Crossings: Crossing Over to Joy

Good Friday, April 10, 2009

Hebrews 12:1-3 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the  joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the  throne of God.  For consider Him who has endured  such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that  you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Have you ever wondered how some people can endure great hardship, pain, suffering and heartache, and others cannot? There must be something in that person that “keeps the faith” or “keeps their chin” up when it looks like everything is going down.

I want to suggest that what keeps people like this up and positive is HOPE.  It’s a hope that despair will turn to delight; that darkness will turn to light; that sickness will turn to death; that failure will turn to success.

I think we need to hear this message today, because our text in Hebrews 12:1-3 tells us about a “great cloud of witnesses” who have gone through that darkness, failure, despair, sickness, even death, and discovered the secret of HOPE.  What is that key?  How can we face uncertain and discouraging circumstances in our lives, marriages, families, our finances, and hold on the HOPE?

Listen to the answer: (MES) “Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”

I want you to come with me, back to the other side of the Cross, and see how Jesus could endure such suffering and pain.  Do you remember how He endured the “hostility by sinners against Himself?”

No language, no picture, no movie could ever portray the suffering Jesus bore on Calvary.  Doctors have tried to describe the agony of death on a cross, and even Mel Gibson’s portrayal in “The Passion” falls short of what they described.

Isaiah said, “He was despised and rejected of men; One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn’t say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared,he took it all in silence. Justice miscarried, and he was led off—and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people.”

Oh, the shame of it all! This man who healed the sick, raised the dead, fed the hungry, delivered the possessed, loved the sinner, dying between two common thieves… “They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he’d never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn’t true.”

The question is WHY?  The answer is found in our text, Heb. 12:2 - “Fixing our eyes on Jesus…who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” I like it from the Message: “Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.”

The Greek word for “joy” used here is “chara” — “calm delight, cheerfulness, full or completed joy.”  What Jesus saw ahead was the “fullness of joy” from the Father’s presence.  David knew about it, “At Thy right hand is fulness of joy.”

Jesus could see Easter, Pentecost, Ascension, the Church going into all the World with the Good News, billions redeemed, His return in power and glory, the Kingdom come, new heavens and new earth. But first… the Cross!

ISA. 53:10-11 - “Still, it’s what God had in mind all along, to crush Him with pain. The plan was that He give Himself as an offering for sin so that He’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life. And God’s plan will deeply prosper through Him. Out of that terrible travail of soul, He’ll see that it’s worth it and be glad He did it. Through what He experienced, My Righteous One, My Servant, will make many ‘righteous ones,’ as He Himself carries the burden of their sins.”

Listen, He saw the JOY AHEAD, and was able to endure the shame and suffering.  He knew He was CROSSING OVER TO JOY.

That’s what I want for us. I want to see us cross over to JOY.  Let me apply this to us tonight, on this Good Friday Communion Service.

Some of you are going through great suffering of loss, pain, sickness, financial hardship, marital and family struggles, don’t miss what’s up ahead, if you can be faithful.  Listen to our text from Hebrews 12:3-4  “When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed!”

I don’t know why God is allowing some of us to go through such great testing and trials, but our text in Hebrews 11 suggests possible training and preparation for something just ahead in your life, marriage, family, business?  Listen from the Message:  “So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines;the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children.”

Don’t waste your sickness, depression, failure, financial loss, even spiritual battles: “Fix your eyes on Jesus.” He knows what’s up ahead and the outcome of what is happening in your life.

Remember, He is now on the other side of the Cross, sitting at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us.  I can just see Him tonight, encouraging us to keep on keeping on…

Christ-followers, if you follow close to Jesus, you are not guaranteed a life without sickness, problems, financial setbacks, even spiritual struggles, but if you keep following Jesus… you will CROSS OVER TO JOY.

Do you feel disconnected from God, unsure about your relationship with Him?  Get past the Cross, confess Christ as your Savior and Lord, invite Him into your heart — NOW — and join us as we CROSS OVER TO JOY.

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