Paradoxes of the Cross

Introduction

I want to welcome everyone. We have many visitors today. And we want to thank you for coming to be with us here at this place and blending your voices with us so that we could be moved in such a way as we already have. We have sung some wonderful thoughts together. And it is my hope that crown is awaiting every last one of us as we one day exchange our cross for that crown. And I get to talk to you about, as Bobby has been leading us and singing about, the very centerpiece of Christianity. It is my privilege this morning to address. If I turn this on, it works a lot better. To address with you for a few moments the very centerpiece of what this is all about.

And I speak of the cross and the resurrection of Jesus. It’s what I hang my hat on. It’s what brings me to this place every time we meet as the Lord’s people. It’s what fuels my commitment to the Lord on a daily basis. It’s why I don’t give up. It’s why I persevere in the face of adversity. It’s why I preach the gospel. I believe this with all of my being. The story that we read about in the Bible of Jesus’ atoning death at Calvary. When he uttered the words, it is finished. And he gave up his spirit. And three days later, he miraculous rose from the dead. This is what it’s all about. And it’s my privilege to speak to you for a few moments about this centerpiece.

1. A Beautiful Curse

Do we understand what dying on a cross was really all about? Probably not. Even though you’ve probably heard this before, and you’ve read Galatians chapter 3, verses 12 and 13. In verse 13 in particular, when he says, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. Now he’s speaking to Jewish believers who lived under the law, and he says he has redeemed us from the curse of the law. But this next part is for all of us, having become a curse for us.

That we might become the righteousness of God in him. That’s our purpose. That’s why you’re here. That you might become the righteousness of God in him. Because he who knew no sin became sin on our behalf. That’s what Paul is saying in Galatians 3, having become a curse for us, for it is written, cursed is everyone who hangs upon a tree. Now that’s a quotation from the Old Testament. I’ve already supplied that reference for you. In Deuteronomy chapter 21 and verse 23. Interesting if you’ll look at the context of that with me. As in the law of Moses, from which they have been redeemed from the curse of the law.

And if a man has committed a sin worthy of death, verse 22, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree. Okay? Means of putting to death a criminal. His corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day. And then this little parenthetical expression that is quoted in Galatians 3. For he who is hanged is accursed of God. So that you do not devote your land, which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance. Isn’t that fascinating? Say yes. That’s fascinating. Way back in the Old Testament, God knows how this is all going to unfold. This is a plan from all eternity. And he knows as he gives this instruction about the man who has committed a deed worthy of death.

Paul talks about that. He said, I do not refuse to die if I’ve committed such a deed in the New Testament. But this man who has committed a deed worthy of death, who is hung on a tree as a means of execution, he says, Now do not let him do so overnight, because this would defile the land, because this person is a cursed of God. And somebody goes, well, I don’t understand that.

Dealing with the problem of our sin, he who knew no sin became sin on our behalf. But here’s the amazing thing about this. And we sung about this actually in regard to the cross and how much hope and meaning it is and how positive it is to our hope. That as it is also a curse of God, there is a beautiful and wondrous aspect to the cross. As Paul would say in Ephesians 2, of Jew and Gentile, it says, He reconciled them by the cross. What an amazing result. He who was accursed for us by hanging on a tree, brought together, Jew and Gentile, former enemies and estranged, if there ever was estrangement between people, Jew and Gentiles brought together into one man by this instrument of death, by the cross.

And so it is a beautiful curse. And when you say that, you say, well, now that’s quite a paradox. Just talk about something as a beautiful curse. Now, what is a paradox? A paradox is something which, on the surface, is a contradiction or unbelievable. But it is actually true. It seems absurd, ironic or impossible, but it is nonetheless real. Usually, one part of a paradox has a double meaning or is used figuratively. I got this quote from Grollier’s Encyclopedia. Believe him. He who has known the world too long. And has seen the death of such immortal song. Did you catch the paradox? He has seen the death of immortal song. Well, if it’s immortal song, it should not see death. But that’s the nature of the statement.

