Jon Fry - Class 3 - The Cross

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

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   As an introduction to John's talk on the subject of the cross, we are to be led in a reading of Mark 15, verse 21 to 41, by our brother Luke Dodson. Good morning, and reading with you this morning from Mark, chapter 15, and beginning at verse 21. Mark 15. And they compel one Simon, a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

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   And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is being interpreted the place of a skull. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh, but he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

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   And the superscription of his accusation was written over the king of the Jews. And with him they crucified two thieves, the one on his right hand and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, and he was numbered with the transgressors. And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself and come down from the cross.

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   Likewise, also the chief priest, mocking said, among themselves with the scribes, He saved others, himself he cannot save. Let Christ, the king of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

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   And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani, which is being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by it, when they heard it said, Behold, he calls Elijah. And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar and put it on a reed and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.

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   And Jesus cried with a loud voice and gave up the spirit. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out and gave up the spirit, he said, Truly, this man was the Son of God.

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   There were also women looking on far off, among whom was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, the less and of Joses and Salome, who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him and ministered unto him, and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

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   Well, good morning, everybody, and good morning to those listening and tuning in at home. We're just going to recap what we considered yesterday evening with the trial of the Lord Jesus Christ. We saw, didn't we, that as Jesus was arrested, we see in our darkest hour, in the Lord's darkest hour, his light shining bright.

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   He is God's light in our darkness. We considered the betrayal of Jesus and how that had such a significant impact on him. It weighed heavy on his heart. And it's something we often overlook. It's a significant trauma that he had to face and endure.

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    Step by step through the night, we saw that Jesus' trial was made up of six different trials. He was mistreated and paraded before not only the religious leaders, but the civil leaders of the day. Christ endured so much brutality. But yet he was full of grace and truth through all that he suffered.

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    And despite the authority of the high priest of Herod and finally of Pilate, it becomes clearly apparent that it's us, humanity, that's on trial.

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    And it's Christ who's the one that sits in the judgment seat. And so now we turn our face to the cross. When I was a kid, my dad would sometimes take me and my brothers to the art gallery and museum in Glasgow. Mum was a midwife and she used to work night shifts.

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    She had a little moped, a little scooter. We'd hear mum come home in the morning from work. And if it was the holidays, I think dad would try and get us out of the house so that mum could get a bit of sleep during the day. And dad would often take us to the art gallery and museum.

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    It's a really old building. The UK does old buildings good. And as far as museums go, it's pretty special. As a child, I used to love visiting this place. In particular, the old wooden revolving doors to get in. I just used to spend half my time going around those. Dad would have trouble getting us out of the revolving doors, let alone into the...

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    Inside the art gallery part of the building, which was upstairs, is very dark, dimly lit, I think, just to protect the artworks. And there's a few paintings and sculptures that I can still really remember vividly to this day when I picture them in my mind. One's a sculpture from 1907 of Isaac. And Esau.

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    And one is a picture by Salvador Dali of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. I remember being sort of transfixed by this picture as a child. It's just an unusual picture of Jesus on the cross. It's unlike any of the other pictures and artworks of the crucifixion that we might have seen.

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    Usually the viewpoint is from the ground. Looking up at Jesus. Looking to Christ. And instead, this one looks down from above. As if it were a heavenly view.

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    We've thought much this weekend, haven't we, about the experience of the Lord Jesus Christ. Really what we committed to do at the start was to know nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified. But I want us to pause for a moment this morning to think about our heavenly father. And the grief that these events brought to his heart.

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    God did not remain silent as his son suffered. God spoke in signs and wonders. God's grief is seen in the three hours of darkness. In the middle of the day.

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    Luke tells us that the sun's light failed. God spoke in the spirit tearing through the earth. Ripping the ground and the earth. Causing the ground to shake.

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    That God allowed the suffering and the death to happen. And speaks of that unfathomable, enduring, everlasting love. 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.

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    And as we read through the gospel records. When we come to the crucifixion of Jesus. We find that there's actually very little information. There's very little detail about the actual crucifixion. And we ask ourselves why. God has spared us. And I think it's out of love. For us. God has spared us. That pain.

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    Of some of the most intense agony. And the height of our Lord's suffering. And the details of that act. So in our time together for this morning's session. We will consider the conversations. The words that the Lord Jesus Christ spoke from the cross. Because that is what Matthew, Mark and Luke and John want us to focus on.

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    It's the words of Jesus that they would have us remember. And hopefully we'll be able to find in these words life-changing lessons for us today. We know, don't we, from our reading and from the other gospels. That a lot of things were said to Jesus as he was on the cross.

