#cerone

'The Cross' series, part 5 [I'm not going to review the first 3 “lifted up” in John].

Last week: Started The 7 Sayings of Jesus from the Cross

Lk 23:34, “Father” [see Jn 8:28-29]. Truth of their Relationship is evident & can be ours!

Prayer. Not for 'Himself', but for those present and for all people for all time!'. See Isa 53:12.

Key: FORGIVENESS

'Forgive' means 'to send forth or away, to leave, move away from'. Read Rev 2:4.

A total Removal [Past, Present, Future = eternal] of the Offense & Punishment!

Forgiveness at the Cross: Father Rescues, Son Restores, Spirit Reveals.

We've been Commissioned to Rescue with Dad, Restore [2 Cor 5:18-21], and Reveal!

Lastly, Divine forgiveness is our model for Human forgiveness: Free for the Offender, Costly (the 3 R's) to the Giver.

Ended with: “They do not 'know' ['see', 'get it']

Without the Cross, we just don't get it! We're left with 'signs' of God's Love we cannot read ('see') … “what they are doing to Me, to each other.”

What is it we NOW 'see'/know/'get' as a result of the Cross, the Spirit's Revelation?

We need saving [the 3 S's], 'rescuing', individually & collectively.

Our relationship, Father-Son (unique to Christianity), needs restoring.

God's Love & Peace flows through Forgiveness.

2nd Saying

Luke 23:34-43 [fulfillment of Psa 22, 69]. Interesting: 1st Saying is Vertical. 2nd Saying is Horizontal.

The Placard: Worn around neck as they carried Cross, nailed to Cross as notification/warning.

“Save yourself” all around Jesus: Human way of thinking. Jesus Way, “save” others at the expense of 'self' [the R's from last week]. Matt 1:21, Matt 18:11, et al. Lk 9:56 & 19:10!

Interesting: “If You are … “ (vs 39) sounds like Satan in the wilderness.

“Remember me”: Jesus prays, “Father, forgive them”. Now, the thief (Mk 15:27) prays, “Recall me!”

Grace! Read Eph 2:8. “Forgive them! Show them Your Grace! Spirit, help them get it!”

The Thief does not pray to be 'saved' from the Cross, but to be with Him. Vs 42.

'Paradise' = Where is it? Heaven, Hell, Hades, Sheol, Gehenna, etc. Mentioned 3 times in NT: Here, 2 Cor 12, and Rev 2 to Ephesus [Interesting: “You've left (last week) … Remember from where … I will give to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God!”]

Paradise – of Persian origin, 'an enclosed park or garden'; ref to a future place of 'pleasure'.

The King had an 'enclosed' garden. Grace: When he invited someone to walk with him in his garden! Remember the Placard? King Jesus invites/promises the penitent he'll walk with Him in the 'enclosed Garden' TODAY!

Read Song of Sol 4:12! Also, Isa 51:3, 58:11, and 61:11. Return to spiritual Eden. 'Eden' means 'pleasure' [Gen 2] and was often called Paradise by the Jews.

Bottom Line: “WITH ME” [Jn 8:28-29]. Our Hope & Future is WITH/IN Christ!

“You will … “ There is a Future. You have Hope & a Future. Jer 29:11.

“Today …” Present & Future: In any circumstance, 'now', even if it appears to be Hopeless.

It's never too late! Both thieves had equal opportunity to receive Grace through Faith. One mocked, one trusted a dying King (like Mary in Jn 12). 2 Responses. 2 Choices: The Crowd or the Christ. Jn 12, drawing & casting.

Week 5 of Spiritual Development & Growth (Mature Discipleship)

“I am a bow in Your hands, draw me, lest I rot.”

“Do not overdraw me, Lord, I shall break.”

“Overdraw me, Lord, and who cares if I break!”

Week 1: 'Look for Him' [when things happen that don't fit] - Imagination

Week 2: 'Remain with Him” [when He's 'hard to understand'] - Commitment

Week 3: 'Walk With/As Him” [into 'foreign territory'] – Enlargement

Week 4: 'Respond Like Him' [as 'perfect' Sons, 'fill the space'] – Abandonment

Today: 'Live Like Him'

Something a little different. John the Baptist instead of a Disciple story. Read Matt 11:7-11.

Jesus: Intentions & Identification (by birth) lead to Enlargement (last week), Kingdom Impact.

Jesus refers to the same 'Baptism' quote as all 4 Gospel writers: Mal 3:1 & Isa 40:3.

John's Baptism

The Nature of Baptisms – the Pickling Process (Nicander's recipe, 200 BC).

In prison (above), having gone as far as he could & was called to. He can Denounce & Call to Repent (change), but cannot Empower or Equip to go any further. Cannot say, “Follow Me”.

John's Baptism was simply one of Repentance & Preparation - The end of Religion.

Bono [U2]: “I often wonder if religion is the enemy of God. It's almost like religion is what happens when the Spirit has left the building.”

John's Message is a Wilderness message, one of Will Power (like New Year's Resolutions!).

Jesus' Baptism

Jesus appears in the Wilderness, by His own 'will power'. But has laid down His own will.

Mary, “Let it be to me according to Your Word” (Lk 1:38)

Read Matt 3:13-17, “Suffer/permit (kiss it good-bye) NOW … “ (vs 15).

The Spirit! At Sinai, fire came down – Law. At Jesus' Baptism, the Spirit descends - Love!

An understanding of Community (Trinity of Love, not Law) & Relationship!

In Lk 4, quotes Isa 61! “I am building a Spiritual Kingdom, a Community of Grace!

Larry Crabb ['02]: “Perhaps a revolution is underway, a revolution of the Spirit that is about to shift our core energies away from arranging life to make it as satisfying as possible to drawing near to God. Jesus seekers across the world are being prepared to abandon the old way of the written code for the new way of the Spirit.”

There is no future in our own 'will power'. It is a Wilderness. Once we come to the Spirit and His Baptism, Disciples lay down their heads, their 'wills' in order to Live in the Spirit of Grace.

Key word: Last week, Abandonment (from). Dependance (on & to)!

The Battle

Garden of Gethsemane reveals His 'wills'. Read Matt 26:39 (vs 42, “Your will be done”)

The 'I am nots' of John the B (Jn 1:20-21) & Peter (Jn 18:17 & 25).

Paul: 3 times in his letters, Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed” (Rom 1, 2 Cor 7, 2 Tim 1).

He shares his 'battles' in Rom 7-8. But previously, in 6:1-3, “Baptized into Christ Jesus!”

Galatians: The entire letter is about a return to the Law after being set free by the Spirit of Grace! Read 2:20-21. Then read 5:1-6 & 25.

The Spirit of Grace

Spirit of Grace: Found in Heb 10, referring back to Zech 12:10-ff. The Crucifixion.

Freedom from & to By Grace, to Live by Grace in the Spirit! But it involves Suffering.