Title: The Cross in Resurrection
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<Easter Sunday, April 11, 2004>
Nurturing Sermon / Video
The Cross in Resurrection
Psalm 98: 1-9
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Today, after a long and tedious Lent, we have finally welcomed the morning of the Resurrection. It is the morning of resurrection, lifting up the heavy gray curtains, and singing the hymn of joy while embracing the bright morning sunlight pouring in to your heart and lifting your throat. It is Easter morning when we take off our purple robe, which symbolizes penance and suffering, and put on white, which symbolizes victory and joy. It is Easter morning when we should now wipe away the tears we shed for repenting of our sins and transgressions, put a smile on our faces, and give thanks for the grace of apology and the joy of a new life. We celebrated Easter by throwing away all the worries of the world that weighed on our hearts and singing praises loudly by receiving the joy of life that the Lord of the Resurrection gives us.
Today, on this joyful morning, we would like to rethink the cross through the resurrection. In the book of 1 Corinthians we read today, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” That's right. We have two eyes to see the cross, but if we do not see the cross through the resurrection, it is foolishness, and it can only be a symbol of failure. But when we look to the cross through the resurrection, it is a marvelous victory and becomes the power of God. Therefore, we must always look to the cross through the resurrection, where we will discover the true meaning of the cross.
triumphal cross
First, when we look at the cross through the resurrection, we know that it is a symbol of victory. The cross was a way for Jesus to fight the bloody battle with the evil Satan. It seems that Satan was convinced that Jesus, like all humans, would be caught in his most powerful weapon a web of material, power, and fame and that he would be compelled to surrender to him. However, Jesus did not obey Satan's temptations, but rather lived in complete poverty and did not care about material things, power, or fame.
Then Satan brought Jesus to the cross, where he was put to shame and humiliation. Crucifixion is the greatest suffering, shame and insult from a human point of view. Satan had judged that Jesus would avoid this kind of crucifixion. Jesus, the Son of God, decided that such insult and shame could not be tolerated. But contrary to Satan's expectations, Jesus took up the cross himself. On that cross, he suffered all shame and insults, and finally went down to death. No one in this world escaped the temptations and attacks of this persistent Satan, and Jesus completely neutralized his temptations and schemes.
By carrying up the cross, Jesus has opened wide open to us the kingdom of God, which is nothing like material things, power, or honor. Satan was afraid of this. He didn't want the Kingdom of God to be proclaimed in a world where he ruled with material things, power and honor. So they tried to stop Jesus at all costs, but because Jesus silently took up the cross, Satan's plot and domination had no choice but to fail. In the battle of the cross, which satan raised as a winning score, Jesus won and Satan was defeated.
The world of life that had been hidden has been opened wide before us as Satan, who made people despair by wielding the power of death as if it were his own, retreated. That is resurrection. Therefore, the resurrection proves that the cross is the sign of victory. Resurrection is possible because the cross is victory, but when we saw the resurrection, we came to know that the cross is victory.
The cross seen in the Resurrection is the sign of victory that destroyed all the plots and schemes of Satan that have tormented mankind from the beginning until now and that authority from the root. This cross is the sign of victory that completely crushed all the powers of sin that bound mankind. Therefore, this cross is the amazing power of God for us who are being saved.
Now we must raise this symbol of victory, the cross, in our hearts, in our homes, and in this sinful society. In the place where this cross is erected, all the power of sin will be broken, and there will be a wonderful work of liberation. When we accept Jesus Christ and set up the cross in our hearts, we will not only be freed from the oppression of Satan, but we will always live a victorious life.
Are any of you still struggling with a life of failure and frustration? Receive Jesus Christ on this resurrection morning. Please hold on to the cross of victory. Please cast away all doubts in your heart and welcome the risen Lord. Then the morning of victory will surely dawn. Just as the earth shook when Jesus died on the cross on Golgotha Hill, rocks were torn, tombs opened, and many saints who had slept rose up, when the triumphant cross is set up in your life, hardened hearts are broken, the clouds of doubt are lifted. It will disappear and you will have a wonderful experience of victory in which the souls of the dead come to life. We hope that this morning of resurrection will once again be a time to firmly establish the triumphal cross on the hill of our hearts.
cross of sacrifice
Second, when we look to the cross through the resurrection, we know that it was a thorough sacrifice and suffering. As we have seen before, the resurrection of Jesus Christ came about because of his thorough death on the cross. If Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross was a fantasy or a dead state, Satan would be the first to point out this. Satan would never have succumbed to such a foolish death. Satan thoroughly reaffirmed the death of Jesus Christ. He pierced his side with a spear, causing water and blood to bleed, and after confirming that he was dead, he was placed in a tomb, which was also sealed with suspicion. Ultimately, the resurrection was accomplished through the thorough death of Jesus Christ. So, through the resurrection, we confirm once again how much pain the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was.
