"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mt. 16:24
As I'm sure everyone knows, especially from restaurant ads, flower ads, clothing ads and "egg roll" news items, today is Easter Sunday, considered by many of the religious world to be the holiest Sunday of the year. Biblically speaking, it's no more holy nor more important than any other first day of the week in the year.
But, my thoughts today are not specifically about "Easter" but rather a combination of events and people relative to this day. Of course the event is the crucifixion of Jesus, but to be a little more specific - His "cross." And there is where we'll find the "people" in their relation to the "cross." If I can adequately get my thoughts down on paper I think that we'll realize a spiritual lesson from them.
To start off our lesson, let me talk first about the "cross" of Christ. You've no doubt heard on the news this past week (probably several times) about people traveling to Jerusalem in order to walk the "Via Dolorosa," or as it's translated, the "Way of Grief" or "Way of Suffering."
It's the traditional path taken by Christ from the "common hall" (Mt. 27:27) to Golgotha where His crucifixion took place. (Please take note of my use of the word "traditional" as archeologists are unsure and of mixed opinions as to exactly where this place was actually located.) I should also note to you that the current "Via Dolorosa" is just the latest version as there have been others in the past.
But scripturally speaking, it was on this path that one of our "people" come into play, so to speak. It was there that the procession of Christ and the accompanying soldiers came upon a man identified as "Simon of Cyrene" and the soldiers "compelled" (Luke says "laid hold") him to "bear" the "cross of Jesus." I see a couple of interesting things about this incident. (Mt. 27 & Lk. 23)
First, "compelled" indicates that Simon wasn't a volunteer in this endeavor. He did not choose to carry the "cross." Which takes us to the second thing: we'd have to agree that it was an unexpected event, wouldn't we? I guess that what I think that we can deduce here is: he didn't volunteer for this duty which makes me think that he probably would not have, but he had no choice in the matter. It came to him. He was "compelled" to "bear the cross."
My point in looking at Simon is this: we, as "followers of Christ" are not "compelled" to "bear the cross," we do so voluntarily. We're not Simons, but, in order to receive certain things associated with the "cross" we do have to "bear" it. This brings us to our next and last "person of interest" relative to our lesson today.
That "person" is the Apostle Paul and some things he said about Christ's "cross" and his own "cross." I quoted Mt. 16:24 for our opening scripture reading where Jesus says, in essence: if you're going to be a follower of Me, you're going to have to bear a cross. In Lk. 9:23 we find that our "cross" is not a "one-time" thing, not a "part-time" thing, but a "daily" thing.
What I see the lesson being here is, that Christians are required by the Gospel to be a "peculiar" person (Titus 2:14). In the Greek that word means that we're to be "special people," or "people beyond the usual." As such, we have to deny ourselves many things commonly practiced by others because we're instructed to do so by God's Word. Here again, we're free-moral-agents and as such, we voluntarily follow Jesus. We're "peculiar" by choice.
Perhaps our "cross" might even be some sort of real trial that comes upon us such as a dreaded disease or a calamity of some kind. Like Simon, our "cross," in whatever form it comes on us as, we have to "bear" it and do so in a way that brings glory to the name Christian. And one other thing you can count on is that everyone has a "cross" and Gal. 6:5 tells us that "everyone will bear their own burden." You can't delegate someone to carry yours and I can't pay someone to carry mine.
The reason I would like to use Paul as our 2nd person is something I read that he said about himself in 2Tim. 2:8-10. Please turn there and read the words he left us while I paraphrase what I get from them. He says: always remember that I'm preaching the risen Savior, Jesus Christ, a descendent of King David, all the while suffering as if I were a common criminal. (Recall what all had been done physically to Paul.) They can lock me up, but they can't lock up the Word of God. So I'm willing to suffer if it will bring Christ's salvation to people. If it will bring glory to Him.
Yes, we can know from the scriptures many of the "crosses" in the form of physical sufferings that Paul endured. We also know that he had a constant "cross" in the form of a physical ailment. We're not told what that ailment consisted of, however he referred to it as "the messenger of Satan" and a "thorn in the flesh" but the point is - he had to "bear" it. "Daily!"
In closing, let's see what we obtain by the "bearing" of our "crosses" and in so doing, remaining faithful followers of Jesus. I can see three things right off. Number one is - "salvation." In Rom. 5:8-9 we see: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
The 2nd benefit of "cross-bearing" is - "the power of God." Notice these words in 1Cor. 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." What does that mean? That by us faithfully bearing our "cross" the way Christ faithfully bore His we will inherit God's power over eternal death.
And the 3rd and last thing of our lesson today is something that we all need so much in our lives today - "peace." Look at Col. 1:20 with me: "And through him (Christ) to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of the cross."
What is that telling us? That no matter what type of "cross" comes our way in this earthly life, as long as we "bear" it and remain faithful we will enjoy the "peace of God which surpasses all understanding" and it will "guard our hearts and minds in Jesus Christ." (Phil. 4:7)
May this Lord's Day find you in a "saved" condition, with the knowledge that the "power of God" will keep you from eternal death, and knowing that, you will have "peace" in your life.
Ron Covey
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