King's Cross: Why the Crucifixion is the Center of Christianity (FHRBC)

Hopson Boutot

Guest Preaching • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

Matthew 20:17–28

Jesus teaches about servanthood and greatness

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SERMON

START TIMER!!!

How far could you travel in 74 days?

A few years ago a 150-pound African Sulcata tortoise named Solomon escaped from his home in Ashland City, Tennessee.

For two-and-a-half months, the family searched for Solomon without success. Until finally, 74 days later, he was found.

Solomon was found at a construction site, just 1/8 of a mile away from his home.

74 days, 1/8 of a mile.

Sometimes that’s what the Christian life feels like, doesn’t it? Day after day, week after week, we go, go, go, but in the end we feel like we hardly make it anywhere.

I wonder if that’s a bit like how the disciples felt at the end of our text this morning.

Turn to Matthew 20:17

For three years the disciples have been following Jesus.

Certainly they have learned much along the way—just as hopefully we have learned much studying Matthew’s gospel

But no matter how much progress they seem to make, there are moments when it seems like they haven’t really gotten anywhere at all.

Shortly after He was transfigured, Jesus rebuked the disciples for arguing about who was going to be the greatest in heaven.

But in today’s text we’ll see them arguing about the same thing again.

And yet, Jesus’ response to His disciples is nothing like the way I respond to my kids when they keep arguing about the same thing over and over again.

I’m tempted to respond in various ways:

Turn up the volume on my headphones and hope they figure it out.

"Go talk to your mother!”

On my worst days I start arguing too!

But Jesus does nothing like that. Even when it seems like we’re not getting anywhere, Jesus graciously speaks into our selfishness and sin and reminds us the truth. He reminds us of the most important truth. He reminds us why He came. He reminds us of the cross.

The Big idea I hope you take away from today’s sermon is this: Nothing is more central to the life and mission of Jesus than the cross.

Matthew 20:17–28—And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

PRAY

Nothing is more central to the life and mission of Jesus than the cross.

Three Reasons the Cross is Central to the Life and Mission of Jesus:

1) The Cross Reveals the Grace of Jesus

2) The Cross Rebukes our Expectations from Jesus

3) The Cross Ransoms a People for Jesus

If you’re an unbeliever, I hope you’ll listen carefully to the message of the cross which sets Christianity apart from every other religion and worldview. Even if you end up disagreeing with what we Christians believe, I hope you’ll listen carefully and understand why what we believe is so different.

If you’re a Christian, I hope you’ll listen carefully because the message of the cross is not merely central to Jesus’ life and mission. It’s also the heart of Christianity. A Christianity without the cross is no Christianity at all.

When Paul says in…

1 Corinthians 2:2—For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

He’s not saying he doesn’t know anything else. He’s saying that the cross is like the lens through which he sees and understands everything else.

So we could also say, “nothing is more central to the life and mission of the Christian than the cross.”

Show me a weak Christian or a weak church and I’ll show you a Christian or a church that has taken its eyes off the cross!

The solution to our failure to get anywhere in the Christian life (like the turtle who traveled 1/8 mile in 74 days) is to look again to the cross!

So let’s all lean in today that we may see the glory and beauty of the cross.

First, notice how...

1) The Cross REVEALS the Grace of Jesus

Matthew 20:17-19—And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

Jesus and His disciples are traveling to Jerusalem. We know from chapter 26 they’re traveling to the city to celebrate the Passover.

Thousands of Jews would be traveling to Jerusalem for this important festival that celebrated how God rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt.

There was certainly excitement in the air as Jesus and His disciples marched towards the city. After three years of publicly teaching and healing thousands, Jesus has become a celebrity in Israel.

Next chapter we’ll see massive crowds welcome Jesus into the city with palm branches and songs.

But before they enter the city, Jesus wants His disciples to understand what’s going to happen when they get there.

Jesus is going to be arrested, accused, and tried by the religious leaders.

They’re going to condemn Him to death, then turn Him over to the Romans.

The Romans will mock Jesus, flog Him, then crucify Him.

The cross reveals two truths that taken together magnify the grace of God...

First, notice how much sinners hate God...

If you know the story of Jesus’ crucifixion, you know how horribly Jesus was treated.

One of His own disciples betrayed Him.

The religious leaders falsely accused Him, mocked Him, spat on Him, plucked out His beard, and struck Him.

The Roman soldiers flogged Him, shoved a crown of thorns upon His head, and ridiculed Him.

The crowd shouted out “crucify Him!”, then laughed and cheered as He was stripped naked and nailed to a rough-hewn cross.