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    And like he did often during his trials. He doesn't respond. He doesn't retaliate. Or he's not aggravated by these things. His strength. His courage. His composure.

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    Is just astounding. We can only imagine the sounds and the words that would leave the mouths of someone being crucified. We can't really imagine, can we? The sounds of someone in pain on our cross.

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    But what words leave the lips of our King? Father. Forgive them. For they know not what they do. They knew that they were crucifying this man. But what Jesus is saying is that they don't understand who I am. God, they don't understand. They don't appreciate who I am.

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    In his suffering. In the midst of the most unbearable suffering. Jesus' first word is Father. Like we saw in the garden. With his prayer. And again, Christ is teaching us how to think through our suffering. The place to go. In the beginning. God. That's what we need to start in our own suffering and in our own challenges.

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    In the midst of the worst that could happen. Jesus still calls God his Father. You know, when we think about our own lives and what can happen to us. In much smaller situations. We question God. We might even be in a position where we question the very existence of God. When we're faced with such extreme suffering.

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    And Jesus can still call God his Father. Because he knows that God is in control. He knows that even though he is faced with the full extent of humanity's hatred. That God's love endures eternally. He knows that all things work together for good. Of those that love God. For those who are called according to his purpose.

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    And further, in his suffering. It's incredible, isn't it? Jesus' mind isn't on himself. This first prayer of Jesus from the cross. It's not about himself. It's about others. He's not spiraling ever inward as he suffers. He's not lost in himself. His mind is on God. And on other people.

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    That's such a challenge, isn't it? For us in our own suffering. In our own challenges that we face in our lives. It's so easy to get stuck on ourselves. In the situation that we're in. But Christ teaches us a better way to live through our suffering. To set our hearts on God. And on others.

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    And let's consider Christ's forgiveness here. It's immediacy. It's depth. It's expanse. When do we forgive? It can take a while, can't it? Here we have Jesus in the midst of being wronged. Forgiving those who are doing it. Seeking their forgiveness. It's a great lesson for us. To build and develop a heart like Christ's.

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    To be able to do this. To be able to forgive. Freely. And swiftly. For our own good. For our own good. For our own good.

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    There may be some people. Who we are still. To forgive. And we live with this weight. Of anger. Of. Disappointment. Jesus the teacher. In the moment. In the midst of the situation. The gravest sin being committed against them. Right then and there. Seeks forgiveness. For those who are murdering him.

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    Reading from Luke's gospel. In chapter 23. One of the criminals. Who were hanged. Railed at him. Saying. Are you not the Christ? Save yourself. And us. But the other rebuked him. Saying. Do you not fear God? Since you are under the same sentence. Of condemnation. And we indeed justly. For we are receiving the due reward of our deeds.

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    But this man has done nothing wrong. And he said. Jesus. Remember me when you come. Into your kingdom. And he said to him. Truly I say to you. Today. You will be with me. In paradise. And so the second. Words of Christ from the cross. Are a conversation. This time. Words not directed to.

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    His father. But to. One of those. Who is being crucified. With him. You know. This. This man. This criminal. Who. Received. These words. From Jesus. Went on to endure. Much pain. That day. Himself.

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    And we think. Of the power. Of these words. For that person. He went on. To have. His legs. Broken. Broken. By the Roman soldier. Some hours later.

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    Before he finally died. And he took. Nothing with him. To his grave. Except. That knowledge. That assurance. That Christ gave him. That he would be. Together with. Our Lord. You know. He was one of the very few.

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    The very few. That looked. At Christ. On the cross. And saw the king. It said. King of the Jews. That was the charge. Against him. Scrawled above. His cross. But this man. He was one of the very few. That when. He looked upon Christ. Could see the king. He believed. That inscription. That was placed there.

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    And we can only. Guess at the comfort. That this. Exchange. Of. Faith. And hope. Brought. To both him. And to our Lord. In Isaiah's.

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    Prophecies. In Isaiah chapter 53. In verse 12. We read. Therefore will I divide him. A portion. With the great. And he shall divide. The spoil. With the strong. Because he hath poured out. His soul unto death. And he was numbered. With. The transgressors. And so in that. Old Testament passage. Which is alluded to.

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    In our reading. That we had together. This morning. We also have this. Glimmer. Of hope. Don't we. This. This idea. That all that. Was happening. All that was unfolding. All that Jesus was enduring. Was leading to something bigger. Something better. Not only for him. But for those. Who would share. In his glory.