2. What Looks Like Defeat Actually Brings Victory

It is a paradox. One of the greatest things about the death of Jesus is that it is a paradox. And there are a number of dramatic paradoxes that are associated with the cross of Christ. And I want to speak of them briefly to you this morning, and then to make some application from that in regard to our lives. That what looks like defeat actually brings victory to God’s cause and his people. And that was one of the problems that the disciples were struggling with in regard to Jesus telling them that I’m going to be killed. He keeps telling them over and over again in the ministry. It’d be interesting to run that statement. How many times he tells his disciples on different occasions, I’m going to be killed.

And they’re going, wait a minute, this doesn’t work. You’re going to, you’re the Messiah. He said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God in Matthew 16. We’ve been looking at that recently. And he says, Upon this rock I will build my church. And then he says, I’m going to die. And Peter says, Lord, this doesn’t work. You can’t do it. This spell defeat. Death is defeat. And what did Isaiah 53 say about this death of Christ on the cross? We consider him smitten of God and afflicted. Cursed is everyone who hangs upon a tree, but yet, in this, what seemingly looks like defeat actually brings victory. And the vindication of God’s cause from all eternity. Death, where is your sting?

Death swallowed up in victory, Paul says as he speaks of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians chapter 15. And this was anticipated way back in Genesis chapter 3. Where sin is introduced into the world by Adam and Eve and all of the horrible consequences of that, and death spread upon all men, Paul says in the book of Romans, for all men have sinned. I mean, everyone is followed in the footsteps of Adam as we get to accountable age. We stumble, we transgress, we rebel, and the curse of sin is upon us. Only Jesus is the exception to that. And so as the curses of sin entering to the world are enumerated in Genesis chapter 3, he then addresses the serpent. And he talks about this conflict that is going to unfold that really is the rest of the Bible story.

The conflict between the woman’s seed and the serpent’s seed. Genesis 3 15 really anticipates the whole Old Testament and the rest of the Bible story. This conflict between good and evil, righteousness and unrighteousness, the opposition of the evil. And it says, in regard to the seed of woman that ultimately anticipates Christ, Paul talks about that in Galatians 3. It says, You shall bruise him what? On the heel. You will inflict a blow. He’s talking to the serpent. And this is it. What does it say in regard to Judas Iscariot in John 12? When he bargains with the chief priest for the 30 pieces of silver so that he can give up the Son of God to them to be murdered. It says, Satan entered his heart.

Satan is manipulating the angry mob that says, crucify him, crucify him. Satan is involved in Jesus being delivered up and put to death.

You shall bruise him on the heel. But what does it say in that interesting paradox of its own? It says, He will bruise your head. This seed of the woman, he’s going to inflict the greater blow. He is going to vanquish the power of the devil in regards to death and sin. He’s going to provide a solution. So where there is seeming defeat as Jesus dies upon the cross, there is in reality victory. As he becomes the propitiation for the whole world. The satisfying of God’s anger in regard to sin. The propitiation not for our sins only, John says, but for the sins of the whole world. And I was telling you, this is an amazing paradox. This beautiful curse. This which is a ghastly form of death and execution.

3. In This Death Is Life

And we can spend our time this morning talking about, and some have preached sermons in this vein, that talk about the very nature of crucifixion and the type of suffering that is involved. A horrible way to die. Agonizing hours upon the cross. And yet, in this ghastly form of execution, victory. Death. And yet, in this death is life. Now that’s the greatest paradox of all. The extremes of everything. Death, the end of things for us physically. But in his death, he brings life. In him was life, and that life was the light of men, John says in John chapter 1. And he came that we might have life and might have it more abundantly. An amazing thing that by Jesus’ death he could actually usher in life.

Life is in him. There is no real life without him. If one is without hope and without God in the world, Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 12. There is only life in him because of his death. His death, which was promoted by the hate of the angry mob and the hate of the religious leaders who would be told, the audience in Acts 2, the first who were here to hear the sermon of victory in life, you have murdered the Son of God. And they were pierced to their hearts. Remember that in Acts chapter 2 and verse 37? And asked men and brethren, what shall we do? These who had hated this death, which was a testimony to the hate of men, was actually a poignant moment.

Displaying the most awesome love that has ever been displayed. That Jesus willingly sacrificed himself. That God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, he did not spare his own son. I love that passage in Romans chapter 8 and verse 34. And so in this dark moment of history, where the hate of men reaches not its zenith, but its lowest point ever.

