Lessons From Jesus on the Cross #4 - Mother, Behold Your Son

Today we will be learning about Jesus’ third phrase on the cross; “Woman behold your son…Behold your mother.”  There’s a lot to be seen in this interchange, so let’s get to it.

(John 19:26-27)

When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

I want to break this into parts:

1)      We can see that obviously this has to do with Filial Piety.  Jesus is looking to care for His mother, even in the moments of suffering and death. In those days they didn’t have government programs to care for retired or elderly people.  When a husband died, if a woman didn’t have sons, she wouldn’t have a way to support herself.

(1 Kings 17:10-12)

So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink." And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." So she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die

 God sent Elijah to her. He called on the widow to support Elijah, but used the prophet to provide the means of that support.  Jesus is basically doing the same thing here.  He is using John to provide support for His mother. Sometimes, we think that Jesus is calling His mother to look at Jesus, but what He is doing is establishing that This disciple would step in and act in His place to care for His mother’s needs.

 Jesus had brothers, so Mary had other sons. 

(Mark 6:3)

Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.

Why was John, his disciple chosen to care for Mary, rather than His brothers?  Because apparently, they weren’t saved yet.

(John 7:5)

For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

 Look at what Jesus said:

(Matthew 12:46-50)

While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You." But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

It is our salvation that brings us into familial relationship with Christ.  We are adopted into God’s family.  We become Children of God, just as Jesus is.

(Roman 8:14-17)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

 So that’s the first lesson here.  In salvation we become Children of God, with all the rights of sons.

2)      The second thing has to do with Chapter three in the Book of Genesis.  It’s important to know that the crucifixion is God’s final solution to sin.  We know that Genesis three is the picture of the fall of mankind.  It shows us the nature of mankind.  It is our nature to sin.  Look at what it says in Genesis 3:6

 In calling Mary “woman” He is pointing us back to the Garden.  This will become clearer in a little bit.

(Genesis 3:6)

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

Compare that to this description of sin:

(1 John 2:15-16)

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

Good for Food = Lust of the flesh. 

(Philippians 3:19)

whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.

Pleasant to the eyes = lust of the eyes

(Mark 9:47)

And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—

Desirable to make one wise = Pride of life

An example of that is here:

(Acts 12:21-23)

So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

So, this is a way to describe sin.  It is the pathway to the sin of the Garden (eating the forbidden fruit). 

Look at what God speaks to Satan after his successful temptation of Eve. These things are her reasons for eating the fruit. God curses him by saying this:

(Genesis 3:14-15)

So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

There is an excellent scene in the movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” where Jesus after saying, “Nevertheless, not my will but yours, where He encounter Satan as a serpent and stomps on his head.” 

He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

This is what is taking place during the crucifixion.  By setting is free from sin through his death on the cross He is destroying Satan’s power.  Look at this:

(Revelation 1:18)

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

Through His death and resurrection, He holds the power over Hell and death.

3)      The final thing I want to show you here is the care that Jesus takes of His mother even though he is suffering.  He looks not at His own suffering but instead looks to her care, so he appoints John to look after her.

       (John 19:26-27)

      When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

      Throughout the Gospel of John, he refers to himself as, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”  Before we begin to think John is being egotistical here, it is more likely that his whole identity is wrapped up in Jesus loving him.  He’s not saying He loves me more than the others, what he’s saying is that I am who I am because he loves me.  

      His whole life is wrapped up in his relationship to Jesus. So, the question here is, “What is your identity?”  Do you think of yourself in the way that John did? It is quite freeing to think that you are loved by Jesus.  All of our problems, hurts and sufferings pale in comparison to Jesus’ love.  These things are all temporary, His love is eternal.

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

Lessons From Jesus on the Cross #3 - Today...Paradise

 Today we’re going to look at the next phrase Jesus spoke, “Today you will be in paradise with Me!”

(Luke 23:42-43)

Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

So, let’s look at the crucifixion scene.  Jesus is ordered to be crucified by the Roman soldiers. He is taken to Golgotha along with two criminals, and is crucified one on the left and one on the right.

(Mark 15:27-28)

With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS."

This is a prophecy from the book of Isaiah:

(Isaiah 53:12)

Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

Let’s take a moment and examine this prophecy.  We can break it down to find the importance of what Jesus is saying through this phrase on the cross.

1.    “Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death.”

Look at this scripture by way of explanation:

(Colossians 2:14)

having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

The “handwriting of requirements that was against us” is a reference to the law.  The law was a list of violations against God and we were under the law.  In other words, Heaven was only accessible to those who committed no sin.

(James 2:10)

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

If we sin, in one area we have violated the law and are guilty.  If we’re guilty then we must face the consequences of that guilt.  What are the wages of sin?

But it also says that God will divide Him a portion and divide the spoil with the strong. This is a reference to Jesus’ victory over sin.  He has destroyed “principalities and powers”

(Colossians 2:15)

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

He is a conqueror, which allows Him to divide the spoil with the mighty, and according to this prophecy of Isaiah, he has done that through His death. “Because He poured out His soul unto death.

