Cross Words, 9of9

~ Then & Now—“Take Up Your Cross And Follow Me!” ~

Jesus Christ made seven gripping last statements while He was dying for our sins on the Cross of Calvary.  This is the last in this Sunday series looking at the last words of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The series overview:

(1) Introduction: Then & Now—The Cross Is A Badly Misunderstood Historical Event! 

(2) Phrase 1: Words To His Father Expressing Forgiveness & Compassion 

(3) Phrase 2: Words To a Repentant Sinner of Forgiveness  & Assurance 

(4) Phrase 3: Words For His Mother & John of Compassion & Provision 

(5) Phrase 4: More Words To His Father While Suffering Spiritually 

(6) Phrase 5: Words Displaying His Humanity & Suffering Physically 

(7) Phrase 6: Words of Triumph & Completion—The True Purpose Driven Life! 

(8) Phrase 7: More Words To His Father—Submission & Trust 

(9) Recap: Then & Now—“Take Up Your Cross And Follow Me!”

Consider These Passages  ~  Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.  I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;’ and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:34-39).  “Then Peter said, ‘See, we have left all and followed You.’  So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life’” (Luke 18:28-30). 

Comments  ~  In this life the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike (Matthew 5:45).  One very good explanation of our cross is that it is the extra difficulties, burdens, and trials we experience because of our faith in God.  Christianity has changed the world more through suffering—starting with our Savior—than through any other means.  Taking up our cross involves subordinating our desires, pleasures, and dreams to the desires of God.  Christ gave us the example as He subordinated His will to the Father’s will (Luke 22:42).  Only when we die to ourselves can we really live for God.  What the world continues to need most is to see Jesus—the “Light of the world” (John 8:12, 9:5).  Today we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). 

Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own.  Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.  If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.  He who hates Me hates My Father also.  If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.  But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause’” (John 15:18-25). 

Don’t Miss This  ~  (1) Three of the seven phrases by Christ while on the Cross were directed to His Father.  Even under such difficult circumstances His priority was maintaining communication with His Father.  (2) Jesus Christ did not save the world through miracles—but through suffering.  (3) Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master” (Matthew 10:24). 

   

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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