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    This man. Who spoke to Christ. In faith. And hope. Would have divided. Have. At one of those portions. He would share. In Christ's portion. In Christ's inheritance. The spoil. That Christ would gain. From this. Victory. Would be shared. With this man. Who upon the cross. Was so weak. But in God's eyes. Will one day.

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    Be made strong. And the words. Of the criminal. Who. Was hung. Was hung there. On the cross. Next to Jesus. Reminded Jesus. Of that shared joy. That was set. Before him. That all the afflicted. Would be satisfied. That all those. Who seek God. Shall praise the Lord.

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    Can we do that. For each other. In our suffering. Can we say those words. That remind us. Of what has been promised. To all of us.

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    And so Christ. In return. Gave this man. The comfort. That he sought. Paul wrote. To the Romans. We are children. Of God. And if children. Then is. Heirs of God. And fellow. Heirs with Christ. Provided. We suffer. With him. In order. That we may also. Be glorified. With him. Him.

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    There's. No one. Other than this man. That we can. Say these words. Truly of. In terms of. The extent. Of Christ. Suffering on the cross. He truly suffered with Jesus. He suffered beside him.

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    And what is wonderful is the conversion of this criminal. We can see from the scripture, the harmony of the different gospel records, that it seems there's a transition in this man from reviling Jesus to saying these words. And so through no direct communication that we know of, this criminal was converted by, like many people, watching at how Christ reacted to those people who were abusing him, who were speaking to him and mocking him.

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    He saw this and it spoke to him about Christ, this man beside him on the cross. And if this is true, brothers and sisters, this is true, friends. This tells us that people notice how we suffer. People see how we cope and manage and handle the challenges that we face in our own lives.

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    And this can speak to them. John's gospel records for us the next words of Jesus from the cross. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, Woman, behold your son. Then he said to the disciple, Behold your mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own home.

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    So we've seen Jesus speaking to his father. And now we see Jesus speaking to his mother and caring for his mother. You know, one of the hardest parts of our own suffering can be to know what pain it causes to our family. You know, we suffer, don't we, when people in our family suffer.

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    When our friends suffer, there is an element of suffering that we share with them. Mary truly did have a sword pierced through her own soul. Can you imagine when she received the news that her son had been arrested?

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    As she came down with the throngs and saw her son paraded, bruised and battered and bleeding, as he carried his cross? Christ gave everything. He truly did.

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    He gave up a wife and a family of his own. He gave up all earthly aspirations. He gave up a job or a career. He gave up money and any wealth that he might have had.

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    He gave up a home. With everything that goes with that. He gave up all his possessions. At his death, he even gave up his clothes. And now he gives away his mother.

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    And his words speak through those generations to us here today. They teach us of a togetherness of suffering. We are together, aren't we, here this weekend. We are a family together. We are united in Christ. Look around you, here in this place.

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    Behold, your son, your daughter, your mother, your father, your sister, your brother. Christ wants us to care for each other as we care for our own family. And in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, we learn that there is no suffering too extreme where we cannot care, where we cannot give, where we cannot bless, where we cannot forgive.

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    The Lord Jesus Christ on the cross shows us this. In Mark's gospel, in chapter 15, verse 25, he reveals that Christ was crucified at what would be nine o'clock in our time. And he had been on the cross for six hours.

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    Six hours when he cried out with a loud voice. Six hours when he cried out with a loud voice. Six hours when he cried out with a loud voice. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

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    Christ's words now return to between a father and a son. These words are timeless, aren't they? Literally, they had been breathed centuries before in a prayer. In our Bible's Psalm 22.

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    And it's a passage combined with the words of Christ on the cross that we've pondered a lot. That all disciples have pondered, trying to understand the mind of Christ.

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    These words have caused many to ponder and dwell on what Christ meant when he said that he was forsaken. The Lord Jesus Christ reminds us that it's okay to ask why.

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    It's okay to ask why when we're suffering. It's okay in our pain to question what we're going through. It's not a sin. And this is a comfort to us.

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    What does Jesus mean by forsake? Well, a passage that I've found that helps me somewhat is looking at how this word forsake is used in the Bible. We know, obviously, it's there in Psalm 22. And it's in a number of other places throughout the Old Testament. I think the first place it appears is right back in Genesis chapter 2 and verse 24.

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    Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. Now, when we think of the word forsake, it's got quite harsh and hard qualities to it, doesn't it? When we think of the word leave, it doesn't have that same weight, that same edge that we have when we think of the word forsake.

