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Veteran’s Day Lessons

Veteran’s Day Lessons Luke 23:26 Emmanuel Christian Church 11.10.24 As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ 31 For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Luke 23:32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.Luke 23:35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” Luke 23:36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” Luke 23:38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” Luke 23:40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Luke 23:42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. INTRODUCTION: On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, World War I came to an end- closing out a chapter in human history that bore the stench of death and the evidence of man’s inhumanity to man. For those of that day, it seemed as though a new morning had finally broken. The war “to end all wars” was itself at its end! In celebration of this new beginning, and in tribute to the sacrifices made by those involved, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11th to be observed as “Armistice Day”. In 1938, it was proclaimed a national holiday, and in 1954 the day was renamed “Veteran’s Day” in honor of United States Veterans of every era. Over the years, Veterans Day has almost been forgotten. What a shame! Those men and women who once stood for us in the face of a death and adversity deserve better! I would like to honor the veterans with us here today. If you are a veteran, please stand just now so that we might honor you this morning. By now, you may be wondering what Luke ‘s account of the Crucifixion has to do with Veteran’s Day. Well, much in every way! As we honor and give thanks for our veterans, I want to direct your attention to the greatest Veteran of the greatest conflict all time- Jesus Christ. For it was He who stood in the face of our greatest Enemy- death. It was He who did not shrink from the heat of the battle with Satan himself. It was He who showed us the very character that beats in the breast of every true veteran- a selfless heart filled with commitment. We pause to honor our veterans this day, but we worship our One True Commander in Chief. Our liberty was purchased at the cost of our veteran’s sacrifice, but our eternal life was bought with His blood. We proudly salute the flag of our nation, but we kneel at the foot of His cross. PROPOSITION: The true lessons of Veterans Day can only be seen from the vantage point of Calvary. Lesson #1: Dedication to a cause (vs.37)

  • The scene of the Crucifixion is almost unbelievable! Here we find the God of Creation, the One who Scripture declares to be the

restraining force of all matter- Himself restrained by nails of iron to a cross of wood!

  • Why would Jesus allow himself to be so mistreated? What kept Him from coming down from that cross in response to the taunts of those who said: "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."? The answer is found in His dedication to a cause.

  • From the beginning of time, God knew of man’s need for a Savior. Jesus suffered the torments of the front line because He was dedicated to God’s cause of our rescue from sin. As the Scripture says: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

  • Our nation’s veterans have demonstrated their personal dedication to the causes of freedom, honor, duty and country- and I am personally thankful before God for that. Yet it is Christ’s own dedication to our rescue from the eternal consequences of sin that causes me the greatest rejoicing today. APPLICATION: With such noble examples before us, let me ask you a personal question this morning. Is there any cause for which you would commit yourself this day? In this age of overwhelming self- interest have you found in Christ a cause for which you would be willing to sacrifice your ambitions, possessions and even your very life- even as He did? Lesson #2: A commitment to changing the future (vs.42-43)

  • The clock was running on Calvary…

  • Jesus and the two thieves could see their own life’s blood dripping from their wounded hands and feet. Each breath became more difficult than the one before.

  • While both criminals hurled insults at Jesus, just as the crowd did- Scripture records that one of them repented of his sin and arrogance, asking Jesus “...remember me when you come into your kingdom." (Luke 23:42).

  • Jesus response to the repentant thief demonstrated His own commitment to changing the future through the sacrifice of Himself that day. Jesus reply: “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) was a declaration of His promise to follow through with His redemptive work that day.

  • The clock continues to run today…

  • The world in which we live today might be a very different place if it hadn’t been for the commitment of our veterans to changing the future. The Stars and Stripes might be a swastika, or hammer and sickle banner, and our right to assemble without fear of persecution might only be a fading memory. With each sacrifice offered in defense of this great democracy, our veterans have purchased our earthly freedoms with their own sweat and blood.

  • How much more should we give thanks to God for His own Son’s willingness to change our future through His front line stand on Calvary almost 2,000 years ago! APPLICATION: How are you going to use your God given resources of health, wealth and wisdom to change the future? In what ways will you impact your family, this church our community and country so as to make a difference in the future? Your motivation in answering this question begins with your own gratitude for what Christ has done to change your future. Lesson #3: Willingness to bear the cost (vs.46)

  • Before Jesus went to the Cross, He went to the garden…

  • It was in the Garden of Gethsemane that Jesus considered the price of Calvary.

  • His prayers to the Father were of such intensity that he sweat drops of blood in anticipation of the horrific cost of the Cross.

  • Even though Jesus prayed for some other alternative to Calvary, He also prayed for His Father’s will to be done above all else.

  • When Jesus went to the Cross, He went all the way…

  • All His life, Jesus knew His cause and its cost. Speaking to His disciples he said: “The Son of Man did not come to be

served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)

  • Considering Jesus’ willingness to pay the cost for our salvation, Paul sums it up for the Romans by saying: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:6-10)
  • Our veterans were willing to bear the cost…
  • They willingly surrendered the peace and safety of home and family.
  • They gave up their individual plans for education and work so that they might serve in support of a greater national cause.
  • Many gave up their sight, their limbs…
  • Some gave the greatest sacrifice they could give- their very lives! CONCLUSION: This morning I stand in humble admiration of the veteran’s heart. I have witnessed their commitment to a cause greater than themselves, I have watched them live their days in the hope of my brighter future. I have watched them count the cost and willingly pay the price- yet I know that every ounce of their valor is only a shadow of that which was demonstrated on my behalf when Christ went to the Cross for me. I am left with one simple question that my life must answer- what sacrifice am I willing to make? For the person outside of Christ this morning, the sacrifice of pride, sin and self-will is calling to be made from Calvary’s hill. For those in Christ, a continual living sacrifice of strength and devotion is Scripture’s call to be our “reasonable act of worship”. What sacrifice must you make this day?