Looking at the Cross Through the Eyes of God - Good Friday

Let us go to the darkest moment in human history. When God Himself had stepped down from heaven into the humanity’s decadence and depravity. To shine His glorious light of life and reveal His love everlasting. As you listen be blessed, empowered and transformed in Jesus name.

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Transcript

00:00 Intro music and voice over.

Welcome to jesus loves the world podcast. For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name! 

00:21 Speaker

Before we begin this journey of looking at the cross through the eyes of God, let us take a moment to surrender. Surrender to God our preconceived thoughts and opinions, and let Him help us see through His eyes. 

Father we thank you that it is your heart’s desire that we see the cross through your eyes. So as we come to your word, we surrender any preconceived ideas of what the text is saying and by your Spirit, give us eyes to see what you desire to reveal to us today. Thank you that we can not only ask you this, but that we can live in the confident anticipation of you giving us eyes to see more into your heart, in Jesus name amen. 

Let us go to the darkest moment in human history. When God Himself had stepped down from heaven into the humanity’s decadence and depravity. To shine His glorious light of life and reveal His love everlasting. To the time when Eternal One wrapped Himself up in a finite body of flesh and blood. When the Eternal Voice willing subjected Himself to the full human condition. So that all who were willing could choose to be eternally free. Free from death, evil and the destructive forces of our selfish desires. But most of all be together with Him intimately, personally and physically for all eternity. 

As the Son of God, the Eternal Voice knew what pain and suffering He was about to endure. At the hands of the very ones He came to save. Yet God willingly did it all for us. 

Even in Jesus’ humanity, His concern was only for others. 

After Jesus had endured the brutal physical and emotional torture of the Roman soldiers, He was paraded through the streets, to the place of crucifixion. Those of Jerusalem were gathered to witness this defining moment. There were those who had received God’s right to rule and reign and those who have knowingly rejected Jesus, rejected God.

For the contrast between light and darkness, God and humanity, those who receive Him and those who reject Him is extreme. The chasm vast. Yet Jesus fully divine and fully human intercedes for both.

Together through Luke’s account let us follow Jesus to the cross and see through God’s eyes. Listening to the exchanges between Jesus and the people who have gathered. Beginning with those who followed him and the women who mourned. 

Luke 23:27-31 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?” 

Those who followed Him mourned and lamented His suffering. Not fully understanding He had to suffer for their sakes. For all humanity. So that we can be truely free. 

This is indeed humanity’s darkest hour. Yet it is God’s greatest expression of His selfless love.  For He knows and understands what humanity needs to be able to choose to believe and receive our eternal salvation. He did it all for us. 

The weight of humanity’s shame and depravity is carried on Jesus’ body. All of humanity’s abuses of power and self glorification are evidenced by Jesus’ shredded skin and dripping blood. He was sentenced to death by those who knew He was an innocent man. 

In amongst it all, Jesus concern is for others. He turns to the women and declares, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 

Instead of claiming His own innocence, Jesus carries the grief of the women all the way to the cross. Jesus warns them of the days ahead. What will take place upon His triumphant return in all His glory. When those who have knowingly rejected Him, rejected God will come under judgement. That day when it will be considered to be a blessing to be without child. They will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’

The time as foretold by God centuries earlier through the prophet Hosea. Let us read Hosea 10:8. Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, Shall be destroyed. The thorn and thistle shall grow on their altars; They shall say to the mountains, “Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!”

Those of Jewish lineage who have knowingly rejected God, rejected Jesus, will cry out on that day of Jesus’ triumphant return, mountains, “Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!”

After Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, God again foretold of Jesus’ triumphant return. This time through the Apostle John. 

Revelation 6:12-17 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

The concern Jesus has for all humanity to be saved from death and judgement is evident in every word. Regardless of ethnicity, gender or economic status in this world, Jesus continues to reveal God’s desire that none would perish. 

God Himself became the one to intercede on behalf of humanity. Jesus fully divine and fully human says, ‘Follow Me to the cross and see the glory of God shine in humanity’s darkest hour.’ 

Let us continue. 

Luke 23:32-38 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.” The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

Again Jesus’ focus was on others revealing the heart of God the Father. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’ The eternal forgiveness of God that is always there for anyone who is willing to receive is declared. Forgiveness for even those who nailed Him to the cross. If only they would admit their need for a saviour and receive His  sacrifice of Himself. 

Yet the soldiers mocked, the rulers sneered, the people looked on.

The inscription above Jesus’ dying body was written in Greek (the trade universal language), Latin (the language of the Roman Empire in power) and Hebrew (the language of those of Jewish lineage. It was there for all the world to see, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

As Jesus hangs on the cross, His eyes are fixed on Father God and those around. Let us go to the Apostle John’s account and see the love in eyes as He lays His life down. 

John 19:25-27 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

Also at the foot of the cross looking on was the one who knew He was born of the Holy Spirit. Knew He was divine as she had never been with a man. She carried the vulnerable baby Jesus inside her body. Kept in her heart the many things He had done and was His disciple. Also there was the disciple whom Jesus loved. He was the Apostle John, who received an incredible revelation of the love of God. John knew how much God loved. He had received Jesus, received God. 

As they both stood at the foot of the cross, Jesus looked down from that cursed tree. In amongst it all Jesus saw the one. The one who needed to be cared for in a practical way. Jesus saw His mother and the Apostle John. 

Jesus declared over them both a bond that will be for the rest of their life on this earth. From that moment John took Mary, Jesus’ mother into his own home. 

It is a very touching and beautiful moment. Looking at the cross through the eyes of God reveals God’s desire and concern for not only our eternity, but for our time now living in this world damaged by evil. 

As Jesus hangs on the cross, He again has His eyes on God the Father and others. Fulfilling God’s desire and will of eternal salvation for humanity. 

Jesus is central to everyone’s destiny.

Hanging on the cross, Jesus intercedes. On one side of Jesus is eternal darkness, torment and death. In complete contrast, on the other side of Jesus is eternal light, peace and life.

The two criminals being crucified either side of Jesus represent this. Jesus is the Lord of everyones destiny. Yet how a person responds up until their last breath, determines their eternity.  

Let us read on.

Luke 23:39-46 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

One of the criminals chose to reject Jesus, reject God. He joined with evil and blasphemed God. That is knowingly declared war on God and tried to discredit Jesus. In complete contrast as darkness is to light, the other criminal on the opposite side admitted his guilt and honoured Jesus’ kingship. In that moment He received Jesus, received God and His right to rule and reign. 

As Jesus is about to take His last breath, He affirms and honours the criminal. ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’  

Paradise is where God the Father is. It is where He dwells and His will is done. Paradise is Heaven itself. Jesus commits His Spirit to the Father and the criminal’s spirit, who chose to receive Jesus, receive God is together with Jesus and God the Father. 

Looking at the cross through the eyes of God brings a heavenly eternal perspective. At the lowest point of humanity, God in all His glory reached down into the dirt, darkness, guilt and shame. He personally and intimately interceded, paid the cost, and did it all for us.

19:40 Outro music and voice over. 

For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name!