"Christ's Cross Means Denial"
Sermon on Acts 3:12-16
February 24, 1999
Saint Mark's, Watertown
Pastor Karl Walther
Introduction: As Sinners, We Practice Evil Denial
& Avoid Appropriate Denial
As you know, in our Lenten devotions this year, we are examining: "The Meaning of Christ's Cross." Last week, with Pastor Werner, we considered that: "Christ's Cross Means Success"-- triumph over sin, death, and hell. This week we are shifting gears and considering that: "Christ's Cross Means Denial."
Let me begin by saying this, "As sinners, we practice evil denial, and we avoid appropriate denial."
"As sinners, we practice evil denial." Let me explain. God wants us to confess our guilt. But as sinners, we tend to deny our guilt. God also wants us to confess our Savior. But as sinners, we tend to deny him. "As sinners, we practice evil denial" like that.
"And as sinners, we avoid appropriate denial," too. Again, let me explain. God does all sorts of marvelous things for us and through us. Since it's God who does these things, we ought to deny our involvement. But we're forever wanting to take credit for things. "As sinners, we avoid appropriate denial" like that.
Theme: Christ's Cross Means Denial
Those are the things we'd like to explore a little more thoroughly this evening on the basis of this theme: * CHRIST'S CROSS MEANS DENIAL. Christ's Cross Means Denial, and so we aim to (1) AVOID EVIL DENIAL of our sins and our Savior, and we aim to (2) PRACTICE APPROPRIATE DENIAL of our own involvement in what only God can do.
Text: Peter Displays Appropriate Denial
& Jewish Leaders Displayed Evil Denial
I'd like to begin by encouraging you to pick up your pew Bibles and open up to Acts chapter three on page sixteen ninety-four-- Acts chapter three, page sixteen ninety-four. This is the account we just viewed on video, and briefly here's the story.
It was a short time after Jesus' suffering and death, resurrection and ascension-- probably some short months after the Holy Spirit's descent on Pentecost. The scene was the temple courts-- not more than a mile west of the Mount of Olives, where Jesus suffered and ascended, not more than a mile east of Golgotha, where Jesus died and rose.
It was getting to be late afternoon. Peter and John were making their way through the various gates and courts that made up the temple complex, which took up a space of several city blocks on the east side of Jerusalem. Probably they were leaving the spacious Gentile courts and heading into the considerably smaller Jewish courts in proximity of the temple itself. They were near the temple gate called Beautiful-- which stood seventy-five feet tall, about twice the height of the ceiling of this church (!). And that Beautiful Gate was brilliantly covered with Corinthian brass.
As they were about to go through the gate, a crippled beggar asked them for money, because that's the way disabled people had to support themselves back then. Dramatically, Peter says in verse six: Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk! And when Peter helped him up, the man not only walked, he jumped, and probably nearly danced!
The three men: Peter, John, and the man who was healed-- they reversed course, probably less than a hundred yards, to a place where the Christians used to gather. It was Solomon's Colonnade: not built by Solomon, but an enormous porch-- several blocks long, forming the eastern boundary of the temple courts. What must have been hundreds of people followed them.
And it's at that point that we read our sermon text-- starting on page sixteen ninety-five, halfway down the left hand column, verse twelve: When Peter saw this, he said to the crowd: Men of Israel, and it must have been mostly literally men, no doubt especially the Jewish leaders-- Men of Israel, why does this (miracle) surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? Do you see how Peter is denying his responsibility for a miracle only God could do?
And then Peter goes on to confess: The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob -- always a reference to the uniquely true God of all and God of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the burning bush -- the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant (and Son) Jesus. Peter is confessing that Jesus is responsible for this miracle.
Now, what about this Jesus whom Peter was confessing? Peter says to these Israelite leaders: You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the only Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed off the author of life. Most forcefully, Peter was urging the Jewish leaders not to deny that they had denied the very Savior God had sent.
But God raised him from the dead, Peter continues. We apostles are witnesses of this. And that was Peter's constant claim now, from which he never backed off.
Peter concludes-- and notice how he continues to deny his responsibility for work only God can do: By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him-- healing both body and soul, as you can all see.
So, that's the way Peter confessed the cross of Christ-- only a mile or so away and only maybe months removed from the death of his Savior.... And what are we to learn from all of this? Well, like I said earlier, we learn that "Christ's Cross Means Denial."
Application One: Let's Avoid Evil Denial
By Confessing Our Sins & Our Savior
First of all, Christ's cross meant denial on the part of his own people, the Jewish leaders. They denied their sins in handing him over to be crucified. Twice it says here they denied that Christ was their Savior-- so much so that they were responsible for killing him off. Friends, that's an evil denial of Jesus that we now aim to avoid. Let's avoid denying our sins-- and our Savior. But that's not easy to do!
Men, when we fail to work for our employers as if we were working for the Lord, let's admit it-- and trust Christ, whom we crucified, to take those sins away. Husbands, when we fail to love our wives as perfectly as the Lord has loved us, let's admit it-- and trust Christ, whom we crucified, to take those sins away. Fathers, when we fail to guide our kids as kindly and as patiently as God has guided us, let's admit it-- and trust Christ, whom we crucified, to take those sins away.
Women-- women, when you fail to fulfill the many responsibilities God has given you, admit it-- and trust Christ, whom you crucified, to take your sins away. Wives, when you fail to benefit your husbands the way the Church aims to benefit Christ, admit it! Mothers, when you fail to love your kids as thoroughly as God has loved you, admit it-- and trust Christ, whom you crucified, to take your sins away.
And children, when you lie to stay out of trouble, when you steal what belongs to a playmate, when you slug your brother or your sister, when you don't listen to your Mom or your Dad, admit it! admit it! admit it! and trust Christ, whom you crucified, to take your sins away.
Christ's Cross Means Denial, and first of all, we aim to avoid such evil denial-- by confessing our sins and our Savior.
Application Two: Let's Practice Appropriate Denial
By Giving All Glory To God
Secondly, Christ's cross means denial in a different sort of a way. Did you notice how thoroughly Peter denied responsibility here for a miracle only God could have done? Why do you stare at us? Peter asks. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing! Peter insists. Friends, that's the appropriate denial of ourselves, giving all glory to God, that we now attempt to practice.
So, men, every talent you've got and every dollar you make is a gift of God; admit it! Husbands, if you're blessed with any godly faithful wife, you didn't earn her-- she's a gift of God; admit it! Fathers, if you've got kids, if they're turning out okay, if they have turned out okay, that's purely a gift from God; admit it!
Women, every scrap of labor you put in is to the glory of God; confess it! Every benefit you bring to your husband, every blessing you bring to your children, is to the glory of God; confess it!
And children, if you're a healthy kid, if you're a decent kid, if you trust Christ, if you've got a talent for being someone's friend, or getting good grades, or excelling at sports, or making music, or whatever it is, don't take credit for it, don't boast, and don't brag; tell everybody who will listen that it's Jesus who has given you your gifts.
Christ's Cross Means Denial, and secondly, we aim to practice such appropriate denial-- by giving all glory to God.
Conclusion: As Christians, We Practice Appropriate Denial
& Avoid Evil Denial
And finally, suppose we avoid evil denial of our sins and our Savior, and suppose we practice appropriate denial and give all glory to God-- what then?
God promises: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. God promises: If anyone acknowledges me before men, him will I acknowledge before my Father in heaven. And God promises that through faith in Christ, whom we crucified, we will all join in singing: Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength belong to our God for ever and ever!
What an incentive to practice the acknowledgment of Jesus and the denial of ourselves that Christ's cross teaches us! Amen.