just a picture of the physical side of the pain of the cross. I cannot do it justice in a blog.
Then came the emotional side of the cross. Why should there be an emotional side of the cross? Because God is an emotional being. It says in John 3:16 "For God so loved..." Love is an emotion no mater how you want to spin it. So if God is an emotional being than Jesus is as well. The scripture says that Jesus on the cross cried (shouted, screamed, with tears I imagine), "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me"? This has to be more painful than even the physical torture of the cross. He was emotionally stricken as well. Seperation from a Father that can only be known as the best relationship in the universe must have been emotionally painful. God at this point must turn his back on his Son because he is carrying our sins. Which leads me to the spiritual side of the cross.
If you take the worst thing that you have ever done in your life...Think hard...Think really hard...you got it? Then take the worst thing that everyone in the whole world has done, rapes, murders, torture, molestations, thievery, corruptions, Genocides, abortions, adulteries, etc, etc, and put all those sins into a cup, lets call it the 'cup of wrath' or 'suffering', and Jesus drinks that cup, that is just a fraction of the 'sins of man' and Jesus drank in all the pain and spiritual suffering of all that sin combined. Just take rape or murder for instance people's lives are ruined from the consequences of these sins, and I am just thinking about the victims and what they go through. What about drinking a cup of the wrath of God for the sins of the world! This is too much even to grasp, but he did it for us. To free us from the penalty, power, and persuasiveness of sin for all time!
2. Why the cross?
So why does Jesus need to die on the cross for us? because of that great sin that we have committed and that we inherited from Adam, we are separated from God. We cannot have a relationship with God, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". God cannot relate to us because of our sin. We need a sin substitute. Because of the broken relationship we are needy, and God wants to have us back again. "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9). So God desires a relationship with you through Jesus Christ as seen in John 3:16 "For God so loved...the world that He gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life". and The eternal life that is described here is a ralationship with Him in unity forever.
3. Why was Jesus fearless in the face of the cross?
He was fearless in the face of a terrible cross for YOU and for ME! As it says in Isaiah "Yet it was the lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the lord will prosper in his hand." Isaiah 53:10. Who is Christ's offspring? YOU and ME! Put your faith in him today. Come to the foot of the cross and place your life in Him at His feet, and you will find true life! Maybe as you watch this video below you can say with the music, "Lead me to the Cross!"
Jesus was fearless in the face of the cross
1. What was the cross?
Physically the cross was excruciating and we actually get the term 'excruciating' from the word 'crucify'. The night before the cross Jesus spent the whole night praying and the scripture says his sweat was 'as drops of blood'. This is actually a physical condition called Hematidrosis. It is a very rare condition in which a human being sweats blood. It may occur when a person is suffering extreme levels of stress, for example, facing his or her own death. Several historical references have been described; notably by Leonardo da Vinci: describing a soldier who sweated blood before battle, men unexpectedly given a death sentence, as well as descriptions in the Bible, that Jesus experienced hematidrosis when he was praying in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:44). So before His trial even started He had lost a lot of blood. So He then was sent to the high priest's palace, later that night. The arresting party brings Jesus to the Sanhedrin (Jewish supreme court); according to Luke's Gospel, Jesus is beaten up by his Jewish guards prior to his examination. The court then examines him, in the course of which, according to John's Gospel, Jesus is struck in the face by one of the Jewish officials; the court then determines he deserves to die. According to Matthew's Gospel, the court then "spat in his face and struck him with their fists". They then send him to Pontius Pilate. At the governor's palace, early morning. Pilate, the Roman governor, examines Jesus, decides he is innocent; so to try to appease the crowd Pilate flogs Jesus. This practice was commonly called 40 lashes minus one. The Romans had perfected a way to torture someone, and leave them at death's door but not kill them. They would whip or flog a person with a whip called a "cat of nine tails". This had dried clay, glass, bone, metal, and other sharp objects within it to produce the most severe amount of carnage possible. Doctors have researched this form of torture and have concluded that much of a persons flesh would be removed during the process (the Journal of the American Medical Association, March 21, 1986, Volume 256, William D. Edwards, MD; Wesley J. Gabel, MDiv; Floyd E Hosmer, MS, AMI). Jesus returns to trial, Pilate hoping that the punishment would appease the Jews, but the Jewish leaders and the crowd demand Jesus’ death; Pilate gives them the choice of saving Barabbas, a criminal, or saving Jesus. In response to the screaming mob Pilate sends Jesus out to be crucified. Jesus then is made to carry his cross to Golgotha (which means 'place of the skull') and there is crucified. Crucifixion was a slow and painful death. When hung on a cross you would have to pull yourself up to even catch a breath, and then fall back down, and typically a person would not be able to pull themselves up anymore from the exhaustion and then die a slow death of asphyxiation (not being able to breathe). Jesus is crucified and the same day dies. This is just a picture of the physical side of the pain of the cross. I cannot do it justice in a blog.
Then came the emotional side of the cross. Why should there be an emotional side of the cross? Because God is an emotional being. It says in John 3:16 "For God so loved..." Love is an emotion no mater how you want to spin it. So if God is an emotional being than Jesus is as well. The scripture says that Jesus on the cross cried (shouted, screamed, with tears I imagine), "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me"? This has to be more painful than even the physical torture of the cross. He was emotionally stricken as well. Seperation from a Father that can only be known as the best relationship in the universe must have been emotionally painful. God at this point must turn his back on his Son because he is carrying our sins. Which leads me to the spiritual side of the cross.
If you take the worst thing that you have ever done in your life...Think hard...Think really hard...you got it? Then take the worst thing that everyone in the whole world has done, rapes, murders, torture, molestations, thievery, corruptions, Genocides, abortions, adulteries, etc, etc, and put all those sins into a cup, lets call it the 'cup of wrath' or 'suffering', and Jesus drinks that cup, that is just a fraction of the 'sins of man' and Jesus drank in all the pain and spiritual suffering of all that sin combined. Just take rape or murder for instance people's lives are ruined from the consequences of these sins, and I am just thinking about the victims and what they go through. What about drinking a cup of the wrath of God for the sins of the world! This is too much even to grasp, but he did it for us. To free us from the penalty, power, and persuasiveness of sin for all time!
2. Why the cross?
So why does Jesus need to die on the cross for us? because of that great sin that we have committed and that we inherited from Adam, we are separated from God. We cannot have a relationship with God, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". God cannot relate to us because of our sin. We need a sin substitute. Because of the broken relationship we are needy, and God wants to have us back again. "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9). So God desires a relationship with you through Jesus Christ as seen in John 3:16 "For God so loved...the world that He gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life". and The eternal life that is described here is a ralationship with Him in unity forever.
3. Why was Jesus fearless in the face of the cross?
He was fearless in the face of a terrible cross for YOU and for ME! As it says in Isaiah "Yet it was the lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the lord will prosper in his hand." Isaiah 53:10. Who is Christ's offspring? YOU and ME! Put your faith in him today. Come to the foot of the cross and place your life in Him at His feet, and you will find true life! Maybe as you watch this video below you can say with the music, "Lead me to the Cross!"
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