Morning Worship
IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS – PART ONE OF TWO
INTRODUCTION:
A. THE CROSS OF JESUS IS A SYMBOL OF LOVE, SACRIFICE, AND FORGIVENESS. BUT
JESUS WAS NOT ALONE ON CALVARY'S HILL THAT DAY. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF
PERSONS WHO STOOD "IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS"
B. SOME WERE THERE BECAUSE THEY WISHED TO SEE THE DEED TO its CONCLUSION,
FALSELY BELIEVING THAT THEY COULD DESTROY ALL for WHICH JESUS STOOD
C. SOME WERE THERE BECAUSE THEY WERE ORDERED TO BE THERE. THE CURIOUS WERE
THERE.
D. BUT THERE WERE THE FEW WHO FOLLOWED JESUS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY OF HIS
MINISTRY THAT LED TO GOLGOTHA. INTO THIS CATEGORY FALL THE DISCIPLES SPOKEN
OF IN JOHN 19:25-27
I. WHAT DO WE KNOW OF THESE INDIVIDUALS FROM EARLIER PASSAGES?
A. Mary, the mother of Jesus:
1. She, of course, was blessed with the privilege of bringing the Messiah
into the world - Luke 1:26-33, 41-45
2. She was there at the first recorded miracle of our Lord -John 2:1-10
3. She is referred to in Matthew 12:46, 47 as desiring to see Jesus during
his preaching
4. There can be no doubt as to her belief in Jesus and his mission
B. The disciple whom Jesus loved:
1. A designation given to the apostle John:
a. It is used extensively in the gospel of John - John 13:23
2. John 18:16
3. John 20:2
4. John 21:7
5. John 21:20
6. He was one of Jesus' inner circle of apostles - Matthew 17:1; Mark 14:33
II. LOOK AT MARY, IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS:
A. Look at the motherly love of Mary:
1. While most abandoned Jesus, his mother stood by him
2. No words of Mary were recorded by the four gospels, there were no need
for words
. She was there to be with HER CHILD her as he went through his suffering
c. Words penned by Rudyard Kipling are fitting here:
"If I were hanged on the highest hill,
Mother o'mine, O mother o'mine!
I know whose love would follow me still,
Mother o'mine, O mother o'mine!
If I were drowned in the deepest sea,
Mother o'mine, O mother o'mine!
I know whose tears would come down to me,
Mother o'mine, O mother o'mine!
If I were damned of body and soul,
I know whose prayers would make me whole,
Mother o'mine, O mother o'mine!"
1. It doesn't matter how unpopular Jesus might have been, how dangerous it
would have been to be there, and how few stood by him, Mary was going to be
there
2. How much better it would be if all mothers shared Mary's care for her son
3. This contrasts with those who have lost their natural love for their
children:
a. Romans 1:31- "...without natural affection"
b. It didn't matter how few were standing for the right, Mary was going to
stand there
c. We need more men and women, who will not follow after the multitude to do
evil, but will cleave to the truth of God's word.
d. Exodus 23:12
d. Look at the sorrow of Mary:
1. Mary was there as Jesus died
2. bitter for her to see her oldest son suffering in agony on the cross
3. This was something that she was told from the beginning – Luke 2:34,35
e. In Mary at the cross we see the human side of our Lord:
1. Jesus would not commit his soul to his Father without seeing to the care
of his mother – John 19:26,27
2. This shows Jesus' great love for his mother
3. He obeyed the Law by honoring and caring for his mother
a. Exodus 20:12
b. Ephesians 6:1,2
III. AND THEN THERE IS JOHN IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS:
A. Like Mary, this was the only place for John:
1. He remained loyal to the Lord, even in the most difficult time
a. It was simply inconceivable that he would not be with the Master
2. He walked with the Lord, every step of the way
a. While the other disciples abandoned him, John followed Jesus through his
trial - John 18:15
b. And unlike Peter, John never denied the Savior
3. John gives real meaning to confessing Christ – Matthew 10:32,33
B. John took on the responsibility for caring for Mary:
1. We can infer that Joseph had been dead for some time
2. It is also important to note that Jesus passed over His brothers in
entrusting this great responsibility
3. John was trustworthy – Friend that stickiest closer than a brother –
Proverbs 17:17; Proverbs 18:24
CONCLUSION:
a. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE WE SEE IN THE MIDST OF THE HORROR AND
BITTERNESS OF THE CROSS
b. WHILE THERE IS BETRAYAL AND HATRED IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS, JOHN AND
MARY SHOW US A PICTURE OF LOYALTY AND LOVE
Evening Worship
IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS – PART TWO OF
TWO
INTRODUCTION:
a. What is one of the leasted desired jobs that a person could have?