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    And so, in what sense did God leave Jesus? If Christ is saying, my God, my God, why have you left me? God hadn't given up on Jesus. God had given up on Jesus. But he had let him and left him to suffer through his trial. And now, for six long hours upon the cross.

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    And there's a loneliness in Christ's suffering. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him. Why? It's for you and me. It's for all of us. Out of the anguish of my soul. Sorry, out of the anguish of his soul, he shall see.

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    And be satisfied. When Jesus cried out, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? He is in the midst of his anguish. But it's out of this anguish that he's able to be led to seeing and being satisfied in the work of his father. By his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous.

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    And he shall bear their iniquities. And so we have considered much that Christ endured this weekend. It's difficult, isn't it? It's hard on our hearts when we consider what Christ has done for us. And words cannot express our thankfulness to him and to our heavenly father for what Christ endured for us. In John chapter 19 and verse 28, we have recorded some of the final words of our Lord.

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    He says in this passage, we'll just have a look at these words. After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said to fulfill the scripture, I thirst. A jar full of sour wine stood there. So they put a sponge full of sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.

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    And when Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, it is finished. And he bowed his head and gave up his spirits. So here we have two words of Christ. Two of the sayings of Christ from the cross. The first is, here is, I thirst. Christ, at this point, is an empty cup.

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    You know, when he asks in the garden if this cup can pass from him, if it can be another way. Well, there was no other way. And the cup has been fully emptied. His cup, his soul, was poured out to death, we're told in Isaiah. But it wasn't wasted, was it? It was poured out that our cup might overflow.

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    All that Christ knew about his trial, about his execution, that the many details had each, one by one, come to pass. And when he was first offered a drink, as we read in Mark, he declined. He knew that he would have a drink. It's incredible to think, isn't it? As these events unfolded, he knew those things that he would do.

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    What a strange sort of experience to have. Both fulfilling those words, but living those words. They were his experiences. They were his emotions. They were his words. They were his feelings. He experienced the old becoming a reality. And there was just one thing yet to happen.

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    How incredible the word of God is. Throughout his suffering, the word of his father continually coursed through the mind of Christ. And we truly see it made flesh in him. He lived it. He breathed it. He was waiting for this moment to happen. But at the same time, he experienced it. It was his thirst.

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    A real thirst. And it brings out, doesn't it, that again, once again for us, the physicality, the realness to Christ's suffering. And we take from those two simple words, I thirst, the message, again, to speak out in our suffering. And to seek support from others. It can be so hard to communicate and tell people what we're suffering.

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    And seek help from other people. If any one of us here today is silently suffering, can we take courage from Christ? And can we try to follow his lead? We can speak to God. We can speak to someone. We can tell them our pain. It's not wrong to ask for help. For many thousands of years before Christ had hung on the cross, God had said, My spirit shall not abide in man forever.

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    For he is flesh. And after Christ had had a drink, he said, It is finished. It is finished. Who was Christ speaking to? I believe, in a sense, it was to himself.

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    As those words passed his lips, Christ knew that he knew that his life was complete. He knew that his suffering had come to an end.

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    He knew that he would breathe his last breath. He knew that he was about to destroy the power of death. And he wasn't only speaking to himself, was he, brothers and sisters?

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    He was speaking to us. Even here. Today. A message to tell us and remind us that deliverance is found in him. It is finished. It is finished.

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    His father, who had breathed the spirit of life into him, would tenderly take it back. Matthew tells us that Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. Mark says that Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And it's Luke who records for us in his gospel what words were spoken in that loud voice, in that loud cry.

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    Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. And having said this, he breathed his last.

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    We began this morning by considering Christ's first words on the cross. In the midst of such intense suffering, his first word was Father. And his final words start in the same way. May we too endure our suffering and be encircled and embraced with the knowledge that God is our Father. May he surround us.

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    May he hold us. As we surrender our lives into his hands. And so in conclusion for this morning, we're spared the most traumatic details of the crucifixion, but we can clearly, clearly hear the words of Christ that breathe through his suffering.

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    And each word that he says holds a lesson for us, ones that we can dwell on and meditate upon. Christ teaches us the place of faith, the place of hope, the place of love, in the midst of life's agony.

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    And in the words that are spoken as he was lifted up, we are taught the forgiveness, the togetherness and the surrender to be found in suffering. We don't tend to use the symbol of the cross in our community.

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    But may we never forget what Christ did for us on that cross. And we must never let the words that he uttered up there on that cross leave our hearts. Amen. Amen.