Title Before the Cross (Isaiah 59:1-4)
Contents Today we are celebrating Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday got its name because when the Lord went up to Jerusalem for the last time, people greeted him with palm branches and waving them. Jesus entered Jerusalem like a king, but within a few days He died on the cross like a sinner.
Jesus' appearance during this Passion was very quiet, peaceful, and silent. When so many people called for Hosanna, the Lord did not say anything. Even in the face of the threat of death approaching every minute, the Lord was silent. He did not make excuses in front of many lies. Even before Pilate's trial, he did not speak.
Because Jesus already knew that it was God's will to take up the cross. People have been arrested and people have been nailed to the cross, but that was already God's plan for human salvation. So no matter what people said, no matter what Pilate asked, no matter how the situation unfolded, he did not say anything or make any excuses. However, as the atonement lamb that takes away the sins of mankind, he was obedient to God's providence of salvation to the end. As the Lord saw that the way of salvation was being opened for all mankind through His death, the Lord bore all the pain and shame to the very end.
While Jesus was going on the path of suffering and suffering alone, various kinds of people were making a commotion around him. Thousands of people were there, from spectators, sympathetic women, accusing Pharisees to executing Roman soldiers. However, in the midst of such a noisy crowd, the special appearance and actions of a few people make a big impression on our hearts. I hope that you will become saints who spend this hardship with true faith while paying attention to the faith of these people who showed them before the cross.
1. Simon Cyrene (21)
This man must have been the one who had come to Jerusalem after a long time to keep the Passover feast in the temple. I was caught in the midst of people watching the crucifixion of Jesus, and suddenly I was caught by a Roman soldier and had to carry the cross for me. Jesus, who was carrying the cross to be crucified, was so exhausted that he could no longer carry the cross and climb the hill of Golgotha. An unseen Roman soldier pulled out one of the notable men nearby and had him take his place, and that man was Simon the Cyrenean. Perhaps he was terribly unlucky. What a shame and disgrace it must have been to bear the death penalty for a man who was about to die for so many things!
But just as there is blessing after suffering, just as life is behind the narrow road, and resurrection after the cross, this one unfortunate suffering became the way of blessing for this man of Cyrene to save his soul. Simon of Cyrene, who took up this cross, not only became a partaker of Jesus' work of saving all mankind, but also became a person who saw the end of Jesus most closely. And in the end, he became the first person to receive the grace of salvation from Jesus. In today's text, when we introduce Simon of Cyrene, he is referred to as the 'father of Alexander and Rufus'. Knowing and writing about him in this way means that the early church knew this man well. The fact that the early church knew this man well meant that he had become a good Christian. The words of Romans 16:13 support this.
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother
These verses suggest that Simon of Cyrene, himself and his family, became believers in Jesus after he was crucified. Simon must have been deeply moved by seeing the eyes, breath, and appearance of the Lord while walking with Jesus on the road of suffering. Even at the scene of death, he must have been deeply moved by the image of the Lord and made a new decision. And he confessed Jesus as Lord and even saved his family. What a wonderful grace of God!
Sometimes it seems that faith commands death, but please believe that the way is the way of life. Sometimes faith has to go down the narrow path, but please believe that that path is the path of blessing. Please believe that the glory of resurrection is behind the cross. This is probably what we learn from Simon today.
2. Centurion (39)
This centurion, like Simon of Cyrene, was the one who saw Jesus' death up close. A centurion is a Roman officer. It was probably the commander who oversaw this execution. But when this officer saw Jesus' death, he knelt before him and confessed, "Truly this man was the Son of God." How could a Roman soldier make such a confession?
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
It is the power of God to us who are being saved. 1 Corinthians 1:18
The cross was a ridicule in the eyes of unbelievers, but to those who looked to Jesus with sincere eyes, it appeared as a power to accomplish the work of salvation to anyone, wherever they were. Although it was the scene of Jesus' death, this work of salvation also appeared in Simon Cyrene and the centurion who oversaw the cross. When they looked into the eyes of Jesus most closely, they experienced a change of heart. Even the thief who was crucified with him was not saved!
It is easy for anyone to confess that ?쐔his man is the Son of God??after seeing Jesus??glorious appearance or miracles. However, it is not easy to confess this while watching the gruesome death. But when this centurion saw Jesus??death, didn?셳 he confess that ?쁳his man was the Son of God?? Not only the centurion, but Simon and even the robbers all saw the soul of Jesus, not the outward appearance of Jesus. I was moved by the true face of Jesus.
Even Simon, the centurion, and the robber saw Jesus' desperate face up close, but as they confessed their faith toward the Lord, they were deeply moved. It is a great form of faith that puts our lives to shame, judging by what we see and being deceived by splendid appearances.
Dear brothers and sisters, I hope you have deep faith. However, I hope that your faith will be moved by the cross of the Lord, not the outwardly saying ?쏬ord, Lord. To believe in Jesus is to be moved by the love of Jesus, to be moved by the words of Jesus, to be moved by the life of Jesus, to melt in the grace of Jesus, to love Him, to like Him, to be like Him, It is obeying Him and living the world with His heart.
The Passion Day is not a season to applaud Jesus for ?쏻ell done?? but a season to be moved by Jesus and melted in the grace of Jesus.
3. Women (40-41)
There were women who watched the cross to the end. They say that women are zealous for their faith because they are emotional. But, if you put your heart into Jericho, you will do something that no one can stop. Although weak, the courage of women at the crucial moment does what men cannot. In front of the cross of Jesus, I could not see any of the disciples who shouted that they would follow even to death, or those who followed Jesus' miracles saying "Lord, Lord," and followed him.
However, it was the weak women who followed and kept the cross of the Lord in tears. If you look at their names, you can guess how much they had the faith to love the Lord. You will come to realize that true faith is the faith that can participate in suffering like this.
What has been given to you for the sake of Christ
not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. Philippians 1:29
A large crowd followed Jesus. However, they all went against the outward appearance of Jesus and followed Him. They didn't believe in Jesus, they were trying to get something from him. Thousands of people welcomed Jesus when he entered the city of Jerusalem. But within a few days they turned into an angry crowd crying out for Jesus to be crucified. why did it happen
This is because they expected the Messiah they wanted from Jesus the Messiah who could satisfy human greed and avenge their unfair circumstances at once. At first, they knew and welcomed Jesus as such a person, but they were disappointed at the words and appearance of Jesus that differed from their expectations and shouted to be crucified.
Brothers and sisters, perhaps you do not want Jesus to satisfy your desires rather than follow the will of Jesus. But fundamentally, faith does not fulfill my desires, but the will of the Lord. It is to abandon my will and follow the will of the Lord. It is to throw away my thoughts and follow the thoughts of Jesus. Not my plan, but the Lord's plan.
From today, the Feast of Suffering begins. So far, you have had a good and reverent Lent season. I hope you spend this last time of hardship more reverently and with grace. I hope that you will become believers who have greater faith while thinking of the grace of the cross of the Lord on this hard day. ?쁍ot my will, but your will.??I pray in the name of the Lord that you will become truly praying faith.