Cross of Joy

John 19:17-18 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 Here they crucified him, and with him two others – one on each side and Jesus in the middle. 
 
IS it not enough that his back is a mass of torn flesh? Blood from the excruciating crown of thorns streams from his forehead into his eyes. Jesus’ wrists and arms are numb from the ropes that tied him to the lashing pole. Is he not bruised, bleeding, broken and weakened enough? Now he is carrying his own cross. Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Messiah, the Resurrection and the life, bears his cross to be crucified in the murderer Barabbas’ place between two thieves. The Suffering Servant demonstrated the truth of his own words: Mark 8:34 “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Following Jesus is giving your life to the Savior.
   Yes, Jesus’ words of committed discipleship are figurative. They symbolize sacrificial living for Jesus and perseverance through trial and difficulties. For untold numbers over the centuries to the present day, it has even meant death. To carry a cross is submitting to the Lord’s will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Cross bearing means you may be brutalized spiritually and/or physically. And when you are, you get up and keep moving forward through the crowd of opposition.
   An important lesson here is that cross bearing is impossible without help. How does the brutalized Jesus reach Golgotha? Matthew 27:32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 
   Simon is forced to help Jesus when Jesus can bear the wooden beam no longer. Simon had no expectations of being involved in God’s salvation plan. But he acted, perhaps in protest; yet, the Lord rewarded him. Mark 15:21 records his two sons Rufus and Alexander were gospel missionaries, carrying their own crosses for Jesus. In a like manner, we will be unexpectedly confronted with a cross to carry. And as we do respond in faith our Lord will step in to say, “Here, I know this is too heavy for you alone. Let me help you.”
   Living into Jesus’ cross-carrying discipleship is believing in your heart such truth as Psalm 121:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth. Yes, your God is an active Helper. Jesus, on Heaven’s throne, has sent to you his Helper in the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of life with the power to do God’s will on earth. You can rejoice and be glad your cross will not lead you to be crucified. But the cross of faith will lead you to live into Paul’s words in Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 
   How sweet to know, how encouraging to trust, how powerful to believe that Christ lives in you. In faith receive Jesus’ strength to take up your cross with joy. Praise and thank God you don’t have to go to Golgotha because Jesus already did.