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X* A A t <«.<■ S - •; Z - • ' April 8, 1992...The Portland ()bserver...Page 7 Portland Observer Scripture o f the Wkefi RELIGION Matthew, Chapter 7 Insight on the Word: When You Look at the Cross, What Do You See? BY MICHAEL LINDSEY Dean, North Portland Bible College These weekly columns are based on the International Sunday School Lesson, used by churches in many de nominations. We are presently survey ing incidents in the life o f Christ from the Gospel o f Mark. Today's text is M ark 15:22-28. In modern times we use crosses almost everyw here, especially as jew elry. Crosses com e in many shapes and sizes and designs, each with its own history. And thccrosses are often richly adorned with gold and gems, so that they are quite beautiful and appealing. But that was not so in Jesus’ time. The cross was an instrument of public torture and humiliation, the worstmeans o f execution used by the Roman sol diers. Crucifixion so appalled even the Romans that a Roman citizen could never be executed on a cross. As I noted in an earlier colum n, Jesus’ require ment that his disciples “ take up their cross, and follow m e” was a serious call to suffering and death. So how on earth did the cross so totally change its symbolic value? Per haps it seems trite to say this, but it is still true: by his death Jesus trans formed the cross from a symbol of suffering and rejection into a symbol of new life and reconciliation with God. The early Christians had other symbols for various truths of their faith, such as the fish, the dove, or the butterfly. But the cross demonstrated best the neces ■ a n a i sity for new life to come out ol death, particularly the atoning death of the Sav ior. We would do well as we approach the annual celebration o f the Resurrec tion, to move back in time and observe the effects of the cross o f Jesus on those around him, and to exam ine our own hearts carefully. First we can watch the Roman sol- dierscharged with carrying out the grisly execution. These battle-hardened men had little respect for the troublesome Jews, who always seemed to be stirring up some little trouble. The soldiers received their victim from Pilate (Mark 15:15), and all got together in the Roman palace, next to their garrison, to have some cruel fun at Jesus’ expense. They pretended to honor him as a king, while they were savagely beating him, and culling his skin with a crown made ol thorn briars (15:16-20). They finally led him out to G olgotha, where they com pleted their task. [Notice how the Gospel writers share no details of the actual crucifixion; they pass over the Lord’s agony in reverent silence.] W hile they watched the condemned men on their crosses, the soldiers take Jesus’ clothes, his only earthly posses sions, and divided them into separate piles, one for each soldier on watch. The “casting lots upon them” was their simple form of gambling, to see who got which garment. D idn’t they know how important this Man was, whose garments they di . « i vided among themselves? Didn’t they see how nobly he accepted their taunts and beatings? No, most of them quickly forgot who he was, and focused on the little bits of clothing they could rightly claim for themselves. So it is today. Every year the churches call our people to recognize the marvel o f Jesus’ love, which led him to die for our sins, to “ redeem us from the curse o f the Law.” And we ought to rejoice in the victory which is the Resurrection! Instead, many focus their attention on the new “garm ents” people are wearing to church, or the fun and games of bunny rabbits and egg hunts. Though Jesus hangs on the cross before them, pouring out his life for them, they arc too busy to look up to him. There were plenty of people just passing by; cruc i fix ion was supposed to be a public deterrent, after all. Many of these same people had cried “H osanna” at Jesus’ entrance less than a week before. But now they mocked him, throwing in his face his claim that he would destroy the temple, and in three days rebuild it (15:29-30). They did not understand the Almighty Power hang ing before them, nor the fulfillment of those very words in his death and resur rection. So many people around us today, if they stop and think about Jesus at all, have the same attitude as these Palestin ians and Jews around the cross. Are you one of them? Do you look at the life of Jesus, and see someone powerless to influence and give purpose to your life today? Is he irrelevant, or a joke? If you think that way, I’m glad you’ve read this article so far. Before you dismiss Jesus’ death so lighdy,carefully reconsider. Thepeople who “railed on him ” have disappeared from the pages o f history. Jesus’ mes sage of hope and new life, o f rcconcil - ation with God, has spread to all com ets of the globe. If you haven’t found ti e answers to life, you haven’t really trit d Jesus Christ. His life transforms drug addicts and drunks into responsible adults and happy parents. His love heals the wounds caused by abuse, ne glect, poverty and dispair. Try Jesus! Standing back a little from the crosses and the roadway, we can sec some of the “chief priests” and scribes (15:31-32). They didn’t want to con taminate themselves in the midst o f the Passover celebration, but they just had to sec their adversary’s death, the suc cessful conclusion of their schemes. The words recorded here indicate they were having a great time, ridiculing Jesus (among themselves, o f course), calling him “Christ the King of Israel,” saying “he saved others; him self he cannot save.” They didn’t believe a word o f it, though they might have been uneasy as they recalled the powerful healings he’d performed, the demon-possessed he had rescued, even Lazarus whom he had just raised from the dead. Perhaps their fears were calm ed as they saw Jesus helpless, dying before their very eyes. Many have followed in the path of these religious leaders. The history o f the church contains the accounts o f many skepticsand false religious teachers who have confidently claim ed the demise o f the