The cross is the essence / Luke 23:34
The cross is the essence / Luke 23:34
Then Jesus said to them, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided his clothes and cast lots.
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While hanging on the cross for 6 hours, Jesus spoke 7 words. This is what we call ‘virtual seven words’. The first of these is today's text. This verse has two meanings. Let's look at the two meanings contained in the first words of Jesus on the cross and share the grace.
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1. It is the essence.
It is said that it is very difficult for people in the world these days to eat and live. But in fact, if you look closely, the biggest problem people have is not a matter of making a living. The biggest problems that humans have are the problem of forgiveness of sins, the problem of salvation of souls, and the problem of death. In other words, it is an essential question: “How can a sinful man stand before a holy God?” This is what the Lord is saying on the cross.
Guys, what is the greatest purpose of Jesus' coming to this earth?
Is it a blessing from the saints? Is it the saints' health? Are the saints happy? Of course, that's also important. But there is an even more important issue. That is the issue of forgiveness of sins. Because Jesus died for our sins, we call Jesus the Messiah.
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Later, we will all stand before God without exception. At that time, the first thing God will check with us is, “How much money have you made? How well have you raised your children? How much work did you do?” At that time, the first thing God would ask is “Are your sins washed away?” is to do
Let's say we arrive at an American airport. There is only one thing to see at an American airport. You don't need to know English. You don't need one thing. You don't need money. The only thing to look at is “Is there a visa or not?”
Likewise, when we stand before the judgment seat of God, we will see whether our sins are forgiven. That is why Jesus said the first words on the cross. It was the most important and essential prayer.
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Gentlemen, there is one gift that only Christianity can give. Anything else can be given by other religions. Even in other religions, it can cure diseases, give material blessings, teach many lessons useful in life, and allow you to start a family. But there is one thing that no other religion can ever give. What is that? That is ‘forgiveness of sins’. Why? This is because the forgiveness of sins is the only thing that can be obtained through the ‘blood of Jesus’. That is why we cry out that only in Christianity there is salvation, eternal life, and the way to heaven.
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What was the first thing Jesus did when he began his public ministry at the age of 30? It was a ritual that bore the sins of mankind. What is that ritual? He was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. When John the Baptist laid his hands on Jesus and baptized Jesus, it meant the 'transmission of sins' for mankind. In the Old Testament, we can see the priest laying his hands on the sheep when the sins of the people are imputed to the sheep. So what did John the Baptist say when he saw Jesus? “John 1:29 Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
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One of the representative plays in China is a play called . The play satirizes the attitude of the person facing death and the attitude of the people around him when death comes to humans. The content is roughly as follows.
One day death came to a rich man. I came here pretending to be a friendly guest. The rich man treats him kindly, but is horrified to learn that the man's identity is death. The rich man struggles to avoid death, eventually realizing that death is inevitable, he asks for a favor. It was to give me just one day, and to invite my companion to go with me. Death allowed it. He hurriedly went to visit his best friend of stilts and said:
- Hey buddy, I have a favor to ask you.
- Yeah, talk. What can't we hear between the two of us? I'll listen to you all
- Friend I'm going on a trip right now, can you accompany me?
- What kind of trip is it?
- This is a trip that once you go, you can't go back.
- What a trip. Tell me. What if it's a hundred li, and if it's a thousand li, can't we go together?
- Well, that's none other than the journey of death.
Then, in an instant, the friend's face changed in confusion. and said
- I'm sorry. That's the only thing that can't be helped.
Betrayed, he began to search for relatives. But everyone refused. There were no death companions. Now, when the time he promised with the messenger of death approached, he went to visit his beloved wife one last time. He knew that even if he refused, only his wife would accompany him. When I told my wife the truth, she said: - Honey, I can't go with you because I still have a lot of work to do in the world.
A person called 'Geun-hye', whom he hated and hated so much, appeared to him, who was crying because of a sense of betrayal. Grace pointed him to sin and taught him a solution. Then, I introduced him to a man called “Repentance.” Through repentance, he repented of all his sins and forsook all his sins. At that time, repentance also introduced me to a friend called ‘Forgiveness’. In the end, he happily went on the path of death with his three friends, ‘grace, repentance, and forgiveness’. He could not have died so lightly.
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That's right. Ladies and gentlemen, what we need at the last moment is not a worldly friend, nor a relative, nor a wife. It is only a friend of ‘grace, repentance, and forgiveness’ sent by God.
For this reason, he prayed for the forgiveness of sins, saying that these were the first words Jesus said while dying on the cross.
This is why the forgiveness of sins is the essence of Jesus' work. Because it is a fundamental problem in our lives. If we come to Jesus, this essential life problem will be completely solved.
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2. Intercession (Meaning of the first words of the seven virtual words)
On the cross, Jesus also interceded for their sins to be forgiven. This is the greatest intercession. To intercede for someone means that God's blessings will come to someone.
When Abraham interceded for Lot, God saved Lot's family from the judgment of fire.
Even when Peter was imprisoned, when the Jerusalem church members prayed together as one, he saw that an angel was sent to deliver him dramatically. As such, intercession has great power.
There is no doubt that the intercession of Jesus at the cross was a great power.
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According to legend, the Roman soldier who stabbed Jesus in the side was a one-eyed man named Longinus. It is said that the moment he stabbed Jesus, the blood of Jesus ran down the spear and got it on his eyes. It is said that in an instant, his eyes were opened. I was healed. He said that he experienced this miracle and accepted Jesus as his Savior. This is a legend, but there is something the Bible makes clear. It means that many people were saved on the spot through the intercession of Jesus.
1) The robber's salvation
At first, both thieves reviled Jesus. Then we know well that a thief came to believe in Jesus. Perhaps you heard Jesus' prayer. Or, Jesus' intercession must have been a manifestation of power.
2) The centurion's change
The centurion who crucified Jesus also believed in Jesus.
3) Change of crowd
You can see that the people around Jesus also had a change of heart.
In this way, Jesus' intercession on the cross changed many people. He who interceded for and saved sinners until his last death was the Messiah and Savior, the Son of God who came to save sinners.
Looking back, prayer seems to be very fair. Only healthy people have faith. Not only people with good faith can pray. This is because prayer can be prayed even by a child, an elderly priest, a sick bed, or a person with a physical disability, even when they are dying. Even after death, it is prayer that can move the world.
So what did Samuel say when he retired? “I will not sin in ceasing to pray for you,” he said.
What do we also have to hold onto until the last moment we die? That is intercessory prayer. Then, even if we die, that prayer remains and works. Isn't Jesus also praying for us right now at the right hand of the throne of God?
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▶ We will conclude the sermon.
What are the two meanings contained in the first words of Jesus among the seven hypothetical words?
1) It is the essence.
Ladies and gentlemen, all we need at the last moment is grace, repentance, and forgiveness from God. For this reason, he prayed for the forgiveness of sins, saying that these were the first words Jesus said while dying on the cross. Forgiveness of sins is the essence of Jesus' ministry. It is a fundamental problem in our life.
2) Intercession
Jesus showed himself as the Christ who saves sinners to the last moment. What is that? He interceded for sinners. Our Lord's intercession has been revealed in power. Through the intercession of the Lord, robbers, centurions, and a large crowd were converted and experienced a change. Intercession should be the most powerful weapon we too must hold on to until the last minute.