The death of Jesus Christ is not just the death of one person. His death is the death of all things. Because all things exist in it. He is the Son of God, through whom all things were made, and in him all things are together. Therefore, his death was by no means cheap. His death is the death of all things. His sacrifice was a sacrifice that changed the history of all mankind. It is not the annual sacrifice of the Lamb, but the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, which is offered once for all to make atonement for all mankind.
By confirming the suffering of the cross through the resurrection, we learn that when we set up this cross in the middle of our hearts, only through thorough sacrifice and suffering can we reach the glory of the resurrection. The cross erected in our hearts always requires us to crucify all our lusts and worldly desires. It demands that you completely give up your life before believing in Jesus. It is a request to put off the old man who followed the old customs. The cross teaches us that we must completely sacrifice everything that belongs to this old man. There can be no resurrection without complete sacrifice. It is said that unless a grain of wheat dies, it remains alone. We cannot go any further without experiencing complete death on the cross. You can't frown in moderation and pass the cross. Therefore, through the cross every day, we must thoroughly screen out all the habits of the old man and nail them to it. Only the thoroughly dead can have the glory of resurrection.
Moreover, this cross always teaches sacrifice and humility in all of our lives. Those who have the cross of Christ in their hearts are always willing to sacrifice and are humble. The one who always holds up the cross always has nothing to boast about. He always shows sacrifice in his life and is humble before all. But God blesses the life of such a man, revealing in his life greater and marvelous things than what he lost through sacrifice, and lifts him up from the place from which he humbly descended to a place of glory. Today, on this resurrection morning, we hope that this sacrificial cross may be erected in our hearts and in our homes and societies to represent a life of worthy sacrifice and humility.
cross of love
Finally, the cross seen in the resurrection is the cross of love. It is at the cross of Christ that God's love for the redemption of mankind is fully manifested. But when this cross is also illuminated in the resurrection, we see that God's love was more perfect and beautiful. God generously sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to make all things new. Through his cross, all the power of sin was destroyed (消滅). So he set all mankind free from sin. This is God's wonderful love. But God's love does not end here, but is made more perfect by allowing the birth of new life through resurrection. Therefore, when we look at the resurrection, we can see that the cross of Jesus Christ is a sign of love.
Now, when we look at this cross, we come to know the holy love of God, who forgives unconditionally. As the cross of Jesus Christ was erected high on the hill of Golgotha, waves of love overflowed throughout the world. Now, when we set up this cross of love in the middle of our parched hearts, a fountain of love will burst out of us. When we set up this cross in our loveless homes, there will be waves of love. The love of the cross makes us forgive everything. The love of the cross makes us accept everything. It takes away hatred, it roots out hatred, and it instills in us generosity and patience. This is the power of the cross.
Let's build this cross of love in the middle of our hearts. So let us cast away all the hatred and hatred in us and fill us with love. Then our life will change from annoyance and dissatisfaction to a life of joy and gratitude. The fountain of love flowing from my heart will not only enrich my life, but will also enrich the lives of others. This is the power of the cross.
Let's build a cross of love in our homes. So let's get rid of all the strife in the home and turn it into a loving home full of laughter and joy. Let's think of the cross when we're annoyed. Let's think of the cross when we are in pain. Let's think of the cross when we feel resentful The cross will supply our family with a fountain of love. Let's build a cross of love in our church. So let's make this a garden of love. Let's yield to each other and help each other build a community of love. The church that builds the cross of love will always be a vibrant church. It will be a growing church. It will be a church that shares joy with everyone. This is the power of the cross.
Beloved, on this joyful morning of resurrection, I hope that the cross of love will be strengthened so that your hearts and families will change, and this church will change.
The cross seen from the resurrection is the cross of victory, the cross of sacrifice, and the cross of love. Now, by building up this cross in us, I hope that you will achieve a victorious life, a life of humility and a life of love by throwing off the old life and living a new life. Through the resurrection, we have come to know that the cross is God's power to change our lives.
Now, on this joyful Easter, when the cross of Christ, which was thought of as sorrow, frustration, failure, and death, is revealed through the resurrection to joy, victory and eternal life, I hope that your life will glorify God with confidence, joy and hope.