2.      Here is what is pertaining to what we’re talking about today, the second part of Isaiah 53:12:

(Isaiah 53:12)

Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

He was “numbered with the transgressors.”  We know that Jesus didn’t sin.  In fact, He’s the only person who ever lived that didn’t sin.  But in His crucifixion, He was treated as just another criminal.

In those times crucifixion was reserved for the worst criminals.  Murderers, and others who committed horrible crimes.  Jesus was, of course, innocent of that kind of crime.  Remember, Pilate said I find nothing worthy of death.

(Luke 23:15-16)

no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. I will therefore chastise Him and release Him"

But, here He is being crucified with those who had committed those crimes. This is what it means to “be numbered with the transgressors.”

3.      Here’s the final part of the prophecy.  “And He bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

As Christians we understand that Jesus took our sin upon Himself and died on the cross.  After all that’s a major part of Christian doctrine.

(Hebrews 9:28)

so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

We’ll talk about this later, but today we are looking at this part: “and made intersession for the transgressors.”  Many times, in the church world we define intersession as pertaining to prayer.  We intercede during church service when we pray for needs in the church; when we pray for each other. But, I want you to see the dictionary definition of the word intercession.

the act of using your influence to make someone in authority forgive someone else or save them from punishment -Cambridge Dictionary

In other words, it is when we go before someone in power and ask for them to forgive someone.  In the US there is a law that says the president of the United States can pardon a prisoner of their crimes.  So, often someone will go before the president and ask him to pardon someone.  That is an intercession.  Jesus, through His death on the cross is interceding with God on our behalf.  We ARE the transgressors.

This what Issaiah was saying in his prophecy in Isaiah 53:12.

  So now understanding that let’s go back to the subject of this study.

(Luke 23:42-43)

Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

This scripture is a snapshot of that prophecy.  Jesus is being counted as one who is a transgressor.  One who has broken the law.  One who is being punished for that crime.  He is being crucified, enduring the punishment of the worst of the worst.  He is being hung between two criminals who deserve this punishment.  Jesus is innocent of the crimes (sin), the others are guilty.

Let’s look at the scene more closely:

(Luke 23:39-43)

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

So those that were being crucified with Him began to mock Him. Luke says that one criminal blasphemed and said “If you are the Christ save yourself and us!”  According to Matthew they both mocked and blasphemed. Whatever the case at one point one of the criminals rebuked the other.  Maybe Isaiah’s prophecy came to his mind.  At some point, though, he realized the Jesus was innocent and not deserving of death.

(Luke 23:40-41)

But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."

This is a declaration of faith.  We’re sinners.  We deserve death, we are receiving the punishment we deserve.  “The wages of sin is death.”  But this man is innocent.  He’s committed no sin. Then he turns to Jesus and says, “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

He’s saying I believe You are whom You say You are. A powerful declaration of faith.

When I lead someone through a Sinner’s Prayer.  I always lead them through this.  I start with Dear God, I know I’m a sinner.  I ask you right now to forgive me of my sin.  That what the criminal on the cross was saying.  I know I’m a sinner.    He’s asking Jesus for forgiveness, “Remember me.“  Jesus says to him, “This day you will be in Paradise with me.”   This is how simple salvation is to receive.  It’s not about Bible knowledge. It’s not abut being a good person.  It’s about faith and repentance.

Let me finish off by explaining this:

(John 3:16-18)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

So according to this, salvation is received by believing the only begotten Son of God. Believing that Jesus is who He said He was.  We see that in this Man on the cross.  He didn’t have good works.  He was a criminal.  He didn’t read and understand the scriptures. He just believed Jesus. 

Secondly there is this:

(Romans 10:9-10)

 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Confess with your mouth.  That is don’t be afraid to speak that Jesus is God.  That He died for our sins. That He is the “way, the truth and the life.” Do not be ashamed to say it!.

(Matthew 10:32-33)

"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

When the one criminal rebuked the other he was confessing whom Jesus was.  He confessed with his mouth.

Finally, there is one other component – Repentance:

(Acts 17:30-31)

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."

God is looking for repentance from us.  That word repent literally means to turn around.  As if you are going one way – away from God (into worldliness and sin), and you turn around and begin to move toward God (away from worldliness and sin).  Repentance is more than just saying, “I’m sorry, forgive me.”  It is a change of heart and a change of lifestyle.  I’m not going to live for my own selfish desires.  I want to live for Jesus.

The lesson in this is that salvation is a gift.  There are three things to receive that gift. Believe, Confess and Repent.  It is that simple.  All three things were seen in the criminal that was crucified with Christ and Jesus said to him: “This day you will be in paradise with me.”

 

  

 

 

  

Lessons From Jesus on the Cross #2 - Father, Forgive Them!

 Last time we had Bible study, we discussed what was happening during the week before the crucifixion.  His week we’ll begin to look at the seven things Jesus said during the crucifixion beginning with This statement, “Father, forgive them they don’t know what they’re doing!”

When Jesus was put on the cross, He made seven statements.  We’re going to look at each statement to see what that speaks to us.

(Luke 23:33-35)

And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."

