He Gave Up
1st Sunday in Lent
Scripture Focus: John 19:28,30
“Later, knowing that everything had now been finished and so that Scripture would be
fulfilled, Jesus…bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
Have you ever found yourself in a defeated position? Are you in a
defeated situation? A position of weakness? What did you, do you,
do? You can fight back or you can give up. Fighting back seems
natural doesn’t it? Giving up seems like a sign of weakness, doesn’t
it?
The place was Arrowood Elementary school in Saginaw Township. His
name was Donald Wruck. I was third grade, he was fourth. I was
smaller in stature. He was larger. I was mouthy. He didn’t like mouthy
3rd graders. I can honestly say, “I don’t remember what I said.” But he
didn’t like it. He chased me and caught me. He pinned me. He put me
in a position of weakness beneath him, his legs straddling my chest,
and his fist raised into the air. It was like the story of Abraham and
Isaac and I was Isaac, the sacrifice. I didn’t know Jesus back then but I
sure hoped my savior would come and deliver me. I tried to free
myself, squirmed, fought back but to no avail. Donald offered a
chance. He demanded I say that one word, which, though it gave
freedom, also seemed like a sign of weakness. He asked, “Uncle?”
Ever wonder how that expression got started? Whose uncle are we
talking about?
Here is the legend. Say 'uncle'!" was used to demand submission of
one's opponent. Similarly, the exclamation "Uncle!" is an indication of
submission – as if saying, "I give up". One theory of this phrase comes
from the times of the Roman Empire. This theory says, weak children
bothered by stronger children would be forced to say a phrase in
Latin which meant "Uncle, my best Uncle," in order to surrender and
be freed which was a title of respect to the stronger one because
one’s father's brother was accorded nearly the same power and
status as one's father.
There you have it…but who cares, if uncle provides freedom, I will
admit my weakness to Donald and say, “Uncle.” And when I did
Donald dropped his fist.
But recognize what happens when one cries “Uncle.” You must quit
fighting, you must quit struggling, after all you cried uncle, you “Gave
Up.”
In your life with God He wants you to come to that place where you
don’t cry uncle, rather cry JESUS, and voluntarily admit your
weakness and his strength, and give up. And when you do,
remember, your strength and victory come as you quit fighting Him,
quit struggling and “give up” in that moment and future moments.
God wants full surrender, for all time.
My message is not about physical fights we may get into but any
place in our life when we are struggling against something or
someone that seems to be bigger than us, stronger, more powerful.
My message is “I Give Up” after all, “Jesus Gave Up” but we must be
clear who we give up to. We give up to God. Don’t confuse, “I quit”
with “I give up”. They are totally different.
Jesus didn’t quit on the cross. He gave up. This moment on the cross
wasn’t the only time Jesus “gave up.” He lived a life patterned after
giving up to the Father’s will. The night before his death in the
Garden of Gethsamene, Jesus was struggling with God the Father, but
the struggle was short lived. He gave up his will one more time as he
said, “Yet not what I will but they will be done.”
As followers of Jesus we will struggle over will’s, our will versus God’s
will. Let me assure you, God is stronger than any 4th grader or
anything you have ever come across. God is at work in our lives
asking us to cry UNCLE to Him. To give him a position of power and
respect in a way far superior than anything we will experience on
earth by any human. That is what Jesus did. Jesus was not afraid to
“give up” because in doing so he showed a sign of strength not
weakness.
John 19:30 it says of Jesus, “He bowed his head, and gave up.”
He bowed his head. Persons crucified would in dying stretch their
heads up to gasp for breath, to fight for breath, and did not drop their
heads till they had breathed their last. But Christ showed himself
active in dying, bowed his head first. No fight. He surrendered. He
gave up.
The bowing of his head shows his submission to his Father's will, and
his obedience to death. He voluntarily died. He put his life and body
in the custody of God and freely resigned his will for the will of God,
even unto death.
God does not want us to live in weakness. God does not want us to
live defeated lives. Yet when we are feeling weak and defeated is
when we need to become like Jesus and give up and surrender to
God. He gave up and I must give up.
During Lent, we will look at issues of life and be challenged to make
strong choices for ourselves. Choosing not to be a victim but
consciously choosing the position of strength.
Jesus, He gave up His spirit. This “giving up” was not a sign of
weakness or loss of control.
