Four Monsters and the King (Sermon)

We’re all familiar with the Easter story . . . with the prayer in the garden, the crucifixion, and the glorious resurrection on Easter Morning. But we don’t hear the story of the battle that took place during those three days, the victory that was won on the cross.

John 12. 31-33 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."

Now is the time for Judgment. The word "judgment" in the Greek means “crisis.” The cross was both a crisis point and a turning point. As Jesus hung on the cross, he faced his enemies, vile and proud; monsters that had never known defeat on earth. One by one they challenged Christ, the King.

1. The first was called Satan, or Lucifer before he fell from grace. This serpent was a sinister foe. From the beginning he had sought to stop God’s plan of salvation. Time and again he attacked the line, hoping to kill off his bitter enemy. Now, faced with the Messiah himself, he had dealt his most decisive blow -- betrayal, disunity, and crucifixion.

2. The second monster was covered in chains; many were held in captive by his bonds and his name was Sin. He was a lust driven monster that consumed all in his path. He joined Satan, and as they crucified Jesus, Sin heaped all the world’s debt and guilt upon him. This Jesus, who had always escaped the traps that Sin had set, now willingly accepted the chains.

3. The third monster advanced last, dressed in black from head to foot. Death was his name. On the cross, weighed down with the sins of all humanity, death burst the heart of Christ, and blood and water flowed from his side. It was finished.

For three days, the monsters celebrated their victory over God’s champion. But as the sun rose on that first Easter morning, something unexpected happened -- Jesus fought back.

Death came first to stop him, but his eyes filled with fear, for he could not defeat the Spirit of God that lived inside him. Death was defeated by the wondrous power of the resurrection.

Sin struck next, pulling on the chains that he had bound around Him, but as Sin pulled, the chains began to fall away. Sin had no hold on him, for the guilt of Sin had been washed away by the blood. The power and hold of sin was defeated.

Finally only Satan stood between Jesus and victory. With trembling hands, Satan reached for the keys of earth, the power and authority that he had stolen from Adam and Eve in the garden. His eyes filled with terror as his hand came away empty, for the keys of earth had been bought back with the blood of Christ. Thus, Satan was also defeated.

Christian, there is a forth monster, a beast just a vile as the other three. Christ passed His victorious Spirit on to us, for it is our task to face the final beast, the one Jesus could not slay for us. The final monster is Self. Jesus has remove every obstacle that stands between us and eternal life except for our own free will. You must choose if you will let Self rule or if you will deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Christ.

Within the heart of every man, woman and child there is a cross and a throne. Christ will be on one, and self will be on the other. We will either keep Christ on the cross, so Self can rule or we will choose to die to self so that Christ can reign within our heart. Who have we chosen to enthrone? Who will we chose to crucify? The hour of battle is here, friend, and final monster awaits your choice.