Take up your cross
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)
Every year (leading up to Easter), I make a point to watch Mel Gibson's, The Passion of the Christ. I do this to remember what Jesus Christ did for me, to remember the truth meaning of his death and resurrection. Even though I've seen the film many times, it is still gut-wrenching to watch after all these years. I still flinch and cringe each time Jesus is beaten, flogged, afflicted, and nailed to the cross. I don't enjoy it, but I don't ever want to take his death lightly. I remind myself that it was I who nailed him to the cross. It was me who rejected him, and me who shouted Crucify him! It is my sins that held him at the cross. Each time I see Jesus embrace his cross, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Jesus knew that the cross would give salvation for many, and he was obedient to the point of death (Philippians 2:8). His death gives us eternal life, and his blood cleanses us from all of our sin. His body was beaten so that we could have life, peace, and healing. Isaiah 53:5 says, he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Christ's suffering is not something I ever want to forget or take lightly; that is why I subject myself (year after year) to the discomfort of watching him suffer, to be reminded of Christ's undeserving punishment, and celebrate his miraculous resurrection. I watched the movie again this evening and worshiped the Lord. I watched Jesus carry his cross through the sweltering heat; while the crowd laughed, ridiculed, and mocked him. He walked, stumbled, and fell. He got up and put one foot in front of the other, moving toward his God-given destiny inch by inch, as he was whipped from behind. People, filled with hatred, wickedness, and harsh judgement, sneered at him and taunted him. They cursed at him and spat at him. As I continued to watch this scene, the Holy Spirit spoke to me, and this is what he said:
This is what it's like to bear your cross. You must carry your cross. Tune out all the noise, distraction, chaos, and pain. Keep moving forward: inch by inch, hour by hour, day by day. Each day is a day closer to the second coming of Christ, and each day you'll move towards fulfilling the purpose and plan that God has set for you. Move forward; don't look to the right or left, and don't turn back. Put your faith in God. Trust in Jesus Christ, and in his redemptive work at the cross. Carry your cross.
Again, I am reminded that Following Christ is not easy (you can read about it in that post). We live in a corrupt and fallen world, where there is so much hardship, struggling, and pain. Yet, God doesn't promise life will be easy, but He does promise to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). God's Word also tells us:
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go (Joshua 1:7) and observe to do just as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left (Deuteronomy 5:32).
No matter what the world throws at us, what struggles we face, who hurts and ridicules us, we must not give up. We must press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). Remember to be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him,standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you (1 Peter 5:8-10).
Like how our Heavenly Father saw Christ suffer, He also sees our suffering; He is not blind or deaf. We must hold on to our faith in Christ. God will not give us more than we can handle. Don't give up. Though we are not worthy, Christ died for us. Keep trudging along, whether in the valley low, or on the high mountain top, and remember that God is always with us! Take up your cross and follow Jesus!
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, Lord almighty,
GOD, who is like You in all the earth? Who would send their one and only son, to die for sinners filled with hatred, wickedness, and evil? Who else has such mercy, grace, patience, and compassion? There is no one like You Father. Only You alone can save. Father, forgive us. We have sinned against You. It was us who nailed Christ to the cross with our sins. It was us who crucified Him. But Lord, it was You who raised him on the third day. Through Your redemptive work at the cross, we can call you Father, we can have eternal life, and we can be healed. Thank You for those reading, and I pray You will open their ears, eyes, hearts, and mind to this concept. We must not take the death and resurrection of Christ lightly. He is the hope of all the earth and it is by his name that we are saved. Jesus gives us salvation, and his blood that cleanses us from all sin. Lord, be glorified, magnified, and exalted for Your Power and Goodness! For one day, every knee will bow down and every tongue will confess the Christ is Lord (Romans 14:11)! You are so perfect and amazing, we delight in You! I also pray that this Easter, many would come to Christ and that Your kingdom would be filled with lost sheep. Fill those who are hungry, and revive Your people. Raise up Your Warrior and purify Your people. In mighty Jesus name, amen.
Prayerfully,
Pam
