Be man enough to change your mind S28e155 Jn19:31

Not everyone who "goes to the cross" changes their mind. Join me today to hear of a man who does. He goes, He witnesses. He even participates. But then, what happens after he sees? He does not let this crucifixion go unnoticed.  

He does the bravest of actions: He changes his mind. He comes to the cross, he looks, and then he changes his mind. We interrupt the rescue operation of Jesus to tell the story of one rescued. Don't let this crucifixion go unnoticed for you. 

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Be man enough to change your mind S28e155 Jn19:31

Join me at the foot of the cross to watch someone do the hardest thing in the world: change his mind.  Changed his mind at the cross. Start in Jn19 then Mark 15

31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath(for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucifiedwith him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Imagine being ceremonially concerned with not sullying a holy day, when you and your people have just committed the greatest injustice that the world has ever seen. Talk about missing the forest for the trees.  Perhaps they still felt that they had done nothing wrong; that this was a justified, even righteous act.

Listen here, and we will hear of those who will CHANGE their minds

PROPHECY fulfillment

Previous: Divided my garments and for my cloak they cast lots Ps22

I thirst Ps 69

Not one of his bones will be broken PS 34:20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. 

Look on Him: Zech. 12:10: They will look on him whom they have pierced

         The question is, WHAT will you do after you look?

Crucifiction acceleration done and fulfills prophesy

To exhale, one needed to push up with the legs and arms

To inhale, one hung down on The arms

This cycle resulted in particular torture for one who had been scourged with a back filleted open with dozens if not hundreds of lacerations.

To accelerate the asphyxiation, if you broke the legs, you couldn’t push with the big muscles and you’d asphyxiated very quickly.

Crucified bodies have been found with just such injuries 1968 archeological accuracy of scripture. 

Mark 15:37 Someone changes his mind at the cross. We’ve already looked at the goodtheif.  Actually wasn’t a good theif. He was a righteously punished theif/insurrectionist who changes His mind next to the cross of Jesus. Now we hear ofanother

37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

He did not let this crucifiction go unnoticed.

Watching a righteous suffering and death, (which you were the boss of) Jesus specifically addressing you: 

Father forgive them for they know not what they do. 

Here we see the Centurion, in a come to Jesus moment, notes the way Jesus died as opposed to all the other that have died at his hands. Remember he is an expert. A professional. Experienced.  Was in a rank that could only be Earned in the roman army by faithful, successful service. (of note, ALL the centurions mentioned in the NT end up being good examples of faith)

John tells us the purpose of this Jn 19: 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe.

The purpose of all this horror at the cross is that those who come to the foot of the cross, be they a thief or a soldier, would CHANGE THEIR MINDS: Believe differently. Move Jesus from regular guy, good teacher, moral person to SON OF GOD. Holy. Divine. We interrupt this rescue mission of Jesus to bring you another rescue: Thief and now the Centurion.

John’s whole gospel is pushing us, challenging us to BELIEF

And here we see the few hour exposure to Jesus, watching Him bear suffering; watching Him bear sin; 3 hours of darkness, maybe a solar eclipse? Paying attention on the day the sun refused to shine. There was an earthquake.He’sman enough to take all that and change mind

But here’s the thing: all that could happen and hearts could still be unmoved, even hardened to change; to belief

Ironically, Jesus is going to be swept away asap by Joseph of Arimathea. But Centurion did not waste his 7+ hour exposure

         The question is, WHAT will you do after you look?

Many did NOT change their minds at the cross.

He did come to the cross and changed his ming

Let’s be like the centurion: Let’s stand facing him. Watch that in this way Jesus suffered and acted and spoke. Why watch, why study, Jesus on the cross? So that you come to BELIEF, like the centurion.

The purpose of SEEING is BELIEVING: Be man enough to change your mind. Come to the cross first. Look intently. Change your mind.

He did not let this crucifiction go unnoticed.

         The question is, WHAT will you do after you look?

He did come to the cross and changed his ming

Someone changes his mind at the cross