Hardships Make or Break Us

N.T.#306 "Hardships Make or Break Us"

May 16, 2024 

Matthew 27-Part 9

LET IT GLOW 

If we have lived very long, we will meet hardships. How do we react? Will they turn us to God or turn us away from God? Will harships make us better Christians? Jesus endured the hardest of hardships for us so we don't have to pay for our sins.

The four Roman soldiers did everything to shame their victim. Jesus was stripped of His clothing for crucifixion, adding humiliation of the experience. (Mark 15:24) This usually isn't depicted in art, covering Jesus for a sense of modesty and decency. His arms were stretched out across a beam and a 5 inch long nail was driven at the base of each palm. His knees were bent, placing Jesus' feet flat against the stipes, and drove a nail through each foot. (I wonder if the pain was enough to cause our Savior to pass out, or if He endured the process alert to it all.) They lifted up Jesus and placed the vertical beam into a hole in the ground. By nine oclock in the morning, the soldiers had finished driving wedges between the beam and the sides of the hole to keep the cross firmly upright. (Swindoll)

Jesus said in John12:32, And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me. 

Christ Jesus would draw all men to Himself through the cross. He died on a cross lifted up. (Falwell)

The cross drew all judgment for all people to Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. (1 John 2:2) the death of Christ saved all humankind from the consequences of original sin (Romans 5:18) and made all people savable for their personal sin when they place personal faith in Him. This is why we are to share the gospel with everyone in the world. (Tony Evans)

Have you come to Jesus at the foot of the cross and confessed your sins, asked Him to be your Savior? He is waiting for you, if you never have done this.

What a loving Savior to endure such pain for you and me. The Perfect Lamb of God, His Son, did not deserve it, but willingly died on the cross for sinners.

LET IT GROW

As time went on, Jesus must have been quite thirsty by this time.

They gave Him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when He had tasted thereof, He would not drink. (verse34) 

This was a type of anesthetic, a drugged wine, for the condemned prisoners. Yet Jesus refused to drink anything so He suffered on our behalf.

Psalm 69:21 says, Instead, they gave me gall for my food and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. 

Friend, when we are completely beaten down, we are tempted to turn from God, give up, and quit trusting Him. When your situation seems hopeless, determine that no matter how bad things become you still continue to pray. God will hear your prayer, and He will rescue you. When others reject us, we need God most. Don't turn from your mosst faithful Friend, Jesus. (Life Application Study Bible)

What does it take to get us to turn from God?

LET IT GO

Help me let go of self and follow You totally. 

Thank You for not calling down angels to rescue You.

Oh what a Savior. How wonderful You are!

Glory to Your name!