This is a message that was given on Easter Sunday 2015. It emphasizes the events that took place following the crucifixion of Christ.
Beyond the
Cross
John
21:15-17 (NKJV) So when they had
eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah,
do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know
that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." 16 He
said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love
Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He
said to him, "Tend My sheep." 17 He said to him the
third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was
grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And
he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love
You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
Galatians
6:12-15 (KJV) As many as desire to
make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest
they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For
neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have
you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory,
save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is
crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new
creature.
Introduction:
It
is not all that unusual for me to get the idea for a sermon from a song. Now, I
must say that it is more common for my
sermon ideas to come from the Bible! J
However,
today’s sermon idea did come from a song; in fact, it came from two songs. One
of the songs is the one that the choir sang just a little while ago, “I Will
Glory in the Cross.” The
other song is one that Kenton and Sonya sang last Sunday night in our
singspiration service. The title of their song is actually the same as the
title I’ve chosen for my message today, “Beyond the Cross.”
These
two songs emphasize two separate themes, but they both focus on the cross with
a resurrection message. In
the song that the Shaws sang, “Beyond the Cross,” it emphasizes the literal
reality of the resurrection as it proclaims, “Beyond the cross is a tomb that
is empty…. And beyond that tomb is life everlasting.”
The
cross wasn’t the end of the story. If it was, it would have been a terrible
defeat. It would have been a victory for the forces of evil rather than good.
But because of the resurrection, and because of the empty tomb, the cross is
something that can be viewed as a victory for righteousness and a victory for
the redemption of all mankind.
The
song that the choir sang has this phrase, “I will weep no more for the cross that
He bore. I will glory in the cross.” The
author of that song, Dottie Rambo, seems to be saying, “There was a time when I
would have looked at the cross and viewed it as a supreme disgrace; a tragedy;
and a source of tremendous pain and sorrow. But now, in a post-resurrection (or
post-Easter) world, I can look back at the cross and rather than see it as a
tragedy and disgrace, I can brag about it.
“It
is the only basis of my confidence that God has forgiven all my sins and I am
at peace with God. I have a hope of eternal salvation. Hallelujah!”
Let
us take a few moments to think about three different views beyond the cross.
I.
The first view beyond the cross is the literal reality
of the resurrection.
In
the scripture passage that was read earlier (Jn. 21:1-14) we heard the
eyewitness account of one of the appearances that Jesus made to His disciples
after the resurrection. I
am not going to go into an in-depth discussion of this story, only to point out
that Jesus took the steps necessary to appear to the disciples on several
occasions in order to confirm His resurrection in their minds beyond all
doubts. Here
in John 21 is just one more example of such appearances.
Beyond the cross is the literal, physical, genuine resurrection of
Jesus the Christ. He was dead but now He is alive, and as Luke said, in Acts
1:3, “…He showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs….”
I
am thankful for the resurrection, and I am thankful for all of the “pains” that
God took to validate the resurrection for those who might be plagued with
doubts like Thomas.
II.
The second view beyond the cross is the victory over
its scandal and tragedy.
In
the mid-eastern culture and especially the Jewish culture, the cross was
scandalous.
1
Cor. 1:23 “We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto
the Greeks foolishness.”
“stumblingblock”
– same word that the word “scandal” comes from. However,
for the Apostle Paul, the cross is no longer a symbol of scandal, tragedy and
defeat, but it is the very object of his boasting.
Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory,
save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is
crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
Because
the Apostle had gotten “beyond the cross” he could look back on it now as
something to be lifted up in honor, for on the cross our Savior shed His blood
to purchase our salvation; our redemption. The
very thing that the devil intended as an instrument of defeat and disgrace and
discouragement has become the object of high esteem. That can only happen
because of the resurrection.
This
message can apply to each one of us in a narrow spiritual sense of realizing
that our personal redemption was bought at the cross and we have nothing to
brag about in ourselves, but only in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But
it also can apply to us in a broader spiritual sense in recognizing that
everything in our past that the devil has intended for our harm and for our
destruction, can actually be turned into a great victory all because of the
power in the resurrection.
III. The third
view beyond the cross is the assignment that awaits every disciple.
Finally,
I would bring you back to the passage we looked at earlier in John 21.
If
we pick up at verse 15 and read the rest of the story we discover not only that
Jesus seems to be reinstating Peter to an intimate relationship following his
embarrassing denial that he even knew Jesus, but we also learn that Jesus has
work for Peter to do.
Beyond
the cross, there is work for all of us to do.
The
resurrection doesn’t mean that we all can now just sit around and enjoy all the
blessings and benefits of His victory and just kind of “coast” on into heaven. No,
the resurrection means that God has work for us to do in His kingdom, but the
great news is that we don’t have to rely on our own strength alone to
accomplish the task. We can rely on the grace and the strength of the One who
conquered death and the grave.
We
can count on the victory of our Lord to be our victory as well, while we are
engaged in the work that He has for us to do.
Conclusion:
Beyond
the cross is a risen Savior. He is alive and active in our world through His
Spirit. Let’s believe it and let’s live it!
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