Communion Message
(The terrible cost of sin; the magnificent love of God)
March 24, 2002
Pastor Leighton Sheley

As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' Then "'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" And to the hills, "Cover us!"' For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

Two other men, both criminals, were also lead 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. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided his clothes by casting lots. And the people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved other; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

There is a Psalm that was written over 1000 years before the crucifixion of Christ, over 1000 years before mankind had devised crucifixion at all. Psalm 22 reads: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? Oh my God, I cried out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: "He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breasts. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.

Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. And that's what happened at a crucifixion. The arms were literally torn from the sockets.

My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me -- and out flowed water mingled with blood. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth -- I thirst. You lay me in the dust of death -- a borrowed tomb. Dogs have surrounded me. In the Old Testament dogs referred to those who were unregenerate. It could have referred to the Roman guards. A band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

Written over 1000 years before the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus said no man taketh my life from me, I lay it down of my own volition. It was not man's will that sent Jesus to the cross. It was God's will and God's plan. Now why, we would ask, why would God choose such a horrific death as crucifixion? Why wouldn't he choose something more gentle? Perhaps God shows the terrible suffering of the crucifixion to communicate some things to us.

Firstly, it communicates the terrible cost of sin. We have a tendency to trivialize sin. We take it lightly because it's so rampant around us and within us, but sin is no trivial matter to God. Sin carries a terrible price. That's what sent Jesus to the cross to pay the wages of our sin.

Secondly, I believe it communicates to us the magnificent love of God. For God chose to go to Calvary's cross and suffer there and pay the wages of our sin. The terrible cost of sin; the magnificent love of God. Jesus said on the cross it is finish. It was an accounting term. It could be used as an accounting term. It meant paid in full. The wages of our sin paid in full, for the soul that sinneth it shall die, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Amazing love, O what sacrifice, the Son of God given for me. My debt he pays and my death he dies, that I might live eternally. I invite you now, if you're physically able, to join with me as we kneel in the presence of our Lord and Savior. The Scriptures say that at such a time as this we should examine our self.

Lord, the elements that we hold remind us of the terrible price of sin. And they remind us of the magnificent love that you have for us. We are a sinful people. I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. Your word says if we confess our sin you are faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Lord, I ask you to forgive me my sin. I ask you to cleanse me from unrighteousness. And as I partake of these elements Lord, I do so in remembrance of you. Let's partake of the bread and also the cup.

Thank you Lord. Amazing love, O what sacrifice, the very Son of God given on Calvary for me. My debt which I could not pay, was paid in full; and the death that I deserved, placed on Jesus that I might live eternally. Thank you Lord. In Jesus' name we pray, and all God's people said, amen. Let's stand and greet our neighbors.