Bible Study: The Conversation At The Cross, John 19:13-41

 

   

THE CONVERSATION AT THE CROSS

 

John 19:13-41

 

 

I want to look at the conversation at the cross. The same conversation goes on today.

We have the same situation. There is nothing new under the sun.  At the cross, Jesus is giving us at look at life.

I believe if we keep our focus on the significance of the cross

we will see the good in life in all situations.

 

Life has both bad and good.

 

It is out of the bad that strength, courage, faith and love develops.

The true integrity of a person can be determined by how

He/she handles the bad.

 

Learning how to handle the bad in life improved the quality of life

In the good times.  I think when we see the bad in life working

for our good, we want waste time in pity or self doubt, but glorify

God all times.  

 

THE BAD IN JESUS TIME ON EARTH

13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.

"Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.

15 But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!"

"Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked.

"We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.

16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 Here they crucified him, and with him two others — one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."

22 Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."

23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

24 "Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it."

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said,

"They divided my garments among them

and cast lots for my clothing."

So this is what the soldiers did.

 

 

THE BAD TODAY

1. There was lying at the cross.

    The religious leaders lied about Jesus. They took His Words out of

    context. He claim to be king, but not of this world

 

     Peter lied about knowing Jesus three time the night of the trial

    

     We have to own our lies, repent to move on.

 

2. There was jealous at the cross

 

    It all started with jealousy or envy, which led to anger. Anger led to

    Murder. We see this ever day in America

    We have to guard our hearts against jealousy and envy.

 

3. There was greed at the cross.

    The religious leaders were greedy for power and authority.

    It was not about the welfare of the people, but their own agenda.

    Judas sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver.

    We see this every day in politics.

 

 

4. There was gambling at the cross

    The Roman solders divide up Jesus clothes

    The under garment which was seamless, they

     cast lots to see who would get it.

 

   People are gambling away their lives by not wearing mask

   The biggest gamble is to reject Jesus as Lord and Savior

 

THE GOOD AT THE CROSS

5. There was truth at the cross.

  

       John 14:6-7

       Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes    

        to the Father except through me.

 

    We got the truth about the spread of covid-19 and how to

     prevent the spread, but many people ignore the truth.  

 

   Pilate knew the truth. He knew Jesus was innocent.

   But he would not act on the truth.

 

6. There is a burden at the cross

    Jesus said pick up your cross and follow me.

 

    Simon of Cyrene was force to carry the cross of Jesus

    Jesus was bloody with open wounds .

    Simon got the blood of Jesus on his garment

 

     Can you imagine getting the blood of Jesus all over you?

     You cannot get into heaven without being covered in the blood of

     Jesus.

 

THE GOOD AT THE CROSS

7. There was compassion at the cross.

     Jesus, while headed to the cross, saw His mother

     and John together.

 

     He knew his mother’s grief. He said woman behold your Son.

     To John, behold your mother,

     Jesus knows what you are going through, He will be here

      For you when you need Him. He will console you in troubled times.

 

8. There are miracles at the cross. Dead saints got up and walked the

    Streets of Jerusalem at the death of Jesus.

 

    Sun was eclipsed by the Moon. It was dark at 3pm

    The biggest miracle is us. As corrupt as we are, Jesus

    accepts us as brothers and sisters.

 

9. There was enlightenment at the cross.

 

    Two other men were crucified  with Jesus

    One rejected Christ and mocked Him.

    One confessed his sin and accepted Jesus as His savior

    Jesus said to him , this day you will be in paradise

 

    The same thing happens today. The moment someone

    confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, they are immediately

    with Jesus in the Spirit.

 

   . God can change the heart of you worst enemy.

 

    Mark 15:39-40

    And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry    

     and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

 

    People know you love Christ by the way you live.

 

THE GLORY AT THE CROSS

10. Sin met grace at the cross.

   The sins of believers are nullified at confession,

    

     Gal 1:4-5

     Jesus  who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil

     age,  according to the will of our God and Father,  to whom be glory for   

     ever  and ever. Amen.

 

11. There is completion at the cross

     Jesus said it is finish, hung His head and died

     His Spirit left His fleshly body

     What Jesus came to earth to do was to redeem us form our sins.

    

          John 12:32

           But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to   

           myself."

