Hope Amidst Despair: The Power of the Cross

Devotional

Day 1: Hope as a Resilient Force

In the darkest moments, such as the crucifixion of Jesus, hope emerges as a resilient force that sustains us. This hope is not dependent on circumstances but is an assurance that, despite the apparent finality of death, there is a greater plan at work. The crucifixion, often seen as a moment devoid of hope, challenges us to find light in what seems hopeless. Emily Dickinson's poem reminds us that hope is a persistent force, even in the bleakest times. As we reflect on Good Friday, we are invited to see beyond the despair and recognize the enduring presence of hope. [07:58]

Hebrews 6:19-20 (ESV): "We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."

Reflection: Think of a situation in your life that feels hopeless. How can you invite God's resilient hope into this situation today?

Day 2: Victory in Completion

Jesus' declaration, "It is finished," signifies the completion of his mission to atone for humanity's sins. This statement is not a cry of defeat but a proclamation of victory over sin and death. It reminds us that our lives are secure in God's hands, and that Jesus' mission was fulfilled in his sacrifice. The completion of this mission assures us that we are redeemed and that the power of sin and death has been broken. As we meditate on these words, we are encouraged to trust in the victory that Jesus has achieved for us. [12:41]

Colossians 2:13-14 (ESV): "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to embrace the victory that Jesus has already won? How can you live in the freedom of this victory today?

Day 3: Removing Barriers to God

The tearing of the temple veil at Jesus' death symbolizes the removal of barriers between humanity and God. This act offers us direct access to our Creator, reminding us that we are loved and accepted. Despite this divine act, humanity often rebuilds barriers of division, such as racism and fear. We are challenged to dismantle these barriers in our own lives and embrace the access to God that Jesus' sacrifice provides. As we reflect on this, we are called to examine the barriers we have erected and seek to remove them. [17:41]

Ephesians 2:14-16 (ESV): "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."

Reflection: Identify a barrier in your life that separates you from God or others. What steps can you take to begin dismantling this barrier today?

Day 4: Striving Against Division

Despite Jesus' sacrifice, humanity continues to rebuild barriers of division, such as racism and fear. We are called to actively work against these divisions, recognizing that Jesus intended for them to be finished. The ongoing struggle against division requires us to be intentional in our efforts to promote unity and love. As we reflect on Jesus' sacrifice, we are reminded of our responsibility to work towards a world where these barriers no longer exist. [19:16]

Galatians 3:28 (ESV): "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Consider a division you see in your community or personal life. How can you be a peacemaker and work towards unity in this area today?

Day 5: Leaving Burdens at the Cross

We are invited to leave our burdens, regrets, and sins at the foot of the cross. This act symbolizes our commitment to let go and embrace the hope that Jesus offers. It is a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles and that we can find freedom in Christ. As we tie a string to a nail, we physically manifest our intention to release these burdens and trust in the hope of Jesus' resurrection. This act of surrender allows us to experience the freedom and peace that comes from letting go. [23:03]

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV): "Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."

Reflection: What burden are you carrying that you need to leave at the foot of the cross? How can you symbolically release this burden today and embrace the freedom Jesus offers?

Sermon Summary

On this Good Friday, we gather to reflect on the profound significance of Jesus' crucifixion and the hope that emerges from it. We began our Lenten journey with Ash Wednesday, a reminder of our mortality and the inevitability of death. Tonight, we confront the death of Jesus, a moment that seems devoid of hope. Yet, as Emily Dickinson's poem suggests, hope is a resilient force that persists even in the darkest times. The crucifixion of Jesus, viewed by many as a criminal's death, challenges us to find hope in what appears to be a hopeless situation.

James Cone's comparison of the cross to the lynching tree highlights the depth of human hatred and the extent to which people will go to eradicate the other. Yet, even in this, there is hope. Over the past weeks, we've explored Jesus' final words from the cross, each revealing a facet of his mission and love. His declaration, "It is finished," is not a cry of defeat but a proclamation of the completion of his mission to atone for humanity's sins. This statement signifies the end of his physical suffering and the breaking of barriers between humanity and God.