4. In This Darkness, Jesus the Light of the World

Helpless, frail, and weak. What seems so helpless, a cause that seems so helpless in the disciples’ minds. What looks so helpless and pitiful. If you’re the Son of God, they said at the foot of the cross, come down from the cross. Look at how pitiful you are was the point of that. If you are what you claim, show us how powerful you are by another great miracle. Come down from the cross. But what about the strength to endure? For the sake of a bigger picture. The salvation of the human race that only Jesus could provide. And that no one could provide for themselves. And so in this picture of helplessness, as this man who was a probably strong strapping carpenter, and this picture of a beaten and helpless and dying man, but yet in this cross is our hope.

And along with that, hate is the worst kind of wrong. Error. False belief. Those who would accuse Jesus of being in league with the devil. Away with it. Crucified. He’s not worthy to live, and yet he who had not committed a sin, nor was there any guile found in his mouth. And yet, in this error of men, the truth shines brilliantly. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes into the Father but through me. And so in this whole entire scene, shrouded in the darkness of man, we see shining brilliantly Jesus, the light of the world. Isn’t it amazing? As Jesus dies on the cross, that the whole scene is shrouded in darkness. I don’t know what all of that is meant to convey.

Some suggest that even the Father cannot look. And thus it is all shrouded in darkness. Halfway through the scene. A darkness that no doubt conveyed to those who were looking on that this is some unique event that is happening. But as darkness shrouds the scene, not just literal darkness, but the darkness of men’s deeds. And the darkness of man’s sin. And the darkness of death, and the darkness of crucifixion, as all of that darkness shrouds this scene. Had Jesus ever shine more brilliantly as the light of the world. In his dying hours, the things he uttered from the cross. Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing. He did not rail accusations against those who murdered him. Though he had done no wrong.

He prayed for his enemies. He had concern for his mother, as he’s dying for the sins of the world. He has time to save a thief. And perhaps that’s the most poignant of all to me. A thief. We deserve what we’re getting, he tells the other criminal, and he says, Remember me when you come into your kingdom. Couldn’t Jesus at this point, for once in his life, say, I don’t have time for you. I am dying for the sins of the world here. But what a perfect occasion to show what this is all about. And save an unworthy, appealing thief. Today you shall be with me, he says, in paradise. Grace had never been more beautifully pictured than in that moment. Of all that Jesus did to show that he was the light of the world, of all the teaching that he did, the teaching and example of the cross is the most brilliant of all.

And in this great shroud of darkness.

5. Marvel at God's Abilities

These, my friends, are the paradoxes of the cross. Somebody might say, why didn’t you put all the good stuff under the beautiful? Well, it’s paradox, you see. And plus this side was dark. So all the dark stuff had to go over there. But what are some simple thoughts that come out of this that I think will be helpful to all of us? Number one. We shouldn’t marvel at God’s abilities. That he is able to take the worst of man, the worst kind of death, and use that as an instrument to bring life to all. That’s our amazing God.

We should only marvel at what God has done through the cross. The fact that what we’re all about is a ghastly instrument of death. And that not only provides our salvation, but serves as a model for us on how we can live to the glory of God. Isn’t it interesting that Paul says in 2 Corinthians chapter 4, he says, and he talks about the decay of his body in that context? The outer man is decaying, but the inner man is being renewed day by day. And he talks about being distressed and perplexed, and we sometimes experience some of that. And what does he say about all of this that’s happening to him physically on the outside? He says, My inner man is being renewed day by day, but he also says, and he says it in a paradox.

Death works in us. This is eventuating in our death. We’re headed to the grave. He says, Death works in us, but life in you. As we live this death, we promote life. I have been crucified with Christ, Paul says in Galatians chapter 2 and verse 20. He’s saying the exact same thing. I’m on the cross for him, not literally, but I’m dying for him. I die daily, 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 31. As the death works in us, life and others, as we sacrifice of ourselves living sacrifices, Romans 12 and verse 1, that’s our crucifixion. Living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable response, your reasonable service. Not being conformed to this world, but being transformed by the renewing of your minds, all of that.

