THE CLEAR AND THE UNCLEAR SIDES OF THE CROSS

Mike Blume
January 12, 2003


Mark 15:25  And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

Matthew 27:45-51  Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.  (46)  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?  (47)  Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elijah.  (48)  And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.  (49)  The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.  (50)  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  (51)  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;



There were three points of time noted during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
  • The third hour of the day when He was first crucified -- corresponding to 9:00 am
  • The Sixth Hour of the day when darkness covered the land -- corresponding to 12:00 noon.
  • The ninth hour of the day when the darkness left, and the Lord died -- corresponding to 3:00 pm.
This means that there were three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon while He hung on the cross.
  • Three hours of clear sky, and three hours of darkened sky.
  • Clear and unclear.
There is a message in this picture that teaches us some truths we must understand as we live for the Lord.

These hours are noted in the Book of Acts and form some significance from which we can understand some truths.

Acts 2:1-6 
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  (2)  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  (3)  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  (4)  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  (5)  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.  (6)  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

When the Holy Ghost was given to the disciples, a mighty gift of God was bestowed.
  • All the people who were filled were Jews.
  • And we learn that Jews from all nations gathered there that day.
  • Some mocked, others marvelled, and others were amazed.
Act 2:14-15  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:  (15)  For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

This all occurred at the third hour of the day!
  • 9:00 am, the same hour when Christ was first crucified weeks before.
All the Apostles knew that Jews would be saved.
  • It was clear that it would be Jews who would receive their Messiah.
  • What was surprising was that most rejected Him, although it was foretold.
  • At any rate, it was clear that Jews would come into the kingdom if they so chose.
  • The day of Pentecost was a day when Jews were filled with the Holy Ghost.
The morning period from the third hour to the sixth hour was the period of time when the sky was clear as Jesus hung on the cross.'
  • Similarly, there are things about the cross and salvation that are clear and easy to be understood!
However, later in the book of Acts we find an Italian Gentile, named Cornelius, receiving a word from God about salvation.

Act 10:1-6 
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,  (2)  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.  (3)  He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.  (4)  And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.  (5)  And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:  (6)  He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

Here we read that this visitation by the angel occurred at the ninth hour of the day -- 3:00 pm.
  • This man was given a promise from an angel that Peter would tell him how to be saved.
  • Many would consider Cornelius saved already, since he already prayed, gave alms to the poor and feared God.
  • However, the angel said he must do something.
  • Peter would tell him what to do.
  • Cornelius was told to send men to find Peter and bring him to Cornelius.
  • The angel told them where they would find Peter.
The next day the men arrive at Peter's location during the same time that Peter chose to pray.

Act 10:9-17 
On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:  (10)  And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,  (11)  And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:  (12)  Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.  (13)  And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.  (14)  But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.  (15)  And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.  (16)  This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.  (17)  Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

They arrived to see Peter the very time he sought God in prayer and received a vision, which was at the sixth hour!
  • Noon.
  • This was the time of day when the sun was darkened during the crucifixion.
  • Darkness represents lack of understanding.
  • Unclear.
  • Just as Peter was UNCLEAR about the vision God gave to him.
  • What is God saying?
  • Peter doubted.
God was showing that there is more to the cross than what Peter expected or knew about.

Act 10:17-23  Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,  (18)  And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.  (19)  While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.  (20)  Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.  (21)  Then Peter went down to the
men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?  (22)  And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.  (23)  Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

The men explain the visitation to Cornelius.
  • Peter invites them to stay overnight.
  • They all leave for Cornelius' house the next day.
  • Peter is in wonderment.
  • He is unclear.
Act 10:24-28  And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.  (25)  And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.  (26)  But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.  (27)  And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.  (28)  And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Peter suddenly gets the light!
  • He understands what the vision of unclean animals being given to him for food meant.
  • Peter hesitated in the vision to take the food and eat it because certain animals were considered unclean and not to be eaten beneath Law.
  • But God told him that He cleansed these beasts and Peter ought not call them unclean.
  • Upon arriving at Cornelius' home, Peter sees that the animals represented GENTILES.
  • Under Moses' law, gentiles were considered unclean, and not to be fellowshipped with by Jews.
  • Peter realized then that God meant to SAVE GENTILES as well as Jews!
And we learn what time it was when Peter realized this:

Act 10:30 
And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

Four days had passed to the very hour when Cornelius saw the angel.
  • 3:00 pm.
  • Peter arrived and saw the light the very hour the light came forth when Christ was crucified.
  • The very moment Jesus died.
  • The very moment the work of the crucifixion aspect of the Gospel was completed.
Act 10:34  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

There is more to the cross than what you expect.
  • There were things Peter was very clear about, such as the Jews getting saved.
  • But there were things he was unclear about, as the Gentiles getting saved.
Not only that, but also on the day when Christ died, we read the following events that transpired the moment He died.

