Matthew 27:54, Joshua 23:11

SOLDIERS SPEAK

 

I have lots of respect for those who have served their country in the military.  Countless men and women have left their own personal agendas behind to serve this country in times of war, possible war, and in peace.

 

Many men and women have served honorably.  And I especially think of those who served during World War II, defeating Germany, Japan, Italy and her allies. Some came back from this war with permanent battle scars. Many came back with scars that were visible.  Many more came back with mental scars that no one could see, but they were present nevertheless.  And then there were the thousands who didn't come back, but gave their lives so that others could be free.  On this Memorial Day Weekend we remember the soldiers, sailors and airmen who served their country since this country has been in existence.

 

Have you noticed how many of the people that this country has elected to public office have been military men?  Think of John Kennedy, George Bush, Robert Dole, Dwight D. Eisenhower Colin Powell, John McCain and many others that have served their country first in war, and then as leaders of the nation.

I think we tend to elect former soldiers to office because we tend to listen to what they have to say. We have respect for people who have served their country in the military.

 

The Bible is full of stories about and words of soldiers.  In a sense, because of their sacrificial service for their country, these soldiers have earned the right to speak.  They have earned our attention.

 

This morning we want you to pay attention to the words of some soldiers.   

 

First, let's see,

 

THE SOLDIERS WHO SPEAK OF IDENTITY - MATTHEW 27:54

 

It may surprise you that I am taking you to the story of the crucifixion.  We know how some of the soldiers abused Jesus.

 

Matthew 27:27-31- Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

 

We also know that the soldiers were the ones who put the nails in his hands and in his feet and that one of them put a spear in his side.  We know that they were under orders to carry out the death of the innocent Son of God.  They were witnesses of the events of the day.

 

Matthew 27:36 - And sitting down they watched him there;

 

I imagine that everyone of these soldiers had both seen and participated in other crucifixions.  It would have been something that soldiers did.

 

What was different about this crucifixion?

 

First of all, they would see a different attitude on the part of the one who died.

After all the suffering Jesus went through before He went to the cross, and after experiencing the nails in his hands and feet, and after having his cross lifted up and while having to struggle for every breathe he took, Jesus said this, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)

   

And as He hung on the cross, his enemies verbally abused him as well.

Matthew 27:39-44 - And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, [40] And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. [41] Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, [42] He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. [43] He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. [44] The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

 

The soldiers, as they observed, were probably expecting Jesus to lash back.  Instead, Jesus was silent, as his accusers lashed out at Him.  

 

Isaiah 53:7 - He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

 

Another thing the soldiers would have observed about this crucifixion was Jesus' kindness towards one of the thieves who had ridiculed him only a few moments before.

 

Luke 23:39-43 - And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. [40] But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? [41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. [42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. [43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

 

Another thing that the soldiers would have noticed was the concern and tenderness that He had towards His mother.

 

John 19:26-27 - When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! [27] Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

 

There were at least two physical things that affected the soldiers as they watched.

 

Matthew 27:45 - Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

 

There was a supernatural darkness that took place after Jesus had been on the cross for three hours.  From noon till 3:00 P.M. it was as black as midnight!  This was highly unusual and strange. God was judging our sin on the cross through the suffering of His Son and it was dark!

 

The soldiers observed another unusual occurrence as Jesus died.

 

Matthew 27:50  - Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

 

What did Jesus cry with this unusually loud voice for one who had suffered so? John 19:30 tells us he said, It is finished!

 

Luke tells us that Jesus last words were, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: (Luke 23:46)

 

Matthew 27:51-53 - And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; [52] And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, [53] And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

 

The soldiers were at the cross. They did not yet know about the rent veil in the temple, symbolic of the fact that God had accepted the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. They did not know about the graves being opened.  But they did know about the earthquake!

 

Matthew 27:54 - Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

 

The centurion, the officer in charge, spoke for all the soldiers.

The soldiers would have heard of the claims that Jesus was God's Son.  Having seen the behavior of Jesus, and having heard the words of Jesus, and having witnessed both the supernatural darkness and the earthquake, the soldiers had to agree. They identified Jesus as the Son of God.  

 

Every person in this room needs to believe from the depths of their heart that Jesus is the Son of God! 

 

Every person in this room needs to place their faith in Jesus, the Son of God, for forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

 

Acts 4:12 - Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

1 John 5:11-12 - And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

 

If you have not trusted Christ as you Savior, turn to Him this morning.  Listen to the testimony of the soldiers and call upon Him by faith to save you!