The tearing of the temple veil symbolizes the removal of obstacles between us and God, a reminder that we are loved and accepted by our Creator. However, despite this divine act, humanity continues to rebuild barriers of division, such as racism and fear. Yet, there is hope. Jesus' resurrection, which we anticipate on Easter Sunday, assures us that hope is alive. As we reflect on the horror of Good Friday, we are invited to leave behind our burdens, regrets, and sins at the foot of the cross, symbolized by tying a string to a nail. This act is a physical reminder of our commitment to let go and embrace the hope that Jesus offers.

Key Takeaways

1. Hope in the Midst of Despair: Even in the darkest moments, such as Jesus' crucifixion, hope persists. This hope is not dependent on circumstances but is a resilient force that sustains us. It is the assurance that, despite the apparent finality of death, there is a greater plan at work. [07:58]
2. The Completion of Jesus' Mission: Jesus' declaration, "It is finished," signifies the completion of his mission to atone for humanity's sins. This is not a statement of defeat but a proclamation of victory over sin and death. It reminds us that our lives are secure in God's hands. [12:41]
3. Breaking Barriers Between Humanity and God: The tearing of the temple veil symbolizes the removal of barriers between us and God. Jesus' death bridges the gap, offering us direct access to our Creator. This act challenges us to dismantle the barriers we create in our own lives. [17:41]
4. The Ongoing Struggle Against Division: Despite Jesus' sacrifice, humanity continues to rebuild barriers of division, such as racism and fear. We are called to actively work against these divisions, recognizing that Jesus intended for them to be finished. [19:16]
5. Leaving Burdens at the Cross: We are invited to leave our burdens, regrets, and sins at the foot of the cross. This act symbolizes our commitment to let go and embrace the hope that Jesus offers. It is a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles and that we can find freedom in Christ. [23:03]
** [23:03]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[06:19] - Ash Wednesday and Mortality
[07:05] - Emily Dickinson's Hope
[07:58] - Hope in Death
[08:53] - The Cross and the Lynching Tree
[09:43] - Power of Hate and Hope
[10:28] - Jesus' Final Words
[11:53] - "It is Finished"
[12:41] - Completion of Jesus' Mission
[14:05] - Atonement Theories
[15:31] - End of Physical Suffering
[16:55] - Barriers Between Humanity and God
[17:41] - Tearing of the Temple Veil
[19:16] - Ongoing Struggle Against Division
[20:06] - Hope in Resurrection
[23:03] - Leaving Burdens at the Cross

Sermon Clips

It is Good Friday and um we start and end the season of Lent in some beautiful ways but with some some difficult services to be honest right i mean we started here um with a a service of Ash Wednesday where we take these palm branches that we used the previous year for Palm Sunday and we burn them and we make ashes out of them and we put the ashes on our forehead in the shape of a cross and we're minded we are reminded that um from dust we came into dust will return and that we're mortal that barring the um anticipated ated uh but unknown return of Christ that one day we'll all die that's how we start Lent then we come back together uh on this night on Good Friday in a service where we remember the death of Jesus. [00:05:52]

If it weren't for hope it would be a very difficult Lenton season because we would just go from ashes to the cross and just never have the glory and the redemption of Easter Sunday if it weren't for hope, how could we come together as we're talking about Jesus this longawwaited Messiah God in human flesh who tonight we realize and recognize was dead on a cross what hope is there in death and on the day that Jesus died there were Jews and Romans watching a criminal's death at least watching three men die that day what what hope is there in that type of death because surely the words of Deuteronomy 21 rang out in the minds and the ears of the Jewish people gathered there when Moses wrote "Cursed is the one who hangs from a tree." [00:07:58]

One of my favorite uh writers recently is a man named James Conn he's known as the the father of uh black theology or liberation theology and he wrote a book called The Cross and the Lynching Tree and in this book uh from a from a social and economic standpoint Conn says that um Jesus dying on a cross was similar in some ways to the many number of black people especially in the south who had been hung on trees in fact Conn wrote that Jesus did not die a gentle death like Socrates with a cup of himlock in his hand rather he died like a lynched black man or a common black criminal in torment on a tree of shame as the crowds shouted "Crucify him!" [00:08:58]

For the last seven week or six weeks here at Gate City we've been going through these um last statements of Jesus from the cross these seven final words where Jesus began by saying "Father forgive them they don't know what they're doing as he was hung on the cross and then saying to a criminal who was beside him who simply asked "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom." He didn't pray a particular sinner's prayer i don't think he had any deep theological understanding all he knew was the predicament that he was in and he said "Jesus don't forget me remember me when you come into your kingdom." And Jesus told him "Truly I tell you today you will be with me in paradise." [00:10:09]