Mat 27:46-51  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?  (47)  Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elijah.  (48)  And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.  (49)  The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.  (50)  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  (51)  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;

Mat 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.

A centurion saw that Jesus was the Son of God at the ninth hour when Jesus died and the darkness departed.
  • WHAT OCCUPATION DID CORNELIUS HOLD?
  • He was a CENTURION!
  • The man at the cross was not Cornelius.
  • But the picture of a CENTURION finding Jesus at the ninth hour represents Cornelius the centurion coming to know about Christ at the NINTH HOUR.
And this soldier was NOT A JEW!
  • He was Italian.
  • At the cross it was A ROMAN SOLDIER who saw Jesus!
  • Romans are Italians!
  • Clearly God was showing that very day Jesus died that Gentiles would come into the Kingdom, starting with the PEOPLE OF ROME WHO CRUCIFIED THE LORD AT THE BEHEST OF THE JEWS -- ITALIANS.
The Holy Ghost was first given to JEWS of JERUSALEM, and to GENTILES OF ROME, Italians!

The veil ripped in two the moment Jesus died at the NINTH HOUR.
  • The glory of God was behind the VEIL in the temple during Old Testament times.
  • This was the same moment the sun came back out again shining, after the darkness ceased!
  • Peter got a revelation at the NINTH HOUR.
  • Cornelius received the promise of salvation at the ninth hour.
  • God brought Peter to the truth of the Gentile inclusion into the Kingdom at the ninth hour.
  • Peter had been in darkness about the cross from a sixth hour until a ninth hour (although it was not the same day).
  • One he never thought would be saved was to be saved.
Christ came to save the best of people whom everyone expects to be saved, as well as the people least expected!
  • You are all clear about who God will save in some cases, but there is always an unclear side of the cross that saves people whom you are not so clear as to their possibility to be saved.
  • Some churches only accept the elite and the well-to-do and respectable people.
  • There is a clear and an unclear side of the cross, though.
  • All can be saved!
  • There are some things you are not aware of that the cross deals with.
  • Some things we do not expect.
  • Your traditions will always make certain parts of the work of the cross unclear to you.
Some you feel you lost the opportunity to serve God, since you made a mistake and fell into sin again.
  • Not so!
  • The cross covers mistakes made after salvation as well!
Things that Peter saw no hope for, were dealt with by the cross, too!

The devil would like to tell you that you blew it, and that God hates you since you sinned, knowing better.
  • But in your wonderment, the darkness of lack of understanding makes the reality unclear to you.
  • The cross covers that as well!
Peter questioned the vision.
  • He had no answers.
  • God could have outrightly told him what the vision meant right there and then.
  • But He did not.
  • God WANTS some things to remain unclear, also, because you need to learn to TRUST HIM.
  • It's not unclear to Him!
PETER DOUBTED:

Acts 10:17  Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

GOD SAID DON'T DOUBT:

Act 10:20 
Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

When we do not understand why things happen the way they do, God does understand.
  • God told Peter to go and not doubt.
  • We don't need to understand, we just need to hold His hand.
  • We will understand it better bye and bye.
These times of darkness cause our faith to grow.
  • We need them.
  • Times when you do not know the answers.
  • And times when GOD DOES NOT TELL THE ANSWERS.
  • We grow in reliance and faith in God when we do not understand, but continue on with God anyhow!
  • At first we wonder and doubt, like Peter.
  • But God tells us to stop doubting and worrying and let Him lead us.
  • God told Abraham to leave his home and did not tell Abraham where He would take him.
  • It takes faith to go when you do not know the details, but God tells us to go anyhow.
God will not always give us the full route and mapped out journey he has for us.
  • But do not worry.
  • "Trust me, Peter."
  • When you do not understand,
  • When you do not know what to do next,
  • Let Him take you by the hand.
  • Stop worrying.
  • Job did not see God to his left, right, front or behind... but he said God saw him, and that was good enough for Job!
God will leave you in the dark purposely about some things.
  • You wonder about your family and your bills and your job.
  • You GROW IN THE DARK.
Israel put twelve rods in the Tabernacle in the evening.
  • The next morning, the rod of Aaron budded.
  • It had flowers, buds and fruit.
  • But the point is that it not only came back from the dead, but it GREW IN DARKNESS OVERNIGHT.
Naturally, most things do not usually grow at night.
  • But we are talking about the spiritual!
  • You spiritually grow when you do not understand what comes next, as you begin trusting God.
  • Dark times cause you to lean upon Him!
Thank God that part of the time of the cross was unclear!
  • God covers those times by His blood, too!