There would be various answers if I put that question to each one of you.
B. one of the dirtiest ones as far as I am concerned is preparing a
condemned criminal for execution and carrying out the execution
c. Traditionally, the executioner's identity has been shrouded in anonymity
I. LOOK AT THE ROMAN SOLDIERS MENTIONED IN THE CRUCIFIXION ACCOUNT:
A. There was the crucifixion guard:
1. They were there for two purposes
a. The carry out the crucifixion, execute the criminal
b. To maintain order. They would be there to keep anyone from interfering in
the execution, either to free a prisoner or to torment him physically
2. Their purpose there was simply to obey orders. They did not have an
emotional stake in the proceedings. Whomever the ones being crucified on
that day, either the Son of God or a wicked criminal, meant nothing to them
3. These soldiers could be expected to be coarse and vulgar, having no
sympathy for Jesus:
a. John 19:2,3
b. Luke 23:36
B. There was the commander of the crucifixion guard:
1. He would be a centurion, normally in charge of a hundred troops, he would
be delegated to make sure that the crucifixion was carried out properly
without any complications
2. He would be a career soldier who had worked his way up through the ranks
by virtue of courage and intelligence
3. He would be expected to be cold and efficient. His first task would be to
carry out the orders of his superiors
4. Jesus had contact with an earlier centurion, who desired for him to come
heal one of his servants - Matthew 8:5-10
II. LOOK AT THE REACTION OF THE ROMAN SOLDIERS TO THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS:
A. The guard seemed to have absolutely no pity for Jesus and his agony:
1. They went about their task with cold precision
2. There were only four legionaries there. There would be no need for more.
There would be no mob rush to save the Son of God - John 19:23
3. As the custom was, the crucifixion guard would divide among themselves
the meager possessions of the condemned criminals
4. While the Son of God hung naked for all to see and mock at, they cast
lots for his seamless coat that was used to cover the entire body - John
19:23,24
B. The Centurion was different:
1. Somewhere along the way, he became impressed with Jesus:
a. It could have been the way he held up under the anguish of the cross
b. It could have been the way he lovingly made allowance for his mother's
care
c. It could have been how Jesus prayed for their, and specifically his,
forgiveness. He had almost certainly never heard such a prayer from a cross
2. It was also, no doubt, because of the signs that took place during the
crucifixion - Matthew 27:51-54
3. He went on to express a belief in Jesus' innocence:
a. Luke 23:47
- "So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying,
"Certainly this was a righteous Man!"
b. It could well be possible that this centurion was like the centurion
earlier, and Cornelius in Acts chapter 10, in that he was a believer in the
one true God. Notice that he "glorified God."
C. One can't but wonder about how coming in contact with Jesus affected the
soldier's lives:
1. Did they become Christians?
a. The Pulpit Commentary relates the tradition that the centurion's name was
Longinus and that he became a devoted follower of Jesus, preached the gospel
and died as a martyr
b. We do not know if any of them ever became followers of Jesus
2. We can be sure that their lives would never be the same after seeing the
Son of God hang on the cross
III. TWO LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THESE ROMAN SOLDIERS:
A. Even the most holy and spiritual activity can appear carnal to those who
are not spiritual:
1. Titus 1:15,16
2. Here was a man giving his life without complaint, without pleading for
mercy, and the Roman soldiers were casting lots for his meager possessions –
Isaiah 53
3. We should not be terribly surprised when those who are not Christians do
not see the great spiritual significance to the Lord's Supper, baptism, etc.
- Romans 8:5-
B. The cross of Jesus has the power to change the individual:
1. The centurion began as a Roman officer overseeing a crucifixion, but
ended the day acknowledging that Jesus was the Son of God
2. I Corinthians 1:18, 23,24
3. Galatians 2:20
4. Acts 2:36-38
5. Colossians 1:21,22
CONCLUSION:
a. As you travel along I-10 in Louisiana there is a large billboard which
catches your eye. It stands high above the city just as you start up the
Mississippi River bridge. On it is a picture of Jesus Christ hanging on the
cross of Calvary, head bowed. The caption underneath says in bold letters,
"It's Your Move!"
b. What a powerful thought. God has already taken the initiative in
salvation. Christ died for you. Now it's your move!
