This post is a reflection on cross
bearing. A draft of this began during a bout of sleeplessness during which, Christ
ministered to my hurting soul. Soon after, I slept, comforted by his love.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny
himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life
for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole
world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his
soul? Matthew 16:24-26
Bearing our cross, we walk the narrow road paved by God’s grace.
A pilgrim's path is permeated with tears, sweat and blood. Such was the way of
our Savior. He wept. He sweat. And he bled. Oh did he bleed! As he paid for our
sins in agony, reproach broke his heart
We are not greater than our Master. We take up our cross, a
light burden for his yoke is easy, and we follow him. We fly, eagles borne on
grace. We are carried, lambs in his bosom. Our tears are collected in his
bottle. No sorrowful tossing goes unnoticed by our Father’s eye. Sweat drips as
self dies more and more through the gentle purging of darkness from our soul by
the Spirit of Light. Blood stains on the pilgrim path proclaim: "We loved
not our lives unto death." Our life is hidden in Christ, our resurrected Lord.
Our Savior, God Almighty, emptied himself and suffered for us.
His suffering culminated on a cruel piece of wood. The Righteous One died for the
unrighteous. None has known the depth of his suffering. He drank the bitterness
of God’s wrath. We drink God’s grace. Our suffering, though not palatable, is made
sweet by God’s grace. Amidst our pain is joy unspeakable, our Savior’s joy.
“Let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who
for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1b-2
We are not worthy of the world. Our heads are anointed with oil.
Our cup overflows. To God be the glory. Amen.
Scripture proofs
Paragraph 1: John 11:35, Luke 22:44, Psalm 69:20
Paragraph 2: John 15:20, Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 56:8, Isaiah 40:31, Isaiah 40:11, Revelation 12:11, Colossians 3:3
Paragraph 3: Philippians 2:6-8
Paragraph 5: Hebrews 11:37-38, Psalm 23:5