Now before we begin to lose hope at the finality of a statement such as this let me just point out the obvious that I'm sure you know because you're here tonight and I'm sure that you have heard many times when Jesus said "It is finished," Jesus didn't say "I am finished." Because Jesus isn't done yet jesus isn't finished yet all of what Jesus has in store for humanity in one sense is just beginning but there are some things that are finished with this death on the cross there are some things that that it refers to that they are done and that they are over thanks be to God so what are the things when Jesus said it is finished that the it actually referred to what is finished with Jesus's death on the cross when God in human flesh dies. [00:12:19]

What he meant by this I think is that as he came to do a particular work from God that that is finished when we talk about this we talk about it as um atonement theories you know we we Christians love to come up with theories about different things that it's really really hard to understand right like how does Jesus's death on the cross atone for your sin how is it that Jesus dying this horrible death saves us well we wrestle with those questions for thousands of years and there are libraries of atonement theories out there some of you have studied many of these atonement theories and I love leading Bible story Bible studies on atonement theories and talking about them but for me what it all boils down to is in dying that Christ is victorious over sin and death. [00:13:11]

I have hope not just from the crucifixion but I have hope from the resurrection i believe that Jesus's death was the was the completion of the will of God that he came to do and he did it and he said it's finished that part of it over but now we also understand especially those who of you who gather on a service like this the extreme physical torment and pain that Jesus went through so I think when Jesus said it is finished it might have been just an aspect of that physical suffering that he had been going through because it was over sometimes we have physical suffering that we experience in life obviously not to the extent that Jesus did but at some point in our own lives again barring that return of Jesus there will be a time where that is over. [00:14:49]

The hope that we have is that suffering is over now right that as they are fully and completely in the hands of God that there is no more of that suffering no more of that pain no more of that cancer no more of that dementia no more of that death but as we think about Jesus hanging on the cross and the suffering that he endured his betrayal in the garden of Gethsemane the the flogging and the whipping and the beating the cursing at him the spitting on him the taunting from one man who was hanging next to him saying "If you really are the son of God won't you do something won't you actually save yourself and save me while you're at it?" And all of this crowd who many came just for the sport of watching someone die a crown of thorns piercing his forehead with the blood dripping down into his eyes and executioners nails and his hands and his feet. [00:15:52]

The barriers between humans and God was finished jesus died for the sins of the world so that everyone may know that they are loved and that they are accepted by God and that their value and that they come from God and they are created in the very image of God you know just moments after Jesus said this word "It is finished," something happened in the temple and y'all probably remember that story right what happened in the temple is that there was a veil that separated the the holy place from the holy of holies and when Jesus said "It is finished," and he gave up his life gave up his spirit what happened to that veil it was it was torn into the barrier that separated humanity from God was torn into and removed. [00:17:09]

The beauty of that in in so many ways for us now as we can think about that is the barrier between us and God was gone jesus bridged that gap for us there should be no barriers between humanity and God right let me ask you again because this wasn't one of those just hypothetical statements i mean really there should be no barriers between humanity and God right there should be no walls of division between a human being and the God who created them right there should be no obstacles preventing a person direct access to the God who not only died for them but who created them and who loved them right there shouldn't be and as United Methodists I hope we are taking some steps to at least ensure there aren't. [00:18:19]

The reality is that there's a lot of things in our life today that are not finished that I believe Jesus intended to be finished that day racism is not finished in our world homophobia is not finished fear is not finished hate is not finished division is not finished turn on the news and just watch a few minutes you'll get how divided that we really are because we let people build them up again and again the things to which Jesus I believe had intended to free us from but alas can I share one little four-letter word with you there is hope because the next words that Jesus says that we have recorded in scripture come on Easter Sunday. [00:19:20]

We have hope tonight even on Good Friday not just because Jesus died on the cross we have hope because he lives but to get to the Sunday hope you got to understand the Friday horror to get to the Sunday life we have to understand the Friday death it is finished jesus said "Maybe there's something in our lives tonight that needs to be finished as well maybe you're carrying around a regret that just needs to be finished maybe there's a fear that needs to be finished maybe there's a sin in your life tonight that needs to be finished and thanks be to Jesus it can be. [00:20:48]

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