THE CONVERSATION AT THE CROSS
John 19:13-41
I want to look at the conversation at the cross. The same conversation goes on today.
We have the same situation. There is nothing new under the sun. At the cross, Jesus is giving us at look at life.
I believe if we keep our focus on the significance of the cross
we will see the good in life in all situations.
Life has both bad and good.
It is out of the bad that strength, courage, faith and love develops.
The true integrity of a person can be determined by how
He/she handles the bad.
Learning how to handle the bad in life improved the quality of life
In the good times. I think when we see the bad in life working
for our good, we want waste time in pity or self doubt, but glorify
God all times.
THE BAD IN JESUS TIME ON EARTH
13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge\’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.
\”Here is your king,\” Pilate said to the Jews.
15 But they shouted, \”Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!\”
\”Shall I crucify your king?\” Pilate asked.
\”We have no king but Caesar,\” the chief priests answered.
16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 Here they crucified him, and with him two others — one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, \”Do not write \’The King of the Jews,\’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.\”
22 Pilate answered, \”What I have written, I have written.\”
23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24 \”Let\’s not tear it,\” they said to one another. \”Let\’s decide by lot who will get it.\”
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said,
\”They divided my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.\”
So this is what the soldiers did.
THE BAD TODAY
1. There was lying at the cross.
The religious leaders lied about Jesus. They took His Words out of
context. He claim to be king, but not of this world
Peter lied about knowing Jesus three time the night of the trial
We have to own our lies, repent to move on.
2. There was jealous at the cross
It all started with jealousy or envy, which led to anger. Anger led to
Murder. We see this ever day in America
We have to guard our hearts against jealousy and envy.
3. There was greed at the cross.
The religious leaders were greedy for power and authority.
It was not about the welfare of the people, but their own agenda.
Judas sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver.
We see this every day in politics.
4. There was gambling at the cross
The Roman solders divide up Jesus clothes
The under garment which was seamless, they
cast lots to see who would get it.
People are gambling away their lives by not wearing mask
The biggest gamble is to reject Jesus as Lord and Savior
THE GOOD AT THE CROSS
5. There was truth at the cross.
John 14:6-7
Jesus answered, \”I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through me.
We got the truth about the spread of covid-19 and how to
prevent the spread, but many people ignore the truth.
Pilate knew the truth. He knew Jesus was innocent.
But he would not act on the truth.
6. There is a burden at the cross
Jesus said pick up your cross and follow me.
Simon of Cyrene was force to carry the cross of Jesus
Jesus was bloody with open wounds .
Simon got the blood of Jesus on his garment
Can you imagine getting the blood of Jesus all over you?
You cannot get into heaven without being covered in the blood of
Jesus.
THE GOOD AT THE CROSS
7. There was compassion at the cross.
Jesus, while headed to the cross, saw His mother
and John together.
He knew his mother’s grief. He said woman behold your Son.
To John, behold your mother,
Jesus knows what you are going through, He will be here
For you when you need Him. He will console you in troubled times.
8. There are miracles at the cross. Dead saints got up and walked the
Streets of Jerusalem at the death of Jesus.
Sun was eclipsed by the Moon. It was dark at 3pm
The biggest miracle is us. As corrupt as we are, Jesus
accepts us as brothers and sisters.
9. There was enlightenment at the cross.
Two other men were crucified with Jesus
One rejected Christ and mocked Him.
One confessed his sin and accepted Jesus as His savior
Jesus said to him , this day you will be in paradise
The same thing happens today. The moment someone
confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, they are immediately
with Jesus in the Spirit.
. God can change the heart of you worst enemy.
Mark 15:39-40
And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry
and saw how he died, he said, \”Surely this man was the Son of God!\”
People know you love Christ by the way you live.
THE GLORY AT THE CROSS
10. Sin met grace at the cross.
The sins of believers are nullified at confession,
Gal 1:4-5
Jesus who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil
age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for
ever and ever. Amen.
11. There is completion at the cross
Jesus said it is finish, hung His head and died
His Spirit left His fleshly body
What Jesus came to earth to do was to redeem us form our sins.
John 12:32
But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to
myself.\”
There is complete submission at the cross,
Father into your hand, I submit my spirit,
13. There is victory at the cross
No one takes my life, I have the power to lay it down
And the power to take it back up again
1 Cor 15:55-57
\”Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?\”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 5
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Every time you think about things not going your way, go to
The cross
14. There is life at the cross
Any man in Christ is a new creation.
Luke 17:33
Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will
preserve it.
15. There is love at the cross
God so love the world the He gave His only begotten Son
16. There is peace at the cross.
Jesus said,
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
16. There is joy at the cross
John 15:10-12
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy
may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have
loved you.
17. There is approval at the cross
John 6:27
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed
his seal of approval.\”
You and I will never live in a situation where there are no problems.
When we face trouble, trials and tribulations, go to the cross
All is well at the cross
GRATEFULNESS IS THE KEY TO PEACE
Phil 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
When you get caught up in the worlds problems, take a moment
And clear your thinking.
Phil 4:8-9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy — think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or
heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will
be with you.
IN SUMMARY
THERE IS GOOD AND BAD IN THIS LIFE
SEE THE GOOD AND THE BAD AS WORKING FOR YOU
PRAY AND BE THANKFUL FOR YOUR SITUATION
DON’T WORRY BE AT PEACE
TRUST GOD WITH YOUR SITUATION
DON’T FORGET THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CROSS
Rev. M. Mitchell