So as He was being crucified, He looked out at those who had cried out for Him to be crucified and asked God to forgive them.

This was an important message to those that were there. He spoke to them many times about forgiveness.

1)       As He teaches them to pray:

(Matthew 6:8-13)

"Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

“Forgive our debts as we forgive others.”

2)       He explains the forgiveness part of the prayer:

(Matthew 6:14-15)

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

If we won’t forgive, we can’t expect forgiveness.

3)      How often should we forgive?

(Mat 18:21-22)

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

 

Now before we get out our calculators and determine that 7 times 70 is 490, so that’s all we have to forgive, let me explain that what that really means is ALWAYS! We need to forgive always. 

4)      Love your enemies and pray for them, forgive them.

(Luke 6:35-37)

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Love your enemies.  How easy is that to do.  Pray for them.  God is our example.  He is kind to the unthankful and evil.  This is difficult, but it is expected.  Forgive and you will be forgiven.  Maybe not by your enemies but by God.

How many of us pray for those who treat us badly?

(Luke 6:28)

bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

Pastor Gene LaValley, (from our church in Toronto, Canada) told a story of him and his brothers as children tormenting a young Christian girl.  They teased her, and mocked her and made her cry.  They were not saved in those days.  He said that she got her revenge on them. She prayed for them and now both of them are preachers.

The Power of Forgiveness

As we see Jesus on the cross, He calls out a powerful prayer, “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they’re doing.”  What a powerful example of loving your enemies. 

We have a difficult time forgiving people for small things.  “He yelled at me!” “He hurt my feelings.” “She broke up with me!” “He said something that embarrassed me.”

Sometimes things happen that are big things, “I loaned him money and he didn’t pay me back.”  “He borrowed my car and wrecked, and didn’t reimburse me.” “He cheated on me with another woman.”  Those are difficult things to forgive. 

At conference one year, a woman told a story about her son.  There were three young men who caused her son, also a young man, to lose his life.  There was a trial and the three boys were convicted of negligently causing an action resulting in the death.  They were minor and sentenced to a youth prison.  This mother, at the sentencing part of the trial, stood up and declared that she forgave the boys who were being sentenced.  Then she went to the prison faithfully to visit them, she prayed for them, and she witnessed to them.  All three of them got saved and eventually were pastors in our fellowship. 

Jesus, on the cross serves as a powerful example of forgiveness.

(Luke 23:35-38)

And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God." The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Think about this:  These people called out for Him to be crucified.  Crucifixion is the most brutal form of execution ever devised by man.  Basically, you die from blood loss and suffocation over many hours.  While He hung there, people mocked him, sneered at him, called out things to Him.  They offered Him vinegar to drink, told Him if He was the chosen of God, to save Himself.

He’s there looking out at them, hearing them, knowing what they’ve done and still He calls out for forgiveness.  If you were in the process of being murdered, could you cry out for your murderer’s forgiveness. 

The forgiveness of the three young men by the woman I spoke about resulted in their conversion and salvation. Look at this.

One of the Roman guards who witnessed the crucifixion and saw all that happened that day said this:

(Mat 27:54)

So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

They had doubted and mocked, the saw the things that happened on the cross.  They saw the earthquake and the sun go dark.  They saw and heard Him cry out for forgiveness and the other things.  This one centurion calls out “Truly, this was the Son of God.”

Can You Forgive?

As you can see, we are expected to forgive.  The Bible even tells us that if we can’t forgive others, we can’t receive forgiveness ourselves.

(Matthew 6:14-15)

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

I want to leave you with a parable: (I will read this)

(Matthew 18:24-35)

And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

Jesus spoke this parable when Peter asked Him how often he should forgive.  The pint of the parable is that we have been forgiven much by God.  Our sin put Jesus on the cross, we are as guilty as those who called out for His crucifixion. We have a choice whether or not we will act like the “wicked servant” or not. 

I know how I was before I was saved.  I knew I was a sinner. I knew that what I was doing was a violation.  I grew up in a catholic school, so I was taught those things.  I made choices.  I know that God forgave me much.  I had to learn to forgive.

(Ephesians 4:32)

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

(Luke 7:47)

Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."

I want to say one last thing.  I know forgiveness of other people is difficult.  We all have hurts and sufferings that are caused by others.  Forgiveness is for you. It releases you from carrying the bitterness and hurt that you’ve been laboring under.   When we dwell on all the hurts it can lead to depression and other things, like hatred, bitterness, suicide all of that.  I’m speaking from experience here.  Forgiveness us for you.

If someone hurt you unintentionally, they don’t even realize it.  If they hurt you intentionally, then they don’t care.  But you can release that pain by forgiving them.

A lot of the times we think forgiveness means we have to go back to the way it was, but the relationship may change.  For example, if I loan you my car and you wreck it and then call me up and tell me, “Your car is in the junk yard and you owe a towing fee.”  If they don’t make it right, I still have to forgive them, but I don’t have to let them borrow my car again.  I may not even hang out with them anymore, but I’m not going to harbor anger and hatred in my heart. I can still be polite and not get angry if I see them or hear their voice or someone else mentions them.