   

Romans 10:13 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

Those of us that are saved need to be reminded that Jesus is not to be taken lightly. We need to remember that Jesus is God and is to be reverenced.  He is not to be thought about lightly. His name is not to be used as a swear word. And He should never be joked about.

 

We can't expect unsaved people to reverence Jesus as God, if we do not reverence Jesus as God.   

   

THE SOLDIERS WHO SPEAK OF IDENTITY - MATTHEW 27:54

THE SOLDIER WHO SPEAKS OF INTENSITY - JOSHUA 23:11

 

I have seen some intense people in my time.

I have seen people show intense anger at someone else.

I have seen people show intensity as they have tried to assemble a toy on Christmas Eve.

I have seen people show intensity as they did their jobs.

I have seen people show intensity as they have competed in sports or played a game of Monopoly.  

 

In Joshua 23 we meet another soldier and he is speaking of intense love.

 

The soldier's name is Joshua.  Joshua served as the assistant to Moses.  Moses was the one who led the Children of Israel out of the Promised Land.  Whenever their was a need to fight during the Exodus, Moses would call on Joshua as the general to lead the armies of Israel.  When Moses died, Joshua was appointed the task of bringing the people into the Promised Land and leading them in the conquering of that land.  

   

In the chapter before us, Joshua is very old. He calls for the leaders of the Nation of Israel together and gives them a challenge.

   

Joshua 23:1-3 - And it came to pass a long time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age. [2] And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age: [3] And ye have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the Lord your God is he that hath fought for you.

 

Joshua reminds them of how the Lord had fought for them.

No doubt the people would have remembered the fall of Jericho's walls that went down with supernaturally.

They would have remembered how the son stood still so a more complete victory could be won.

They would have remembered victory after victory in the Promised Land.

 

And beside this, Joshua told them that they had the potential for even more victory!

 

Joshua 23:4-5 - Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward. [5] And the Lord your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the Lord your God hath promised unto you.

 

Joshua 23:9-10 - For the Lord hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. [10] One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

 

The Children of Israel were promised a great victory. There was however, a condition. The Children of Israel needed to be faithful to their God. The Children of Israel needed to have an intense commitment to and love for the Lord their God.  

 

Joshua 23:8 - But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day.

 

Joshua 23:11 - Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God.

 

Moses had told the Children of Israel how they should love their God.

 

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 - Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: [5] And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

 

Joshua warned what would happen if the Children of Israel did not have this intense love for the Lord.   

 

Joshua 23:12-13 - Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: [13] Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you.

 

By the way, Israel did not listen to Joshua. Israel turned to the gods of the nations around them. God judged Israel, and Israel failed to have all the victories and peace that God had intended for them.

   

Joshua 23:11 - Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God.

 

How does this apply to us?

·   We are to love God more than our possessions.

·   We are to love God more than the complimentary words of others.

·   We are to love God more than our houses, more than our cars and trucks, more than our computers.

·   We are to love God even more than our families and friends.

·   We are to love God more than we love ourselves.

·   Nothing and no one is to be loved as much as God and His Son the Lord Jesus.   

 

Christians have been promised some great victories. Allow me to mention three of these.

We have been promised victory over Sin.

Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

 

We have been promised victory as witnesses for Christ.   

Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

We have been promised victory in prayer.

John 15:16 - Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

 

Why is it that we as Christians so often fail to experience the victories God has promised to us? It is because we have failed to love God with that intense love that places loyalty to anyone else a distant second!  

How can we expect God to bless His children if they don't really love Him?

 

Luke 14:26-27 - If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. [27] And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

 

Revelation 2:4-5 - Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. [5] Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

 

The church in Ephesus was a great church.

You would have been proud to be a member of such a super church!

But Jesus knew that that they had forsaken their love for Him!

Therefore he warned them to repent and return to their first love!

If they did not return, their candlestick, or their testimony would be removed. By the way, it was!

 

It is time to look at the intensity of our own love.

It is time for us to repent!

It is time for us to love the Lord first, last and always!   

 

Joshua 23:11 - Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God.     

 

THE SOLDIERS WHO SPEAK OF IDENTITY - MATTHEW 27:54

THE SOLDIER WHO SPEAKS OF INTENSITY - JOSHUA 23:11