The Three Crosses

Palm Sunday begins what many know as passion week. I wanted to use this Sunday before Easter to look specifically at the cross of Christ as considered in Luke 23:32-42. The first two verses in this passage read: And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. I want to consider the important message we learn from these “Three Crosses.”

We have considered together that Ephesians 1:3 is a doxology and like a treasure chest full of unimaginable gifts. It is divided into three sections: gifts from the Father, gifts from the Son and gifts from the Holy Spirit, all described in verses 4-14. We have considered the wonder of being chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son and indwelt by the Holy Spirit with all of its marvelous benefits. These gifts establish what is our position in Christ. It is important to understand the difference between our position in Christ and our practice of the Christian life.

In verses 15-23 Paul prays for the Ephesians (and thus for us) that they would apply God’s gifts to our lives in victorious Christian living. We were challenged in verses 15-18 that we must be growing in our knowledge of Jesus through the study of the Scriptures, living by eternal values and meditating on God’s great love for us. In verses 19-23, Paul challenges us to understand the power that is ours in Christ.

We have noted that Ephesians 1:3 is a doxology and like a treasure chest full of unimaginable gifts. It is divided into three sections: gifts from the Father, gifts from the Son and gifts from the Holy Spirit, all described in verses 4-14. We have considered the wonder of being chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son and indwelt by the Holy Spirit with all of its marvelous benefits. It is a shame how many Christians hear of their treasure, but never fully spend the great treasure on themselves. In verses 15-23 Paul begins to pray for the Ephesians (and thus for us) that they would make these wonderful gifts a living reality in victorious Christian living.

The doxology of Ephesians 1:3 exalts our Triune God, and the following 11 verses are some of the most powerful theology on the triune God found anywhere in the New Testament. Verse three is the opening of our spiritual treasure chest, and it’s divided into three compartments: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We have considered verses 4-6 as we marveled at the Father’s Treasure for us. Going forward, we considered verses 7-10 and have revealed there for us the treasure we have from God the Son, Jesus Christ. Now in verses 11-14, we consider the treasure we have from the Holy Spirit.

Last time we considered verses 4-6 as we marveled at the Father’s Treasure for us. Going forward, we consider verses 7-12 and have revealed there for us the treasure we have from God the Son, Jesus Christ. Paul describes this glorious spiritual wealth bestowed on us by Jesus Christ and it is beyond words, truly an unspeakable gift. We are redeemed!