The Cross: Suffering, Sacrifice, and Pathway to Joy

Devotional

Day 1: The Cross as a Turning Point

The cross stands as a pivotal moment in redemptive history, marking the transition from suffering to salvation, and from pain to purpose. It is not merely a historical event but a profound symbol of the duality of affliction and joy. The cross invites believers to see beyond the immediate suffering to the joy that lies ahead, as it embodies the tension between these two realities. This turning point challenges us to embrace the cross not just as a symbol of suffering but as a pathway to joy, where God's divine craftsmanship transforms suffering into salvation. [05:45]

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to see beyond immediate suffering to the joy that God promises through the cross?

Day 2: Admitting Our Guilt

The journey of faith begins with the acknowledgment of our guilt and the recognition of our need for forgiveness. This admission is crucial as it opens the door to grace, allowing us to receive the healing and restoration that only God can provide. Without recognizing our guilt, we cannot fully embrace the grace offered to us. This step is not about dwelling in shame but about opening ourselves to the transformative power of God's forgiveness and love. [12:16]

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to admit guilt and seek God's forgiveness today?

Day 3: Embracing Self-Sacrifice

The cross calls us to a life of self-sacrifice, where we lay down our old lives and embrace a new way of living. This journey requires daily surrender, as we pick up our cross and follow Jesus. The cost of the cross is everything we have, but the reward is a life transformed by grace. Embracing self-sacrifice means letting go of our own desires and ambitions to align ourselves with God's will, trusting that His plans for us are far greater than our own. [16:49]

"Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'" (Matthew 16:24, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you can practice self-sacrifice today, and how can you begin to align it with God's will?

Day 4: Forgiveness as a Way of Life

The cross sets a new standard for love and mercy, calling us to forgive others as we have been forgiven. Forgiveness is not just a gift we receive but a way of life we must embrace. By forgiving others, we reflect the character of Christ and participate in the restoration of relationships. This act of forgiveness is a powerful testimony of God's love and grace, inviting others to experience the same freedom and healing that we have received. [22:26]

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone you need to forgive. How can you take a step towards extending forgiveness to them today?

Day 5: The Cross as a Bridge

The cross bridges the gap between us and God, and between us and others. It is not just a ladder to salvation but a bridge to restoration and reconciliation. As we walk the way of the cross, we are invited to act like our Savior, embodying forgiveness and love in our relationships. This bridge invites us to participate in God's work of restoring broken relationships and bringing healing to a fractured world. [28:08]

"For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility." (Ephesians 2:14, ESV)

Reflection: How can you be a bridge of reconciliation in a relationship or situation in your life today?

Sermon Summary

In this Palm Sunday sermon, we delve into the profound significance of the cross, exploring its dual nature as both a symbol of suffering and a pathway to joy. As we celebrate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, we reflect on the crux of our faith—the cross of Christ. The cross is not merely a historical event but a crucial turning point in redemptive history, marking the transition from one chapter to another. It is the intersection of affliction and redemption, pain and purpose, guilt and grace. The cross is a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship, a testament to God's ability to transform suffering into salvation.

The journey of faith is not just about acknowledging the work of the cross but embracing the way of the cross. This path is narrow and filled with challenges, yet it leads to joy. Jesus' journey from triumphal entry to crucifixion was not a defeat but a willing surrender to the Father's will, motivated by love for humanity. The cross teaches us that suffering is an integral part of the human experience, and through it, we find a deeper connection with God.

To walk the way of the cross, we must first admit our guilt, acknowledging our need for forgiveness. This admission opens the door to grace, allowing us to receive the healing and restoration that only God can provide. The cross is not just a symbol of punishment but a call to self-sacrifice, inviting us to lay down our old lives and embrace a new way of living.

Ultimately, the cross calls us to act like our Savior, embodying forgiveness and love even in the face of suffering. Jesus forgave those who crucified him, setting a new standard for love and mercy. As followers of Christ, we are called to forgive others, recognizing that forgiveness is not just a gift we receive but a way of life we must embrace. The cross bridges the gap between us and God, and between us and others, leading us on a journey of restoration and reconciliation.

Key Takeaways

1. Sacrifice:** The cross calls us to a life of self-sacrifice, where we lay down our old lives and embrace a new way of living. This journey requires daily surrender, as we pick up our cross and follow Jesus. The cost of the cross is everything we have, but the reward is a life transformed by grace. [16:49]
4. Forgiveness as a Way of Life: The cross sets a new standard for love and mercy, calling us to forgive others as we have been forgiven. Forgiveness is not just a gift we receive but a way of life we must embrace. By forgiving others, we reflect the character of Christ and participate in the restoration of relationships.