Even the criminals crucified alongside Him made fun of Him for refusing to save Himself.

Why would they do this to Jesus?

Wrong question. The right question is, why did we do this to Jesus?

No you weren’t there to shout “crucify Him!” No, you didn’t hold the hammer or the whip.

But every time we sin against God we reveal that the same rebellion against God is in our hearts as well.

The truth is, all of us are guilty.

The cross reveals how much sinners hate God.

What do we deserve for this hatred of God? Absolutely and utter destruction!

And yet, the cross reveals something else that magnifies the grace of God...

Second, notice how much God loves sinners...

Jesus says the cross is not going to be the end of the story.

On the third day He will rise from the dead. Why?

Because Jesus’ death is more than a display of how much sinners hate God. It’s also a display of how much God loves sinners!

Paul puts it this way in...

Romans 5:6-10—For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.

Jesus didn’t die for us when we were strong, but because we were weak.

Jesus didn’t die for us when we were good, but because we were sinners.

Jesus didn’t die for us when we were friends, but because we were enemies.

If you’re not a follower of Jesus, perhaps you feel like you’re too far gone. Your sin is too great. There’s just no way God could forgive you for what you’ve done. Dear friend, Jesus did not die for you because you are good, but because He is good! That’s the way grace works! It’s how it always works! So come to Him today!

The cross is central to the life and mission of Jesus because it reveals the grace of Jesus.

But also...

2) The Cross REBUKES our Expectations from Jesus

Have you ever had a serious conversation with someone and they totally missed the point?

[ILLUSTRATION]

That’s exactly what’s happening with the disciples. Jesus has just told them what’s going to happen in Jerusalem and they’ve completely missed the point...

20:20—Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to [Jesus] with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something.

Mrs. Zebedee is the mother of two of Jesus’ disciples, James and John.

We first met the Zebedee boys in Matthew 4:21. They were in a boat with their dad, doing some maintenance on their fishing equipment for the family business. Jesus called them to follow Him, and they immediately left everything—the family business, their dad, their homes, everything!—and started following Jesus.

That was three years ago. A lot has changed over the past three years. They’ve heard Jesus’ teaching, they’ve seen His power, and slowly, perhaps imperceptibly their expectations from Jesus begin to grow.

And now, with mom by their side, it’s time to ask Jesus for the big one.

20:21—And [Jesus] said to [Mrs. Zebedee], “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”

Here’s what they’re asking: “Jesus, we know you’re a king. And we can sense the excitement in the air. We know your kingdom is coming. Can we be your #1 and #2?”

In Mark’s account, Mrs. Zebedee isn’t mentioned at all. Which suggests that this was really the boys’ idea they just brought mom along to sweeten the deal.

Now before we’re too hard on the Zebedees, just consider the ways you and I have unbiblical expectations from Jesus:

Do you expect Jesus to bless you with some earthly reward as long as you’re faithful?

Do you ever find yourself wondering why your kids didn’t turn out the way you expected? After all, you did everything right?

Do you struggle understanding why those sinful desires don’t go away, even though you’ve given them to the Lord over and over again?

Do you get angry when your health deteriorates, and wonder why God isn’t healing you?

Most of us are too timid to ask Jesus to build us up in His kingdom, but we don’t mind asking Jesus to build us up in our own little kingdoms.

Whether you’re asking Jesus to elevate you in His kingdom or to elevate you in your kingdom, the root problem is the same: you’ve forgotten the message of the cross.

So we see the centrality of the cross again as Jesus points to His cross to rebuke our unbiblical expectations...

20:22a—Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?”

The cup that Jesus is talking about is the cup of suffering. He’s pointing back to what He’s just told them about the cross.

He’s reminding them that following Him isn’t a cakewalk. And this isn’t the first time He’s said this...

Matthew 16:24—Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”

Christian: following Jesus does lead to incredible reward. But those rewards do not always come in the ways or at the time we expect. And in this life they are often mixed with great suffering. Jesus wants to re-calibrate our expectations.

But notice how the disciples respond...

20:22b-23—They said to [Jesus], “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

James and John glibly claim that they’re ready to drink the cup of suffering that awaits Jesus. In reality, they will quickly run away when Jesus is arrested in Jerusalem.

But eventually, they will drink the cup of suffering.

Acts 12 tells us James was beheaded for his faith in Jesus.

In the book of Revelation we learn that John was exiled on the island of Patmos for his faith. And church history tells us he was burned in hot oil.

These men would eventually learn what all Christians must learn: following Jesus means carrying a cross.

