Enemies Of The Cross #4
Phip. 3:18

A. The world has been in turmoil for centuries. It was that way in Jerusalem in the 1st century.
Roman oppression lay a bitter yoke on the neck of the Jews. Clouds of bitter hatred rose over Jerusalem because of the occupation of the Roman legions.
Jews could not get along with each other. Herodians, Sadducees, Pharisees, Zealots. There was discrimination against Samaritans, suspicion of the Galileans.
(A) In the center of this vicious, unshackled emotion and violence God set the Cross.
(1) All of these people unite and focus their opposition on this one who hangs there.
(a) In this mess of hatred and scorn they are oblivious to the fact that the One they are rejecting is the only solution to all their problems.
Why do they hate, despise, gnash their teeth and wish Him death?
What has He done? Ask that question over and see what answer you get.
He restored cripples, gave sight to the blind, healed the sick, cleansed lepers, raised the dead, loved His enemies. While his enemies were trying to destroy him, He asked God to forgive them. Doesn’t make sense does it?
Yet, things today are not much different. Times change, but human nature does not. Hatred, prejudice, malice, distrust. Physical, verbal abuse at home, work, school and even in the church.
Not all enemies of the cross are outside of the church.
Paul makes that very clear in Phip. 3:18-19, “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their selfish appetite, and whose glory is in their shame??who set their mind on earthly things.” That’s talking about people in the Church.
The apostle Peter also states that fact in 2 Pet:2:1-2,, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.” Acts 20:28-30, warns of false elders who lead people in congregations to be lost.
In Christ’s day the worst enemies of the cross were the spiritual leaders.
Supposed to lead in preserving the spiritual, moral uprightness of God’s Word.
Only real interest was in obtaining and keeping high positions of honor.
Instead of accepting God’s Messiah they are the ones who mock, ridicule,
jeer, spit in His face and demand His crucifixion.
Notice the ends to which evil will go to destroy what exposes it. Notice the extent to which evil men will go to extinguish the light that exposes them.
As Jesus is dying, suspended between heaven and earth, they mock Him.
“If you are the Son of God, come down off the cross.” “Look, He saved others but He cannot save Himself.” “You trusted in God why doesn’t He deliver You now?” So calloused they will mock a dying man. Talk about sick.
The enemies of the cross are many. They are both in the Church and out.
2. Spiritual leaders were not the only enemies of the Cross. Others less distinguished.
(1) Those who do what the majority does. Just follow the crowd.

(1) Ask them why and they don’t know. They have no idea why they believe what they say they believe. Our leaders and others are doing it so it must be right.
(1) Illustrated in Jean Beraud’s cartoon booklet about the events of Calvary.
(2) 10 year old boy who does not know Jesus from Adam. Brought up in a modern fashion. Hears Jesus going to calvary and follows the mob and he joins the mockery and jeers. Sees the people throwing stones and he picks up stones and throws them at Jesus.
(3) Why did he do that? What harm has Jesus ever done to him. WHY?
(4) He doesn’t know why? The crowd is doing it and so he’s doing it too.
(5) Guess what? He unknowingly becomes another enemy of the Cross.
(6) Have you ever been guilty of that? You know who Jesus is, You know why He died on the Cross. And yet you still follow the world and act like the world.
(2) When you look closely at the people beneath the Cross.
(1) You don’t find who you expect to find there. Where are the twelve?
(2) Where’s Peter who boasted so loudly, “I’ll never forsake you!”
(3) Only John is there standing beside Jesus’ mother in her time of need.
(2) Jesus fed the hungry, healed the sick, restored sight, limbs, cleansed lepers. But, you would have never know it = Where are they? They are consciously absent.
(1) They have no courage to voice or stand up for their convictions.
(1) Aren’t such people pathetic? They are to be pitied. They are worse than atheist.
(2) In time of war we say, “They give aid and comfort to the enemy.” Traitors.
(3) What should be done to people who betray America in our time of need?
(2) Look into the faces of those around the cross. How many look a lot like us?
(1) Today, God wants you to know, The Cross still stands. And the Cross still speaks, “Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laded and I will give you rest....He that comes to me I will in no way cast out.”
(2) Acts 20:32, “I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

Spur - 12/02/2001 am