The Greek word for ‘gave up’ is Paradidomi, which means:
to give over one’s power into the hands of another
to deliver ones will into the custody of another.
This means that they are now in charge of you, they are in
custody of your will, and they now manage and take care
of your will.
What an act of trust by Jesus. What an act of trust by you to “give up”
your will for the will of God. Letting him have custody of it. Giving him
custodial rights over you. Voluntarily giving Him power over you.
Over the next six weeks of Lent, you will be challenged to ask where
God is moving you to come to that place where you say, “I GIVE UP”
as a decision of strength. God will impress upon your need to
voluntarily give up on something that has power over you, has you
imprisoned, keeps you in a state of unforgiveness, and has you in a
defeated pattern.
Jesus in his act “Gave Up” and showed strength, not weakness, in his
actions. You would do well to imitate Jesus. You can’t go wrong when
you imitate Jesus. You can’t go wrong when you walk in His steps and
do likewise. As you do, you will see signs of strength flow into your
life.
Let us get started this season of Lent by following the pattern of
Jesus. He gave up so you give up. Repeat after me, “I - GIVE UP.” That
seems so unnatural doesn’t it. but those words, when speaking about
giving up TO GOD, should become the most natural words spoken by
followers of Jesus. Try again, repeat after me, “I – GIVE UP.”
An “I give up life” to Jesus will be a victorious life.
Let me give you two things to consider giving up as you begin the
season of Lent. Be assured if you don’t already have a need for this,
you will at some point in your life in the future. These are words he
spoke from the cross that you would do well to imitate.
First, On the cross, Jesus said in Luke 23:34 “Father forgive them for
they do not know what they are doing.”
Ever meet someone you thought didn’t know what he or she was
doing? They hurt you, they offended you, they trespassed against
you…they crucified you! What do you do? What did you do? What
are you doing? Are you getting angry, digging in your heels in against
them, and choosing not to forgive them? A fight will continue forever
in your life, a defeated position will be created, a weakness will result
until you say, “I give up.” And what do you need to give up?
Forgiveness.
From Jesus we discover the need to give up an unforgiving spirit. The
word, forgive, comes from the greek word aphiemi (af-ee'-ay-mee)
On the cross, Jesus, will gave up his right to be bitter, his will to
withhold forgiveness, and choose to forgive. He won’t conspire with a
legion of angels and give them what they deserve. He will remember
his own prayer he taught the disciples, “forgive those who trespass
against us.”
Voluntarily Jesus chose to give up, he gave up forgiveness to a people
who did not deserve it. Af-ee-ay-mee This word teaches us to let go.
to let go from one’s power
(clenched fist “I won’t forgive” to open fist, release of power, I forgive”)
to let go as if to set free (like a butterfly in your hands)
to let escape (you saw/heard what they did, but let them go)
to send away (bye bye un-forgiveness)
to yield up
(“Father forgive them they know not what they are doing” / and if they do
know what they are doing all the more reason to forgive)
None of these are passive actions. They are conscious, deliberate,
personal decisions, to give in to the will of God over the will of self.
They are a sign of strength not weakness.
Jesus chose to forgive those who ended his life.
You need to forgive everyone who is ruining your life.
Is there forgiveness you need to GIVE UP?
So much strength is needed and so much strength is gained when you
forgive. Jesus died under control not out of control. He evidenced it
by forgiving those who didn’t know what they were doing.
Second, on the Cross Jesus said two things that point to one reality.
1. Luke 23:43
“I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
2. John 19:26, 27
“Woman, here is your son! … “Here is your mother!”
Give up being SELF CENTERED.
Jesus noticed others. Look around you. Others are in need, have
need. Jesus looked the persons closest to him at that time. A thief on
the cross. His mother. A disciple.
He was able to take care of them because his eyes weren’t focused
on self.
He didn’t drain the life out of others. He didn’t “say, hey you got
problems, look at me…I got problems too.”
When we act that way, when you act that way, don’t be surprised
that others will slowly withdraw from you. People were drawn, not
withdrawn, from Jesus, he noticed them, he gave life.
What do you need to give up?
Have you “given up?” Today is the day if you haven’t. Galatians 2:20,
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, the life I live in
the body I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave
himself up for me.”
Have you “given up” forgiveness?
Have you “given up” self centeredness?
Closing Song – Lift High the Cross. Prayer stations at the altar.