 

      There is complete submission at the cross,
       Father into your hand, I submit my spirit,

 

13.  There is victory at the cross

       No one takes my life, I have the power to lay it down

       And the power to take it back up again

     

      1 Cor 15:55-57

      "Where, O death, is your victory?

       Where, O death, is your sting?"

       56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 5

        But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus

        Christ.

 

     Every time you think about things not going your way, go to

     The cross

 

14. There is life at the cross

      Any man in Christ is a new creation.

    

      Luke 17:33

      Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will     

       preserve it.

 

15. There is love at the cross

      God so love the world the He gave His only begotten Son

 

16. There is peace at the cross.
       Jesus said,    

       John 14:27

       Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the    

       world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

 

16.  There is joy at the  cross

   

       John 15:10-12

       I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy   

       may be  complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have   

       loved you.

 

17. There is approval at the cross

    

       John 6:27

       Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life,

       which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed  

       his seal of approval."

 

You and I will never live in a situation where there are no problems.

When we face trouble, trials and tribulations, go to the cross

 

All is well at the cross

 

GRATEFULNESS IS THE KEY TO PEACE

    Phil 4:6-7

       Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and    

       petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the

        peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your   

        hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

When you get caught up in the worlds problems, take a moment

 And clear your thinking.

    

    Phil 4:8-9

    Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is     

    pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or

    praiseworthy — think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or

    heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will   

    be with  you.

 

 

IN SUMMARY

 

THERE IS GOOD AND BAD IN THIS LIFE

 

SEE THE GOOD AND THE BAD AS WORKING FOR YOU

 

PRAY AND BE THANKFUL FOR YOUR SITUATION

 

DON’T WORRY BE AT PEACE

 

TRUST GOD WITH YOUR SITUATION

 

DON’T FORGET THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CROSS

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Power Of Intercessory Prayer" Exodus 32:1-14

 

   

THE POWER OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER

 

Exodus 32:1-14

 

 

ALWAYS FOCUS ON THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD

 Moses was called to the mountain to receive the Stone Tablets and

 complete detailed instructions on building the Tabernacle.

 The Israelites quickly forgot the power of God that brought them

  out of Egypt. We people you love want listen, intercede with God

 on their behalf.

 

BE ALERT FOR THE DEVIL’S INFLUENCE

V:1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him."

2 Aaron answered them, "Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons, and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me." 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt."

 

A. Without a Godly leader, men will quickly turn to their fleshly desires.

     1. As long as Moses was with the Israelites, they followed his lead.

     2. There is always someone waiting to take your place and move

          in a different direction undermining what you have done.

B. You can take a man out of slavery, but you may not be able to

     take slavery out of the man.

     1. Ingrained in the Israelites were the idol gods they had worshipped

         for four hundred years in Egypt.

     2. It did not take much persuading to go back to

         their previous ways of slavery.

C. Aaron having been a spokesman for God during the exodus

     should have been the first to say no to their ungodly

     plan.

     1. Aaron was left in charge of  the Israelite.

         a. He failed to give Godly advice.

         b. Instead, he yielded to the majority.

        

      2. When your mind is not on God, Satan will take the opportunity

          to destroy you.

      3. The idea of an idol god to lead them is odd according to their

               recent experience.

            a. They had never seen an idol god do 10 plagues.

            b. No idol good every parted the Red Sea,

            c. No idol good ever talk to them from a cloud,

       4.The gold was given to them by God from the Egyptians

          as they left Egypt.

       5. They claim that the idol god which didn’t exist, brought

              them out of Egypt.

        6, We have to be careful that we don’t put our time, possessions,

             and families before the living God.

        7. Anything that we put first before God becomes an idol.

 

 

YIELD NOT TO THE TEMPTATION OF THE CROWD

V:5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, "Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord ." 6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward, they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.

A. Aaron got caught up in his own glory after fashioning the golden calf.

    1. He along with all of Israel sinned against God breaking the

        the first   commandment they  swore to God to keep.

     2. We have to be careful that we don’t get caught up in the emotions

         of the crowd and sin against God.

B. Aaron took the sins of Israel to an extreme level by building an altar

     and worshipping what he made with his hands.

   1. They sacrificed burnt offering to the dumb idol and had a party

        celebrating their foolishness with what the Living God had

        blessed them with.

    2. They broke the 2nd commandment by doing so.

    3. How often do we had a party using what God has given us

        disrespecting Him at the same time?