Christian faith. Voltaire often pro claimed the end of Christian faith in his own lifetime; he’s been dead over 150 years. Thomas Huxley, the great biolo gist and champion o f evolution in the late 1800’s, publicly taught that D arw in’s theories o f evolution would make the Bible a forgotten book by the end o f this century. Obviously they were mistaken. Jesus Christ, and the Book which presents him to humanity, have proven invincible against the attacks o f atheists, agnostics, culls, and various world religions. Sure, lots of people today still ridicule Christ, the cross, and the Christian faith. And many will tell you it is intellectual sui cide to defend that ancient creed in the modem world, given our advances in knowledge, technology, and cultural in teraction. But Christianity has always been mocked and ridiculed; that’s noth ing “m odem .” And yet somehow its truth continues to attract people from all walks o f life, and from hundreds of ethnic groups worldwide. L et’s take one final look at the scene before the cross. W e sec one lonely soldier, a centurion (like a master ser geant in today’s arm y), overseeing yet another crucifixion in Jerusalem. This • z -X-X *<* v ; Xvz.vX-XvXvX-X * -X-X-X-X-XvX z -X-X •• »X-XOX-X M IM M I tf:-:’íxCx5<í-x-:-x:5:-x'X'íXs-x-x-íx<l>w>íÑs*íu. Jesus Loves You! Allen Temp le C M E C k urck Psalm 34:3 4236 NE Eighth Avenue (corner of 8th £ Skidmore) Portland, Oregon 97211 (503) 287-0261 Birth Announcement 10th Annual women Fellowship The Christ M emorial D epartment o f W omen Affairs will sponsor its 10th Annual women Fellowship and Sem i nar on April 22 thru 26, (W ed.-Fri.) at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 8:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m., and Sunday 3:30 p.m. Location: 1552 N. Killingsworth and The B estW estem Coliseum Inn, 19 N. W eidler, Portland. Please contact Marlene W ooten for further information at 284-9665. t Phillip S. Nelson Pastor time the officer was drawn to the M an on the middle cross, the one labelled “ King o f the Jew s” by Pilate. Very funny. He couldn’t get over the calm com posure in the midst o f agony; this Jesus never lost consciousness before he died— he was able to cry out in a loud voice, even as he “gave up the ghost” (15:37). [This expression in the original is simply “expired, died.” N o com m ent on Jesus’ spirit is implied in the choice of words.] The soldier’s com m ent has becom e a ringing affirmation o f faith through the centuries: “Truly this man was the Son of G od.” From a pagan Rom an, this probably meant that Jesus was a divine man or deified hero, like Hercules. But even so, the centurion was the one man ? involved in the crucifixion who took an honest look at Jesus— and his response was more truthful than he even knew. According to ancient and reliable tradition, this centurion becam e a fo l lower of the risen Jesus C h n st through the witness of Joseph o f A rim athea (15:43). The soldier was later tran s ferred to Britain, and Joseph w ent w ith him, establishing one of the first C h ris tian congregations in m odern-day E n gland. W hen you look at the cross today, do you see a defeated m artyr? A w on derful, though m isunderstood, teacher? Or a fool on the hill? Like the Rom an soldier, may you see Jesus the Christ, willingly giving his life aw ay, that we might have new life in him. Denise C. and M ark A Johnson o f Portland are the proud paren ts o f Alesha Marie Johnson, bom 3-25-92 at 1:07 a.m., Alesha w as 19.5 inches long and weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz. at birth. Alesha has a none year old brother, Terrance M itchel.l and grandparents Norma and A1 Brown here in Portland. M a llo ry Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 126 N.6. Alberta Portland, OA 97211 (503) 288-5173 ? Denise fl. Sell, Pastor J B L 5 p a u l J Î H t s a t u n a r ç EASTER BREAKFAST ÿ a p t i s t ( Î Ï Ï j u r d AT } MALLORY AVENUE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 8101 N. Fiske Avenue Portland, O regon 97203 CHURCH OF GOD 1601 N.E. KILLINGSVORTH Church Pho.ie: 289-0147 PASTOR: MARCUS IRVING M allory C hurch of C hrist NE M A L L O R Y SUNDAY - APRIL 19, 1992 Study Phone: 289-1911 Sunday Service 10:45 Sunday School 9:30 Bible Study 6:00 Evening Service 7:00 P.M. Spring Term March 30 - June 12, North Portland Bible College 3908 126 N.E. ALBERTA GOOD FOOD __ GREAT PEOPLE ... WONDERFUL FELLOWSHIP COSTS : ADULTS - $3.00............... CHILDREN - $1.75 FAMILIES - $6.00 9:45 A.M. SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES FOR ALL AGES (CHILDREN AND ADULTS) Pastor. Rev. James C E Faulkner Theme: Whatever you're going to do lo r the Lord, do it now AVENUE I P e t e r h r .il Bible Study 9:30 am . Morning Worship 10:45 am . Men's Training Leadership FU N ERA L W om en’s Bible Class 5:00 pm. D IR E C T O R S Evening Worship Family Owned and Operated Since 1954 Serving the City of Portland for over 37 years In your hour o f need Vann &Vann are there to serve 6:00 pm. Attended nursery for all services Wednesday prayer meeting Minister Gregory Fobbs Radio Ministry tach Sunday, 11:00 AM - KBMS Cleodus Vann 288-1092 « • • • «L « WORSHIP SERVICE PROCEEDS FROM THE BREAKFAST GO TO BENEFIT THE YOUTH CAMPSHIPS FOR OUR SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS 5211 N. W illia m s P o rtlan d , Or. 97217 •> * » Jt 4.9 AAJbAAZ P * • * MT OLIVET B aptist C hurch Has moved Sunday services to Stone Tower Church, N.E. Sandy Blvd. & 30th Worship Services 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Church School 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Bible Study, Wednesdays, 116 N.E. Schuyler 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Radio Ministry each Sunday, 8:00 a.m. on KBMS A Teaching Church With A Reaching Ministry Dr. James E. Martin, Senior Pastor 503/281 -2836 RESTORING NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY . 11:00 A.M. CALL VI AT 288-5173 FOR RESERVATIONS SUNDAY SCHEDULE LA* • * 8:00 - 9:30 A.M. •» LM ' * * •» .• * » Church Office 116 N.E. Schuyler St. (503) 284-1954