Rather than worrying about where they sit in heaven—something that is the Father’s business—James and John need to prepare themselves for what awaits them here.

But despite all this, the disciples still aren’t getting it...

20:24—And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.

We can’t say for sure, but the disciples are probably not angry at James and John for asking Jesus about thrones in heaven. They’re probably angry because they didn’t get to ask first.

This wasn’t the first time they’ve argued about this, and it won’t be the last.

But Jesus, in His kindness, uses this as a teaching opportunity for His disciples...

20:25-27—But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave”

Jesus is teaching His disciples something that is really easy to forget: If you want to be lifted up, you need to go low. If you want to be great you need to serve.

Self-promotion and boasting should have no place in the Christian’s heart or mouth. True greatness is achieved not when we serve ourselves, but when we serve others.

How are you doing Christian? Are you willing to serve, even to be like a slave? Are there areas of service in the local church that are beneath you? Are there needs that you could meet but you refuse to meet? Do you demand that the church and its people serve you and meet your needs, or are you willing to give your life to serve them and meet their needs?

Let me say a word to those of you who aren’t Christians:

Don’t you hate the bait and switch? When someone sells you something only to find out after you’ve bought it that it’s a lemon?

Let me be clear: following Jesus means a life of self-denial, a life of service, a life of suffering, a life of persecution. Yes, there’s more than that, but there’s not less.

So let the cross of Jesus rebuke your expectations. Jesus is clear that following Him will cost you everything. But in the end, you’ll gain all that you gave up and more.

The cross is central to the life and mission of Jesus because it rebukes our expectations from Jesus.

But also...

3) The Cross RANSOMS a People for Jesus.

After rebuking the disciples and their shallow understanding of His Kingdom, Jesus explains the purpose for His coming...

20:28—“even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

This verse may be the most important verse in all of Matthew’s gospel. Here Jesus clearly explains the purpose of His coming using the idea of a ransom.

When you hear the word “ransom,” what do you think of?

Most of us probably think of a ransom payment—the price that is payed to rescue someone who’s being held hostage.

In Jesus’ day, the word was used to describe a payment made to purchase a slave’s freedom.

In that little word, Jesus teaches us three truths about how the cross ransoms us...

A) We were slaves, unable to free ourselves

In the film, The Matrix, Morpheus tells Neo, “Like everyone else you were born into bondage. Into a prison that you cannot taste or see or touch. A prison for your mind.”

Something similar is true for all humanity. We were all born into bondage, into a prison that we cannot taste or see or touch. But ours is a prison of the soul.

John 8:34—Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

Unbeliever: If you don’t think you’re a slave to sin apart from Jesus, just try to stop!

Christian: Let us look upon our sinning neighbors with compassion, remembering that they are slaves! What they need is not morality, but the gospel!

Unlike The Matrix, there’s no pill we can swallow, no work we can accomplish to free ourselves.

Who then can pay the price to set us free?

B) Jesus fully paid the price to set us free

Look at the verse again: “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The price paid to set us free is nothing less than the life and death of Jesus.

1 Peter 1:18-19—“. . . you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Do you remember what Jesus said when His suffering was complete? He cried out, “It is finished!” Why? Because the price to ransom His people had been fully paid.

If you belong to Jesus, the price to ransom you has been fully paid. There is no penance you must endure, no purgatory to face after death.

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Does this mean that it doesn’t matter how we live?

C) We now belong, body and soul, to God

Christian: If Jesus paid the price to ransom you than you belong to Him!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20—“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

Kids: this means that if you give your life to Jesus, He expects you to obey Him. That means obeying mom and dad, honoring them, and telling them the truth.

Singles: this means you must honor Jesus in your singleness. You may have sinful desires that tempt you day in and day out, but you must submit those desires to Jesus. You are not your own.

Parents: you don’t get your parenting advice from Tiktok or Instagram or the latest self-help book. You submit your parenting to Jesus and you follow His Word.

What we do with our bodies, with our money, with our possessions, with our thought life, all of it belongs to Jesus!

Abraham Kuyper—“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!’”

The cross is central to the life and mission of Jesus because it ransoms a people for Jesus.

You would think after this argument about who’s the greatest that the disciples would finally get it. That they would finally understand, the cross not our ego is the center of the Christian life.

But the Bible says in Luke 22 that immediately after taking the Lord’s Supper—immediately after Jesus said “this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you,” they argued again about which of them was the greatest.

What does that teach us?

As important as some things are— things like communion, or Bible reading, prayer, and church attendance—in and of themselves they cannot fix you! They only help as they point you to the cross!