Our Cross

For the Christian, in every part of our lives Jesus has set our example.  Today I am going to talk about the example Jesus set for us on His cross.

We are familiar with the story of Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross. Though we face sufferings in our lives, we do not always know how to carry our own cross.  However, for those who follow Jesus, there is a personal cross to bear.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’”

Jesus told His disciples that denying themselves was a cross to bear, and being nailed to a cross is painful.  Many times we think that God will substitute something nice for that thing which we deny so that we do not feel the pain.  Let us look at Jesus’ example;

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”(Heb 12:2)

Jesus was not comforted on the cross.  In the time of denial to His own personal right to life, He was not given a substitute to take away the pain.  Jesus’ life ended in suffering a painful death.  When we carry a personal cross and deny ourselves the right to . . . let’s say anger, God does not put a yummy dessert before us, or instantly change the one we are angry with.  Our cross remains painful, and that is why it is called a “cross.”

This may sound fatalistic, so let us continue with the example of Jesus.  Jesus was able to bear the shame and pain of the cross because He believed God.  He knew the will of the Father was to raise Him from the dead, and that His resurrection would set captives free, and give gifts to men (Eph 4:7). In following Jesus’ example we also need to believe on God’s words and that there will be a good result from our personal cross.

In the book of Hebrews we read that our hardships are discipline from our heavenly Father. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Heb 12:11) Our personal crosses, whether refusing to give into anger, or taking in a stranger that abuses our good will, are God’s hand molding us, if we are in His will.  These hardships mold us if we are trained by obeying God’s word.  And as we obey God’s word we will find our faith growing to believe in God’s word for our future.

“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer 29:11)

God already knows our cross is painful.  But He has plans for us that include joy; plans for our welfare, plans to have hope for a good future.  Let us set our faith on His goodness today, knowing that good will come from the cross we bear. Amen.