Which Cross Are You Hanging On?

Luke 23:32-33 (NIV)  

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left. 

The message at Calvary is a summary of the journey of a Christian. The fruit of the tree of life which was in the midst of the Garden of Eden, which man had access to but didn’t eat of, is represented by Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary, which is now available for all, while the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is represented by the repentant criminal and further still the fig tree that Adam and Eve improvised to hide their nakedness thus denoting rebellion represented by the criminal who hurled insults at Jesus Christ.

Genesis 2:9 

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

When God created man, He gave him dominion over everything on earth (Genesis 1:28) and later on God formed man (Adam) and put him in the Garden of Eden to dress it and keep it thus Adam became a servant in the garden (Genesis 2:15). Adam was in-charge of the Garden of Eden as a servant and caretaker of the same and had dominion over everything including every tree in the garden.

When Adam disobeyed God he lost his servant-hood status and became a disciple or follower through listening to Eve and to the serpent. He later on lost this status when he heard the Lord coming and instead of repenting, he went further into hiding hence rebellion thus resulting into his being evicted from the Garden of Eden. When Adan sinned, the tree of life was guarded so that man could not eat and live forever.

The redemption journey began when the Lord sent Jesus to redeem man from rebellion to discipleship and later restore him into servant-hood. And that is the message represented at Calvary through the three crosses.

When Christ was crucified at Golgotha, there were two other people with Him. There were three crosses in total and when we talk about the message of the cross, we need to be specific and not ignorant of the other two crosses.

We see people everywhere carrying crosses; on ear-rings, necklaces, on garments, in churches and we straight away  identify with the Lord Jesus but we need to ask ourselves, which of the three crosses are they hanging on? That of the criminal who rebelled, the other who repented or that of Jesus’s, redemption?

It is important to note that man was created in the image of God with the attributes (likeness) of God. He was in the spirit, soul and flesh. His fall at Eden affected his whole life in the sense that his spirit died when he lost his servant-hood status, his soul was corrupted when he lost his discipleship status and ever since, man predominantly became carnal and rebellious.

This rebellious lifestyle is evident in the life of the children of Israel who struggled to get to God via their carnal lifestyles in vain. (Rom. 8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God…). They ended up in judgment and condemnation before John the Baptist came preaching repentance. 

Matthew 3:1-2 (KJV)

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand).

Therefore, the journey of redemption is highlighted by these crosses:

1. The Cross of Rebellion

Luke 23:39 (NIV)

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"  

Those who hung on this cross are the carnal and the rebellious that care less about the story of salvation and will always rubbish it out.

1 Corinthians 1:18 

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Samuel 15:23 

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft…..

Galatians 5:19-21 

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Illustration: A certain young man accidentally killed his friend and was arraigned in a court of law. He was found guilty of murder and death sentence was passed on him. The villagers reported to the governor who had the power to set him free. The governor put on a cassock and visited the young man but when the young man saw him, he thought he was a priest and started hurling insults at him, calling him all sorts of names leveled against men of God. Lastly he said "just let me die". The governor, who had his release letter, told him ‘if death is what you want…then have it!’ The young man learnt later on of his foolishness, but it was too late.

So what does this cross say? Arrogance, mockery, disdain, contempt, insult, pride…

Those on this cross laugh and mock at those who speak in tongues. They hate and speak against church fellowships, servants, events and Christians, and even switch off TV or radio during Gospel programs. Such characters hang on their careers,  relatives,  tribes, spouses, children, beauty, wealth. Reminds me of the rich young man was told to sell what he had, then carry the cross and follow Jesus, and he went away. He was hanging on his wealth rather than on Jesus.

2. The Cross of Repentance

Luke 23:40-42 (KJV)

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

This cross defines the person who recognizes his sinful and rebellious lifestyle, looks back at what he used to be with remorse. He gets back to his senses, feels sorry for sinning against God and does not justify his predicament. This is when one realizes that everything he has been pursuing in rebellion is but vanity.

