The Roman Empire didn’t put up with insurrectionism or crime like we do. The religious leaders green with envy wanted Jesus crucified so that the people would come to them instead of Jesus and they would not lose their influence with Rome. Jesus told the truth and lived out the truth because he is the embodiment of truth. Pilate knew that as he cross examined Jesus. His conscience was convinced that Jesus was innocent. Pilate’s problem was his past actions. The religious leaders basically blackmailed Pilate and had an innocent man crucified. Please read Mark 15:16-32. From this passage for Scripture you read that Jesus was scourged, mocked and led away by the Roman soldiers. Jesus grew weak from all that he had been through and was only able to bear his cross through the city streets as far as the gates of the town. That’s when the Roman soldiers compelled (force) Simon of Cyrene to carry Jesus’ up to Golgotha. Jesus would humble himself all the way to death in obedience of his Father’s will. Simon who was following Jesus now embodies the sermon that Jesus taught on discipleship and those who would come after him. ( Mark 8:34-38) Here Simon’s sons got to see their dad follow Jesus that day. It had an impact on Simon’s family because later read in the letter to the Romans about Paul greeting Rufus in chapter 16:13. What would happen in this country if every dad followed Jesus and put into practice in their lives what is taught in the Scriptures? Honestly, we have a sin problem that only the Lord Jesus can fix. Jesus is the only person who has ever lived a sinless life and he was put to death in the place of a guilty sinner who committed rebellion and murder. The good news is that Jesus’ death is not like any other human death. His death accomplished something for all humanity that only God could accomplish. He paid for our sin debt in full and he rose up from the dead on the third day. The mass shootings that we are seeing on the news on a regular basis are evident that have a sin problem and not a gun problem. When Jesus changes the heart of a person, that person’s life is different. As Jesus was hanging on the cross the soldiers continued to mock him, the people who came by derided him, the religious leaders mocked him and the thieves reviled him. Today people still do the same to those who follow him. One truth becomes evidently clear, those who believe in Jesus, follow Jesus, obey Jesus have a hope that this world longs to have but cannot have until they submit and surrender to Jesus Lordship and call upon him in faith to save their souls. What about you? You may be thinking that I have been baptized in the church and now that my sins are paid for I can live like I want, you are sadly mistaken. Just as Jesus died that day on the cross all who believe in him have been crucified with him. It is no longer they who live, but Christ who lives in them. And the life that they now live in the flesh they live by faith in the Son of God, who loved them and gave himself for them. If you want to apply this sentence to yourself out of the Scriptures look up Galatians 2:20 and ask the Lord Jesus to make this real in your life. If we who are of the body of Christ will humble ourselves and seeks the Lord’s face and repent from the sins that he shows us that we have He will truly heal our land.
Categories: Weekly Sermon