April 12, 2022
The past five Sunday we’ve been learning five practices to walk with God: worship, listening to God through the Bible, serving, giving, and sharing the good news. That’s a lot! A Crossway survey found only 2% of people feel very satisfied with their prayer life. We all know we are not as close to God as Jesus. I don’t want you to feel like walking with God means a burdensome list of things to do. Start small. Or, if you can talk to God for two minutes a day, that’s awesome! If you can pray for one friend who is far from God, that’s fantastic! Start small.
But maybe you wonder, why start at all? Today we are going to look at that. Why start to walk with God? You’re busy. Or there are so many things pulling your attention away. Why start to walk with God?
We’ll look at why Jesus walked with God even on the cross. He could have focused on just getting through his suffering. Why did Jesus take the time and effort on the cross to walk with God?
On Palm Sunday we celebrate an amazing moment when people broke out in spontaneous praise of Jesus! Jesus deserved that moment! But it didn’t last.
Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem was followed by the worst few days of his life. His friends would desert him and betray him, he would be arrested, tortured, and nailed to a cross. But as we’ll see, even on the cross Jesus worships, remembers the Bible, and listens to God’s message, he serves, he gives, and he shares the good news.
First, Jesus walks with God by worshiping: Jesus worships on the cross. He says in Mark 15:34, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Is this worship? Are you allowed to worship God by complaining? Yes, you are! Remember, God wants true worshippers who invite God into their lives. Worshippers who talk with Him about how they feel and what they’re going through. There are times when you will be disappointed with God. Each one of us has been upset with God. Jesus cries out to God, using the first verse of Psalm 22. It is a Psalm of Lament. In the psalms of lament, people cry to God about an unbearable situation. Jesus speaks to God, expressing his true feelings. “My God my God, why have you forsaken me” comes from Psalm 22. Psalm 22:24 says, For the Lord has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. Jesus, remember he has a tough time breathing, let alone speaking on the cross, cries out the first verse of Psalm 22. He knows the rest of Psalm 22, that it continues and finally gets to trust in God, that God will listen to his cry for help. Jesus complains but know that God will take are of him.
Second, Jesus walks with God by listening to God through the Bible. Jesus says, “Father into your hands I commit my spirit.” It’s from Psalm 31:5. Jesus is saying, I give myself to you, God for safekeeping. Jesus is fully human. He feels fear. He is scared. He remembers this verse from the Bible. He needs God and this is his prayer. I give myself, God into your hands. This is a way Jesus listened for God in the Bible and found comfort from Him.
Third, Jesus walks with God by serving. Jesus looks at his mother who is watching her son die on the cross. He then looks at the disciple whom he loved. Jesus says, “Woman, here is your son.” He looks at his disciple and says, “Here is your mother.” Jesus is dying but making sure his mother will be cared for. He is also giving his disciple a way to serve. Jesus shows us that we need to care for the people around us and save them. Jesus takes care of unfinished business on the cross. He finds someone to serve as a loving son to his mother. Calling his disciple to serve makes him feel better about dying and leaving his mother.
Fourth, Jesus walks with God by giving, Jesus says, “I thirst.” Maybe you have been with someone who was very sick or dying and they can’t drink. So, you give them an ice chip or use a little sponge on a stick to get their mouth wet. You do what you can to help them feel better. On the cross, Jesus asked for a drink. But the soldiers didn’t give him water. They gave him vinegar on a sponge! Psalm 22:14 says, “I am poured out like water.” Jesus is coming to the end of his life. Paul says that Jesus emptied himself on the cross. Jesus perseveres through pain and agony. He gives all he has. We see that Jesus is a powerful example of giving. He gives all he has. He gives his life.
Fifth, Jesus even shared the Good News of God’s love while on the cross. There were two criminals crucified with Jesus, one on each side of him. One of them was yelling at Jesus: “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal says to the first, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Jesus is always glad to bring someone closer to God. Jesus says, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” On the cross Jesus is rescuing lost sheep, demonstrating God’s love for everyone. I would understand if Jesus just wanted to get through the crucifixion and didn’t want to deal with anyone or talk to anybody. But Jesus came to proclaim the good news. This is exactly what he came for, so to the end of his life Jesus is trying to draw others, even those condemned to die, to God. He shares the good news of God’s unending love while hanging on the cross. And Jesus finds satisfaction that he and this criminal will be having a great time together in heaven!
In all that Jesus says on the cross, he is finding his hope and his comfort and his purpose in God. Jesus doesn’t just walk with God when times are good. Jesus, while dying on the cross, walks with God. He doesn’t treat his walk with God as something that’s optional, that he doesn’t have to do when things get difficult. He worships, listens to God in the Bible, serves, gives and shares the good news, while being crucified! He walks with God because his burden is difficult. Especially when our burden is heavy, we need God. We need the comfort, power, hope and purpose that comes from walking with Him.
Jesus’ last words on the cross are “It is finished.” It is accomplished. That’s a cry of victory. He has made it to the end of his life, faithful to God, worshipping, listening, serving, giving and witnessing. Jesus was the sacrifice for the salvation of many. He crossed the finish line!
The cross of Christ shows a love so amazing! It shows us a way to live that ends in victory. God is our help, our strength, and our redeemer, who we rely on in difficult times. Through his love, we have victory.
Why start to walk with God? Why walk with God when life is busy and there is so much pulling for our attention? Because God is the source of hope, comfort, love and purpose. We need God’s help in those difficult times, to endure until a new day comes.
My challenge for you this week is to read the gospel from today’s bulletin. Read it at home. It’s a remarkable story of the incredible power and grace of Jesus love.
Let us close in prayer:
Thank you, God for Jesus. For helping him on the cross. Thank you for loving us so much that you sent Jesus. We want to walk with you. Help us to take a small step, to walk with you each day. Amen.
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