Illustration: One other priest visited a prison and started asking inmates what they had done and everyone realizing the opportunity beforehand started claiming how they had been falsely arrested, accused and judged. However, one person stepped out and admitted that he was he was a murderer, a rapist, and a serial killer. The priest said, "wait..." Then he ordered the warden to set him free at once because he was corrupting the rest!

The path of repentance is the first step towards freedom. One has first to realize how rebellious he has been and that he is justified by being in the state where he is by virtue of rebellion but that he is willing to change for the better. The prayer and attitude of such a person change for the better.

Mattew 16:15-23 

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

Here we find Peter acknowledging that Christ is the Son of God (He was in the spirit and a while later, he took Jesus aside and started rebuking Him, as he has shifted back into carnality).

This repentant sinner accepts the consequences of rebellion and embraces forgiveness. His fate lies between death and life and opts for life yet he does not experience the complete joy of freedom rather his life is characterized by constant struggling. He does not enjoy freedom to the full. He finds himself staggering like the disciples before they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

This character is evident through denying (Peter), doubting (Thomas), and betrayal (Judas), zealous, envy, fearful, vengeful, insecurity, judgmental spirit, enthusiasm etc. these issues always find believers back and forth in sin and repentance. Note when Peter denied Jesus, he went back and wept in guilt and with a repentant spirit 

Matthew 26:75

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly). 

Peter was zealous that he even attempted walking on water.

Such people struggle to pray, read the bible, attend fellowships. They struggle with fasting, giving etc., as they oscillate in their spiritual lives. They are very volatile, delicate and unpredictable. They fall, commit and yield into temptations and after repentance, they feel really filled up and energized; then there they are  again, finding themselves in the same mud! Their lives are characterized by struggles and repentance. They also face the consequences of sin which they look at as an attack of the devil and rebuke it, not ready to harvest what they had planted; this only makes things even worse.

What these people lack is the beauty of living in freedom and enjoying the joy of being a believer. They never get to experience the abundance of grace. They read but don’t get there as fast. They see but don’t achieve for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak!

3. The Cross of Redemption

2 Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Luke 23:46 

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

When Christians graduate from discipleship, they attain servant-hood status. This is the Spirit filled life where they are governed neither by the flesh, nor by the soul, but by the Spirit. Their lives become spiritual entities solely under the control of the Holy Spirit. Issues of the flesh no longer have any dominion or take precedence over their lives.

Their characteristics are Christ-like (they reflect Christ): bold and courageous, fearless, aggressive yet humble and submissive, obedient, focused and diligent, forgiving etc. These demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit. When you hang on this cross, you are the redeemed of the Lord, and the evidence is the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-24 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Such believers are ‘dead to the world,’ like Stephen, who was being stoned and what he could say was, "Father forgive them". This is because he was already ‘dead’ to the things of this world, and alive in the Spirit. His eyes had closed to the things of this world and opened to the spiritual world. Similarly, Paul and Silas were chained in prison and what they could do was praise the Lord!

Note the servants who had died to the world: Job, Daniel, Shadrack, Mishech and Abed-Nego! When the body is being ‘eaten away’ like Job’s, will you say like him, "I came naked and will go naked?" When you have lost everything you thought you owned; your job, your family, tragedy strikes, storms sweep everything away, will you say, "this is the devil let us rebuke him," or will say, "nothing puzzles God?" When one falls sick you know that by His stripes you are healed, no doubt about it; even when you have nothing in your pockets, you know that you are rich for Christ became poor so that you can walk in riches!

The cross of redemption is the epitome of Christianity, where believers should yearn for in order to experience the ultimate power of redemption. It is vain being rebellious, it is not enough living under constant struggles in repentance, but quite fulfilling while beholding on the cross of Redemption.

Blessings.

-- Pastor Samson Munyoki. 

(19/10/14 Sunday Service Sermon, Teaching Transformation Ministry.)

Pastor Sam is a pastor at Teaching Transformation Ministry. We are located along the Thika-Ruai Flyover Junction (at the Thika Rd./ Bypass intersection), Next to Eastgate Restaurant.