    4. Satan has a field day with our disobedience.

 

 

 

GOD WILL REVEAL YOUR NEED FOR PRAYER

V:7 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'

A. God sees all that we do.

     1. He is aware of our thoughts before we sin.

     2. He allows our temptations to test our obedience to Him.

B. God makes known our disobedience to His leaders for our

     chastisement.

     1. God tolerates us while He disciplines us.

     3. Our disobedience does not change His will for us.

         But suffer His wrath

                                                                                      

INTERCEDE FOR OTHERS IN ALL YOUR PRAYERS

9 "I have seen these people," the Lord said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."

11 But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. "O Lord," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people.

A. We grieve the Lord when we sin against Him.

     1. The wages of sin is death which He could execute at any time.

     2. God loves us enough to put in place prayer warriors to

         intercede for us doing our sin.

     3. Notice God voiced His desire to Moses to destroy Israel.

     4. God also voiced His desire to start a new nation with Moses,

 B. Moses could have thought only of himself and agreed with God

      To destroy Israel.

    1. Moses loved His nation enough to plead with God for

        their lives.

    2. Although Moses had reason enough to abandon Israel because of

        their constant complaints, he reasoned with God to save them.

     3. Moses became Israel's deliverer and savior.

     4. As leaders and parents we must be in constant prayer for those

         God has placed under our care.

C. Moses knew the plan of God for Israel and the promises He made

     to Abraham.

     1. God’s promises was the basis of Moses prayer of intercession

         for Israel.

      2. There is nothing wrong with reminding God of what He has done

           for you and others.

      3. There is nothing wrong with reminding God of His promises.

      4. God needs no reminder, but He wants to hear our prayers,

      5. God acts on our intercessory prayers.

      6. In fact. I think God puts us in a position to intercede to test

          our love for others.

     7. Reminding God of the victory over Satan is another reason

        to intercede for others.

     8. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

        a. We all need to pray for each other.

        b. I think I exist today because of the prayers of the church.

 

CLAIM GOD’S PROMISES FOR YOU AND THE CHURCH

V:13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.'" 14 Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

A. We have to study the Bible to know God’s promises.

    1. We should meditate on God’s promises, and realize that

         those promises apply to us.

    2. The promises to Abraham were made 430 years earlier,

         yet they applied to Moses and the nation of Israel.

B. We are descendants of Abraham.

     1. The promise God made to Abraham was made to us along

          with Israel,

            

         Gen 17:4-5

        "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of   

         many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will

         be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. “

 

      2. The “many” includes all of the church of Jesus Christ.

      3. Did the Lord change His mind about destroying Israel

          or did He use Moses as the intercessor for Israel?

      4. God’s will for us does not change because of our sins.

          but our sins will cause us to suffer loss.

 

 

THANK GOD FOR HIS COMMANDS

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041.

 

For more lessons, follow me on facebook and visit

My blogs: revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

 

 

       

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Learning To Trust God", Exodus 24:12-18. 10/25/2020

 

   

LEARNING TO TRUST GOD

 

Exodus 24:12-18

 

BACKGROUND

Let’s review the situation of this text.

The Israelites had been delivery our of slavery from Egypt

For three months.

 

They knew about God but did not know or trust God. All of their

complaints were against Moses.

 

Getting to know God is a process. God showed them His power and

authority using the 10 plagues and the destruction of the Egyptian

army in the Red Sea.

 

God led them out of Egypt into the desert. The learned that God is

a God of directions.

 

God protected them in the desert with a cloud doing the day and

fire at night. They learned that God is a protector.

 

God provided food and water in the desert for all their needs.

They leaned that God is a provider.

 

God led them in a war against the Amalekites. They learned that

God is their victory.

 

They had not learn to trust God, because every time they were in need,

they companied to Moses,

 

They heard the voice of God when He spoke to them from a cloud.

They learned that God speaks to them.

 

God establish a covenant with them in which they all agreed to follow

His commands. Moses read to them God’s commands. The job of a

Preacher is the teaching of God’s Word.

 

Trusting and relying on God takes time.

The only one who trusted and relied on God at this point was Moses.

Moses Had forty years of experience with God in Midian through

His father in law Jethro the priest of Midian.

 

COME CLOSE TO GOD

V:12 The Lord  said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction."

A. To get close to God, you have to spend time with God.

    1. The more you spend time studying your Bible, the more He will reveal

        to you.

