SENT: Crucifixion

In Matt. 10:34-39 we see some of the toughest & hard to understand words in Christ's sermon on mission.

A sword, not peace (vv. 34-37)
In v. 34 Jesus in essence says "Do not think inaccurately about what I came to do and what the result will be. Do not mistake or misunderstand why I came." He says Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth, I did not come to bring peace but a sword. This is an often misunderstood verse. What does it mean? Think... means practice, consider, consider, supppose. Peace...is the a bsence of strife and presence of blessing. Bring is literally the word...throw, cast or send. By this word the expectancy of the disciples is dramatically pictured, as if they were eagerly looking up for peace as something to be flung down to earth from heaven. But Jesus says there will be a sudden hurling of a sword where peace is expected. There are three primary words for sword in the New Testament, here it is a short sword, a dagger. The kind used for hand to hand combat.

It makes sense that they would have thought that peace would permeate life for disciples of Jesus. He was promised as the Prince of peace. Isaiah foretold that there would be no end to the increase of His government, or of peace. The Holy Spirit spoke In Luke 1:78-79 through Zacharias to say that John the Baptist was a forerunner of the Sunrise from on high, who would guide our feet in the way of peace. The angels sang at Christ's birth Luke 2:14 glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among men with whom He is pleased. Even before His crucifixion Jeaus said John 14:27 peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, let not your heart be troubled or fearful. He said John 6:33 these things I have spoken that you might have peace. So why a sword instead of peace? Jesus is talking about His disciples relation to the world, the kind of reception they could expect to receive. He would give peace to those He saves, but the world would not. Christ’s servants are to remember the nature of His mission. In stark terms, He describes His mission as bringing a ‘sword’ to the earth (v. 34). It will be a sword of division, in which the closest blood ties might be severed in the interest of spiritual ties of loyalty to Jesus Christ.

In verses 35-36 Jesus says that the members of a household who do not believe, while loving each other, friendly, caring, family, would be enemies for the sake of the gospel. Set...means to cause a separation, alienate. Enemies...signifies utmost hatred, hostile in mind.

Verse 37 is a clear declaration of Christ's deity, because no one, not even parents, deserves higher honor than Jesus.

In light of Christ’s words, how do you relate to friends and family who are unbelievers?
You do what Christians are called to do…you love them, treat them honorably, kindly, pray for them, do everything you can to live and share the gospel with them. REMEMBER: 1. Jesus brings the sword not us. It is metaphorical, not actual. We are at peace with a holy God therefore at peace being alienated from sinners. 2. We are called to live in peace with all. Blessed are peacemakers, love your enemies. Love Jesus more than any other person or thing [family, possessions, sin], therefore willing to be hated. 3. Let your speech be gracious. Col. 4:5-6/Eph. 4:29. Our true peace is with God, not those who are still His enemies. We are to love, be kind, reach out...but we can have no true peace unless they are at peace with God. What harmony has Christ and Satan?

A cross, not comfort (vv. 38-39)
Verse 38 is probably one of the most misused and misunderstood verses in the Bible. To fully understand the power of Jesus’ words “take up your cross” we need to know what it isn’t. Your cross is not...

1. Some tough thing or person in your life. The cross is not just bearing the difficulties and pains of life. Our cross is not an angry husband or nagging wife; it is not that wayward child or that arthritic hip. We all have problems. Those who are saved and unsaved. That is a part of life. No matter how tough life gets, the things that happen can never be crosses. A mean person, a difficult relationship, financial hardship, these may test your faith but they are not crosses. Your cross isn’t your difficulties, your health or the bad situations you face in life.

2. A substitute for the cross of Christ. your cross isn't a self righteous version of the only sacrifice for sinners.

3. Something that gains you better standing or favor with God.

What it means to take up your cross.
1. Dying to yourself. The cross is not just a place of suffering, it is a place of death! When Jesus spoke of the cross everyone in his audience knew what he was referring to. When Jesus says that we are to take up our cross, He is saying that we are to live as dead men, alive to God's will, dead to ours. We were dead in sin, now we are alive to God in Christ.
2. Giving yourself without reservation to Christ's lordship. In verse 37 Jesus is calling us to give Him ultimate supremacy, The 12 would have instantly known this meant giving themselves wholeheartedly to Christ's lordship. The people of Jesus’ day were concrete thinkers. When He spoke of the cross they knew exactly what he was speaking of as they had watched many a poor soul marched to their death by Roman soldiers carrying their crosses. When a criminal was forced to carry his own cross to the place of execution, he was admitting that the Roman Empire had the right over his life to carry out the death sentence. As we engage in following Jesus it is our privilege to admit, acknowledge that He has sovereign right over our lives, He is the owner, He is our Captian, our Lord, our Master, therefore we submit ourselves to Him.
3. Willing to give up everything for Jesus.
Jesus says in verse 39 "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it." No earthly sacrifice can compare to what we gain in Christ. A cross is a willing sacrifice of everything you have for the sake of Christ. Your ambitions. Your opinions. Your judgments. Your successes. Your failures. Your pet sins. Everything is for Christ's sake...because of Jesus and for Jesus. Milton Vincent’s book A Gospel Primer for Christians has been & continues to be very helpful and challenging to me…he says, "when my flesh yearns for some prohibited thing, I must die. When called to do something I don’t want to do, I must die. When I wish to be selfish and serve no one, I must die. When shattered by hardships I despise, I must die. When wanting to cling to wrongs done against me, I must die. When enticed by allurements of the world, I must die. When wanting to keep besetting sins a secret, I must die. When dreams that are good are shoved aside, I must die." Rom. 6:5 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin. Paul said I die daily.

We die to self, give ourselves without reservation to Christ’s lordship, willing to give up everything for Jesus …so that we might follow Christ wherever He leads.

Crucifixion hurts. In the 1st century crucifixion was one of the most feared forms of execution. It was used effectively by Romans, as a strong deterrent not to rebel. Jesus came to earth to die on a cross, for our sins. He used the image with profound significance as an example of discipleship with His followers. Jesus’ path of suffering & death on the cross is the ultimate example of obedience to the Father’s will. Jesus prayed before He was crucified Not My will but Yours be done. We must die to our will and take up God’s will. And we ought to be compassionate towards those who are still in the state we were before Christ saved us…those who do not believe are held captive by Satan to do his will, not God's.

Phil. 2:8 being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, death on a cross. We who follow Jesus are the living dead…We live crucified…but we must know that it leads to life. The gospel teaches us that dying is not the end but the beginning. There is a new quality and character to our lives, a new way of life in Christ because we have been born again, regenerated. Phil. 3:8-10. I count all things loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. Rom. 6:11…even so consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Soli Deo Gloria