6. God Can Trump Negative Circumstances

We do this so that life works in others. We promote his cause. Again, marvel at what God can do with the likes of us. And the second thing that I would draw your attention to here is not only should we marvel at God’s abilities, let us understand that God can trump. Negative circumstances. Now you know why I put negative in quotes. Because this is the way we look at it. I didn’t like that. That wasn’t very tasteful. It hurt. I would rather it have gone another way than that. Do you realize how many times you could have said that about the circumstances of the righteous in both the old and new testament? Wandering about in caves and deserts and holes in the ground. Oh, sign me up.

I prefer that to my house with air conditioning and a king-size sleep number bed and all of that. Sign me up for caves and deserts and holes in the ground. That’s what I want. But these negative circumstances, what did it produce? An eternal weight of glory, far beyond all comparison that Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians chapter 4. Listen, the story of the cross is this. Regardless of the negative circumstances, and again, negative, how negative is it if you get to go to heaven? How negative is it though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death? If God is with you to comfort you in the journey and to bring you home to Him. How negative is that? And I want to tell you, folks, so many people give up the way of the cross because it gets too negative for them.

It’s too hard. It costs too much. It hurts too much. That’s the problem people have. And they don’t understand God can work with this. He can make you better. And if it drives you to faith, then it’s good. It’s not bad. If it drives you to trust in him, cast all your cares upon him because he cares for you. If that’s the result of the negative circumstance, that’s good. The cross says God can defeat that, whatever it is. For your betterment and salvation. That’s the powerful message of the cross and the paradox of it. And I love this. God excels in making the seemingly impossible. Possible. That’s the message of the Bible. Barren women having children, old women having children in the Old Testament. Nothing shall be impossible with God.

Virgins having children. That’s when that statement gets made. Nothing shall be impossible with God. It’s all over the Bible. God takes a seemingly impossible situation, Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. Surely he’s not going to survive that. Wait a minute, he becomes second over all Egypt and saves his family. Paradox. Amazing. It’s the story of the whole Bible. God excels in making the seemingly impossible possible. And I’ll tell you where that affects you and me. Can you go to heaven? Surely you can’t. And sometimes I think that’s the way people come away from the preaching of the gospel. Ain’t no way I can go to heaven. And sometimes I guess preachers sort of delight in making people feel that way. You can’t do it.

I don’t. Because when the disciples thought it to be impossible, when Jesus talked about it’s easier for a rich man to enter through the eye of the needle. Easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. That’s the idea. And what was their response? Who can be saved? Not doable. Even though they left everything to follow him as they go on to say, but it’s not doable. And what could God, what does Jesus say? With men, it is impossible. But with God it is possible. And I’ll tell you, that’s an important verse for us. Then who can be saved? Me by my own strength and power and abilities, I want to tell you where that’s been.

Failure. Not getting it done. Even now. Less than what I’ve been called to be. No matter how much I strive. Is that your experience? That’s mine. If it’s not been yours, I need to talk to you. Because you have answers that I don’t. I want to tell you, my experience is I’m less than what I’m striving to be. I can’t go to heaven. No, I can’t. But God can get me there. He who began a good work in me can complete it at the day of the Lord Jesus, Philippians chapter 1 and verse 6. I hang my hat on that verse. God can make the seemingly impossible possible. He simply asks me to respond in faith and trust and obedience to him. He who humbles himself will be exalted.

That’s what Jesus demonstrated in the cross, and that’s how we need to live. What are we? Nothing. I’m nothing. He who thinks himself to be something when he is nothing deceives himself. Galatians 6 and verse 3. I am nothing. I am only something. Because of him. I am what I am by the grace of God, 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 10. So let’s not get so carried away with ourselves. Let us humble ourselves before him and learn by Jesus’ example on the cross. He who humbled himself to the uttermost was exalted to the uttermost. And in weakness. In weakness, we are made strong. Do not decry your weakness. It makes us better. That’s what Paul said about his thorn in the flesh. In weakness, we are made strong.

Conclusion

The paradoxes of the cross. He saved us from ourselves, given us worth, and promised us undeserved treasure. I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene. And if you will stand amazed in his presence, you’ll say, Lord, what would you bid me do? Men and brethren, what shall we do? Whatever he bids me do, I will I will try. I will give it my best. He can save me. And if there’s someone in this audience this morning who needs to sign on to be a soldier of the cross, and we can help you do that. Come now as we stand and sing.