    2. The first thing you have to do is lift God to the  highest place in your

         mind.

    3. When you humble yourself before God, He can work with you.

B. The Word was put in print as an instruction manual from God on

      How to live a righteous an a successful life.

   1. Notice God wrote His Word on a stone tablet.

   2. Let me suggest that the stone represents the permanent quality of the

       Word.

   3. Word is unchangeable.

        Heaven and earth will pass away but my word is forever.

B. In order to fully understand God’s Word, you have to meditate on it   

     and committed it to memory.

    1. Writing God’s Word down on paper is a way to commit it

         to memory.

     2. This was the second time God called Moses to record His Word.

     3. God could have written all His Word, but He used Moses

          write all the details.

     4. Christians work in partnership with God.

     5. God does not need our help, but He uses us to encourage and

         teach others about Him.

     6. Without the teaching of the Word, it would stay on a shelf

          covered with dust.

    

         Matt 13:52

       "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the

         kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his

         storeroom new treasures as well as old."

 

RESPOND TO THE CALL OF GOD

V:13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14 He said to the elders, "Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them."

A. Joshua  was first introduced as the leader of a group of Israelites

    formed to fight the Amalekites.

    1. Joshua proved himself reliable and became a aide to Moses.

    2. As leaders we must train our replacements.

    3. It would be forty years in the desert after Moses died, before

        Joshua took charge.

    4. We are all being trained by God for the next assignment.

B. Moses set up levels of civil government while he went to

      the Mountain top with God.

    1. He set the priest in charge of the 70 elders.

    2. The 70 elders were probably in charge of the

        nation.

    3. Any problems were to be solved through this group.

    4. We all have the responsibility of what God has gifted us with.

C. We have to learn to wait on the Lord.

    1. Perhaps Moses knew in advance that he would be on the mountain

        with God a long period of time.

    2.  Sometimes our assignment is to hear the Word of God.

    3. Sometime our assignment is to serve God by serving others.

    4. Sometimes our assignment is to be in prayer while waiting.

    5. We lead by studying the Word.

    7. We can lead by instructing others.

    8. We can lead by encouraging other in prayer.

    9. You Got an assignment, the question is, will you serve.

      

WAIT PATIENTLY ON THE LORD

V:15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the Lord  settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord  called to Moses from within the cloud.

A. When God calls, He may not speak immediately.

    1. You and I have been called to meet God in a high place.

    2. We have to wait anticipating His voice.

    3. Moses was called to the mountain and he saw the glory of

        God, but he had to wait in God’s glory for seven days.

    4. It is a blessing to be in God’s glory, even if you don’t hear

        His voice.

    5. We are always in God’s glory.

         a. When I see the different shades of green in my yard, that God’s

             glory.

         b. When I feel the wind blowing, that’s God’s glory.

         c. When I see the sun shining, that God’s glory.

         d. When I awoke this morning, I was in God’s glory.

  B. There are times when I am studying the Word and have

         nothing to write concerning the lesson. If I wait awhile,

         God will give me words to write.

      1. There are times when I look at the Word and see only what

          I  have taught before. But If I wait awhile, God will show me

            something different.

       2. Sometimes God calls when I have laid my pencil down

           and gone to bed. He will enlighten me with a new insight

           I will have to get up and write again.

       3. Moses waited for seven days after his call before God spoke.

       4. When studying the Word, never lean on your own understand.

       5. You got to learn to wait on the Holy Spirit enlightenment.

 

SEEK THE GLORY OF THE LORD

V:17 To the Israelites the glory of the Lord  looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

1. If you are looking for God, you will see His glory.

2. To one it might look like a consuming fire.

3. To another if might look like bright light from the sun.

4. To another, God’s glory might look like a streaming light across

     sky at night.

    

     2 Chronicles 15:2-3

     The Lord  is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be   

      found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3

 

          1 Chronicles  16:10

        Glory in his holy name;

        let the hearts of those who seek the Lord  rejoice.

 

5. Any time you are studying God’s Word, you are in His Glory.

6. Don’t be too quick to leave the study of God’s Word.

7. Anytime you are studying God’s Word you are productive.

8. It never fails, every time I study the same scripture, the Holy

    Spirit will show me something different about the Lord.

 

THANK GOD FOR HIS DIRECTIONS

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041