NEAR THE CROSS-FAR FROM THE BLOOD

SERIES: THE PASSOVER 2024

TEXT: MATTHEW 27:33-49

The greatest shock of all times is focused at Calvary. AS we look at the picture of Calvary or Golgotha you might see your face in the crowd. There at Calvary where many kind of people, attitude and experiences. Our activity around the cross will determine who we really are. The sign at the cross were gruesome and at the atmosphere around the foot of the cross is far from somber.

The scene bore almost are most “carnival” atmosphere with crowds pressing in to get a better view and like with every crowd of people at the cross there was mob mentality.

It was a clamor or of so much activity and extreme emotions.

All this groups of people were so near the cross but far from the blood.

It is the blood of the cross that saves and not the cross itself. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin” (Heb 9:22).

When you and l look at the picture of the cross at calvary we can vividly see our faces. How have you dealt with the cross?

It is possible to be close to the cross yet miss the power and potency of the blood of the Lamb of God.

Kenya is full of crosses on Church building and inside the Churches, on our necks ,ears , hospital ambulances, first aid boxes , red crossed , blue crosses, broken crosses stair case crosses ,etc.

• Despite the crosses we have, the majority are far from the blood of the cross.
• Is it is possible to be near the cross yet far from the blood?
• Today let us look at five separate groups of people who were found around the cross, yet the cross made no difference in their lives.
• Close yet not changed, eye-witnesses yet never seen what was happening.
• It is not enough to see Hosanna and through our coats down the streets, rather we must find our under the free-flow of the blood of Jesus Christ.
• We must let calvary transform our lives, our hearts and our future.
• Let us look at this snapshot of Golgotha and notice those who are at the foot of this three crosses.

THE GAMBLERS AT THE CROSS.

(V.35)”And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots at it: that is might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets. They parted my garments among them and upon my venture did they cast lots”(Psalms 22:19).

• In the sight of Jesus Christ they rolled there dice and gambled for the only thing of physical value he had.
• The gamblers mentally is always to get “something for nothing “to get something from the church, to get something from the worshippers.
• Always out for a shortcut for gain, to such people the church, the gospel choir praise is only a game to them.
• To the gambler the cross and the ministry is a game of chance.
• Are you playing games with life, while the blood that saves, cleanses, atones is just a foot away?
• The gambler is too distracted to see calvary.
• Distracted by materialism.
• Distracted by getting, concerned with value of His clothing than the value of Christ.
• Let us not be too hard to this Roman soldier when our own lives are focused in the material side of the cross.
• Distracted by their own pleasure:
• These are those in ministry for the pleasure, the food, the drink, the scholarship, the bursary, the business, the contracts, the roles, the privilege.
• We live in a world where people are pursuit of pleasure, fame, wealth and power.
• It is time to stop the games and take serious the cross and the flowing blood.

THE SPECTATORS AT THE CROSS (V.36).

“And sitting down they watched him there”.

• The life of Christ was filled with spectators -people looking for a good shore.
• Our churches have become auditoriums for spectators.
• The cry of the modern church has become “entertain me!!”
• It is shocking that when Jesus Christ cried out (I thirst) the crowd discouraged the soldiers from quenching his thirst. Because that will get in the way of the shore(V.48-49).
• Being eye witnesses to what God is doing doesn’t mean you are a part of God is doing.
• Many people have sat and riden Church pews to hell.
• Close to the cross but far from the blood.

The spectators is too familiar in the scene to be changed.

• • Many people are so familiar with the scene called Calvary that Calvary no longer stirs their hearts.
  • Maybe they we once drawn to the Cross, but how they have slipped in the crowd of the spectators.
  • They refused to take up the cross and follow Jesus Christ
  • You and l most at the cross as of we are looking at it for the first time.

THE PASSERS-BY (v39).

“And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads”

• This passer-by were only their temporarily.
• The only reason they came across cross is that it seemed to be on the way to their destiny.
• Their destination was not the cross, but something else that seemed more pressing more important at the moment.
• This are people who internationally misunderstood the cross-They don’t want to be inconvenienced with the delay.

1) They are too busy to investigate calvary.

• They quickly joined the mockers group.
  • They want Jesus to save them but with no cost of themselves – They don’t want to surrender anything.
  • This people are on the move through life-They soon pass- by in hell.
  • They ignore calvary, the cross and the blood.
  • Passer-by never get saved really.

THE MOCKERERS AT THE CROSS. (V41-42).

“Likewise also the chief priest mocking him with the Scribes and elders said He saved others himself he cannot save. If he be The King of Israel let, Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him”.

• All they had seen they demanded evidence?
• The mocker will never be proved wrong, because there will be never be enough evidence.
• The mocker will never see because the mocker refuses to see.
• The clothed their mockery in religious titles and religious clothes.
• Of all the people that should have recognized the Christ, they should have been the once.
• They had the biblical knowledge and theology education.
• Please, understand that biblical and theological knowledge will never save you.

They were too critical to see calvary.

• • The critics can only see what is wrong -Never what is right.
  • The mocker were the loudest once there are the foot of the Cross.
  • Today mocker s and thousands of years silence the cross, unfortunately the credibility and relevance of the cross can never be challenged.(1^st1:18)
  • Are you a mocker of Christ?
  • Never mock away your only hope.

THE EMPLOYEES AT THE CROSS.

• • Too many at the cross of the Calvary it was just another day, another execution, another job, another dollar!!
  • They were paid to be there and to feel a specific responsibility.

1. They were too detached to see Calvary.
   • They were too busy doing their job to take role.
   • As Church workers if we are not careful, we will find ourselves going through life just doing the work, but blind to the Truth around us.
   • If our eyes are really open we will see that life about the cross and the blood.
   • Their job was to humiliation of others and they were very good at it.
   • However the bible tells us in (Mark 15:39) one of these workers took note of the meaning of the cross.

“And when the Centurion, which stood over against him saw that he so cried, and gave up the ghost, he said, truly this man was the man of God”.

• My prayers this Good Friday is that you and I will look at the cross afresh and a new like never before.
• Let us survey the cross again.

CONCLUSION

• This five groups of people we’re not the only one. There were others who embraced the cross and the lives completely changed.
• I want to be in that group of people.
• What is your attitude about Calvary? Is it merely historical or is it eternal?
• In the midst of all the crowds and the critics Jesus Christ was still offering salvation even to the thief on the cross.