5. The Cross as a Bridge: The cross bridges the gap between us and God, and between us and others. It is not just a ladder to salvation but a bridge to restoration and reconciliation. As we walk the way of the cross, we are invited to act like our Savior, embodying forgiveness and love in our relationships.

** [16:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:37] - Significance of the Cross
[01:16] - The Cross and Resurrection
[01:51] - Lessons from Barabbas and Simon
[02:30] - A Cross Between: Family Reflections
[05:07] - The Way of the Cross
[05:45] - The Road to Joy
[07:14] - Suffering and Human Experience
[09:28] - Looking Through the Cross
[10:10] - Admitting Guilt
[12:16] - The Need for Forgiveness
[16:49] - Accepting Your Cross
[20:11] - Acting Like Your Savior
[22:26] - The Way of Forgiveness
[28:08] - The Cross as a Bridge

Sermon Clips

May I remind you that our faith as believers is not just built on a series of doctrines. We Christians, we have our doctrines, but our doctrines are built on some historical events, things that actually happened, most importantly the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. These things were not the beginning of God's work in the world; rather, they were the crux, they were the crucial part where, in redemptive history, one chapter ended and another began. [00:00:50]

The cross is filled with this juxtaposition. It's affliction and redemption, it's suffering and salvation, it's shame and honor, it's pain and purpose, it's guilt and grace, it's gore and glory, it is wrath and forgiveness. It's the tension of the cross. If Jesus had skipped from the triumphal entry straight to the ascension into heaven, he would have missed out on a fundamental human experience. It's called suffering, and it's a universal human experience. [00:06:00]

The Christian answer to that question is that God designed and created us to live in relationship with him, but at some point, we chose to go our own way. We ignored the command of God, and the pain we see throughout all of human history is a result of that choice—a choice, by the way, that's been repeated by every person ever, including you and me, except for one person. Jesus is the first and the only man to live a perfect life. [00:07:25]

The way of the cross wasn't just the way of suffering; it was the road to joy. For the joy set before him, Jesus endured the cross. So let me ask you this today: What is set before you? What are you looking to? What do you have in front of you? Because maybe you've had trouble carrying your cross because you failed to fix your eyes on the Savior. You see, you can't just look to the cross; you have to look through the cross. [00:09:13]

The key to the cross is simple: you have to admit your guilt. You got to admit your guilt. And listen, I have three small children, Roman, Olivia, and Penelope. They are eight, six, and three, and let me tell you, none of them wants to admit they're guilty. Okay, none of them. Listen, something goes wrong in the house, someone makes a mess, someone breaks something, I come out, and something's wrong. I line them up, okay? [00:10:26]

Forgiveness needs to be accepted as well as offered if it is to be complete, and a man who admits no guilt can accept no forgiveness. If your forgiveness is going to be complete, you're going to have to start by admitting that you're guilty. Look what Jesus said in Luke chapter 5: Jesus answered them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor; sick people do. I have not come to call those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent." [00:11:47]

The cross does not just represent unjust punishment; it represents willing self-sacrifice. Willing self-sacrifice for Jesus first, but then for you and for me. Our journey with Jesus begins with admitting I'm guilty, I was wrong, and receiving his grace. But then we have a new calling on our life, and the call is to carry the cross, to pick up our cross, and to follow him daily. [00:17:06]

You will love to the degree that you believe you are loved, and you will forgive to the degree that you understand you have been forgiven. Jesus said it this way: it's a bit heavy today, but it's his words. I'll let him speak for himself. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6, "If you don't forgive, neither will my Father forgive you." I know it's a bit intense, but no guilt, no grace, no cross, no crown, and no mercy, no forgiveness. [00:29:36]

The cross of Christ does not just say you are forgiven; it says you must forgive. Christianity is not just about believing something; it's a new way of living, one in which you accept your salvation, but then you step into a new way of life, one in which you act like your savior. Freely you have received, freely you must give, and the way of the cross is the way of forgiveness. [00:31:57]

The cross is not just a ladder; it's a bridge. The cross doesn't just bring me salvation; it brings restoration in our relationships, not just with God but with one another. And we step into a new life on this road of forgiveness, and we need to act like our savior. So if you've been saved, act like it. Amen. And if you've been set free, act like it. If you've been forgiven, act like it. [00:35:57]

When it looks like that chasm is impossible to cross, there is a cross between me and you. There's a cross between us. And so what does forgiveness look like? I didn't just want to give you a theological truth; I want to give you a picture, and I want to make it practical. When I open my heart to the possibility of restoration, I take a step. [00:37:48]

The cross doesn't just say you're forgiven; it says you must forgive. And this is why the cross is crucial, because it reveals a new way of life. It reveals the depths of God's love and of his mercy, and it shows us the way that we are called to live as followers of Jesus. [00:43:30]

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