Sermon nuggets Thurs Dec 11
Theme- Jesus Death
Verses-John 19: 32-34 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.
33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.
The Gentiles Finished their Responsibility
It has always amazed me that racial prejudice raises up it’s angry head causing people to hate one another. Many a Jew in our recent history has been not only the discriminated race in Nazi Germany, but in our own country. Children have had to run home and ask their parents why neighborhood Christian kids picked on them calling them Christ killers. They never hurt anyone.
Pick a country, pick a group of people, pick a nationality, pick a language group and pretty soon one group begins to rise up and show prejudice against another. This seems to be a successful plan of Satan.
There were not many times were Jews and Gentiles cooperated. They hated one another. There were not many times the Romans would cooperate with the sub-servant class of people. But the soldiers joined the taunting and the ridicule of Jesus.
Sin separates. Christ unites. Sin caused people within the same race and same family to divide- Cain killed Abel. Sin motivated the people together to build a tower unto God at Babel. From there the language confusion brought together those who could understand one another. But sin allowed those divisions to be causes for wars and jealousies, and prejudice.
When people have a common enemy they unite. When people have a common cause they unite. Since Jesus came on the scene of this earth there were Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor that united at Bethlehem. There were those in power who divided people according to their birth to get taxes to Rome, and those who divided among their own race so Herod would kill babies who might be a threat to his power.
When people gathered at Golgotha, they united Jews and Gentiles to hurl insults, mocking and abuse at this same Jesus. The Bible makes it clear that all of us who sin are part of the crucifixion of Jesus. All races are included also at Calvary.
I do not understand why people are quick to point their finger at others for killing jesus. It is easy to say Pontius Pilate killed him- the early Apostles’ creed acknowledges that. He suffered under Pontius Pilate. He represented the political and Gentile cultures. The Romans finished their part as Gentiles by casting lots for his robe, by nailing Him to the cross and piercing his side to show blood and water mingled down, a sign of his death. This too was to complete the greater plan of God.
As another gospel writer included there was a Jewish prisoner recognizing his sin and asking forgiveness from the cross. Jesus grants him salvation, “Today you shall be with me in paradise”. Another man from a different race and culture looked upon the pierced Christ and came to a new revelation, “Truly this was the Son of God.” Did he also accept by faith Jesus Christ? Was this a head knowledge or a trust in Christ for personal salvation? The details are not clear, but there are recorded for a reason. Not only was the suffering of Jesus a combined effort from those representing different races, but the salvation of Jesus was also for Jew and Gentile.
Faith in Christ unites people of different races, genders, nationalities. We are people who lay aside our sin and repent of it. We realize we had a part in our hearts of the death of Christ, and we are given the wonderful opportunity to receive forgiveness and become part of a group of new brothers and sisters who speak different languages, have different customs and dress, who have different colors. We are people who unite with different gifts and abilities for one cause- to serve Jesus Christ and advance His Kingdom.
There were different tongues at the crucifixion of Christ. There will be different tongues expressing His glory when He returns. Going to the uttermost parts of world will bring hatred, so Satan is not quite done yet. But missionary activity will also bring salvation to a people God loves.
Christmas is the season when we see the greatest missionary coming to a foreign world to prepare the news. "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
I am glad this good news is for all people.
Pastor Dale
