TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW CHRIST

PROCLAMATION

“As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.  They came to a place called Golgotha, which means ‘the place of the skull.’ ”  Matthew 27:32-33 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle Matthew.  After Judas betrayed Him in the garden of Gethsemane, (Matthew 26:47-49) Jesus was arrested and taken to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes, and the elders, and the Sanhedrin council had assembled. (Matthew 26:57)  His “trial” was their attempt to find evidence against Him so that they could put Him to death. (Matthew 26:59-61)  They accused Him of blasphemy and began to physically abuse Him. (Matthew 26:62-68)  Then they bound Him and led Him away to be handed over to the Pilate the governor for execution. (Matthew 27:1-2)  In His “trial” before Pilate, who could find no wrongdoing and washed his hands from the blood of an innocent man, He was condemned and ordered to be flogged and crucified. (Matthew 27:11-26)  The soldiers took Him, stripped Him, whipped Him, beat Him, hit Him, spit on Him, mocked Him, and then led Him away to be crucified. (Matthew 27:27-31)  As Jesus was probably too weak to carry His own cross, they compelled Simon to carry it. (Matthew 27:32-33)  When they arrived at Golgotha, they nailed Him to the cross and continued to mock Him while He was on the cross. (Matthew 27:32-44)  Jesus died on the cross.  He gave up His life, they did not kill Him. (Matthew 27:50)  After He died, His body was taken by Joseph of Arimathea, wrapped in linen, and placed in Joseph’s new tomb. (Matthew 27:57-60)

APPLICATION

Simon, the Cyrene, was compelled by the soldiers to carry the cross of Jesus.  Today, we are not forced to carry a cross.  Jesus, The Christ, said that if we want to follow Him, then we must take up our cross and follow Him. (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:24, and Luke 9:23)  We are to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow Christ. (Luke 9:23)  The cross is not heavy.  Christ said, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30)  The problem for us is that following Christ runs contrary to the way of the world and letting go of our worldly ways is difficult for us.  We need to be mindful of the fact that we cannot serve two masters; we must choose God or man. (Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13)  The choice is ours, however, like Joshua said, “As for me and my house, we will serve The Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

ALL BELIEVERS HAVE A CROSS TO BEAR

Proclamation:

“A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.  They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means ‘the place of the skull’).”  Mark 15:21-22 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Mark as he received it from the apostle Peter.  Mark begins this chapter with the “trial” of Jesus before the Sanhedrin council and then before Pilate. (Mark 15:1-15)  After Jesus was flogged and scourged, beaten and bleeding, the soldiers mocked Jesus before they led him out to be crucified. (Mark 15:15-20)  As Jesus struggled to carry the cross to Golgotha, the soldiers picked a man out of the crowd and made him carry the cross.  Jesus was weakened from the scourging that He had received earlier and perhaps Simon was picked because he looked strong.

Application:

The Bible does not record why Simon was chosen to carry the cross.  The fact is that he literally carried the cross for Christ.  Earlier, Jesus had said to His disciples, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24 and Luke 9:23)  Let a man deny his sinful, ungodly, worldly, lustful self and be prepared to endure rejection, persecution, and suffering if he wants to be a disciple of Christ.  The song writer said, “Must Jesus bear the cross alone, and all the world go free; No, there’s a cross for everyone, and there’s a cross for me.”  (Words from the song, “Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone” written by Thomas Shepherd)  As believers and followers of Christ, each of us must quietly submit and carry his own cross.  In order to walk the Christian walk, we must put Christ before self.  Our faith, our belief, and our resolve will be tested. (James 1:2)  However, we should not worry about any of the things that we must suffer through (Revelation 2:10) for there is a reward for all those who endure to the end. (Matthew 10:22 and James 1:12)

SO THAT I MIGHT LIVE FOR GOD

Proclamation:

“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in The Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  Galatians 2:19-20 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Galatia.  Paul begins this chapter by recounting his acceptance by the apostles. (Galatians 2:1-10)  He then recounts an episode where he confronts Peter for his non-Christ-like behavior. (Galatians 2:11-18)  Peter would eat and fellowship with the Gentiles until some of the other apostles arrived, then he separated himself from them and other believers, including Barnabas, followed his lead.  After this, Paul states that he is no longer under the law because Christ died and rose for him.  Now he lives his life for Christ and walks by faith in The Son of God.

Application:

As believers, our behavior is always under scrutiny, by non-believers and by other believers.  When we do wrong and sin, we can cause those who follow us to stumble and fall into sin, as Peter did.  We are not to return to our old ways and follow non-Christian customs in order to gain the favor of man. (Galatians 2:14)  We need to recognize The Spirit of God within us and to live our life as a good example of Christian behavior.  We are justified by our faith in Christ and not by our works or customs.  Christ was crucified once for all of us and for all of our sins.  There is no need for us to be crucified or to crucify Him again.  He died for us so that we could live with Him in the future.  So, let us live for Him now.

THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS IS THE LOVE AND POWER OF GOD

Proclamation:

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Paul had heard that there was disagreement and division between the believers in the church at Corinth based upon which leader they were following. (1 Corinthian 1:10-12)  His message to them was that they should on one accord.  Christ was not divided.  They should focus on the message of the cross.  He said that the world may think that the message of the cross is foolishness, but those who are saved know that it is the power of God.

Application:

The cross symbolizes the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  It divides mankind into two groups, believers who are saved and non-believers who are not saved.  The message of the cross should not divide saved people, it should unite them.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)  It was out of His love for us and His obedience to God, The Father, that Christ stayed on the cross. (Matthew 26:42 and Luke 22:42)  The fear and reverence of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Psalms 111:10 and Proverbs 9:10)  Those of us, whom God has called to believe, know that all power and wisdom come from God. (1 Corinthians 1:24-25)  As we think about whom we are, what we have done, and what we have become, we know that all of it is due to the blessings from God. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)  To God be the glory!!!

THE LAST SEVEN SAYINGS OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS

Proclamation:

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  Luke 23:34

“Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”  Luke 23:43

“Woman, here is your son … Here is your mother.”  John 19:26-27

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  Matthew 27:46

“I thirst.”  John 19:28

“It is finished.”  John 19:30

“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”  Luke 23:46

Explanation:

After He had been beaten, scourged, and mocked, Jesus, The Christ, was nailed to a cross in a place called Golgotha.  While on the cross, He prayed to His Heavenly Father and asked Him to forgive them.  Then He briefly ignored His suffering to offer salvation to one of the criminals who was being crucified beside of Him.  He also took the time to provide for the care of His earthly mother.  He suffered physically and mentally and cried out in a loud voice while He was on the cross.  When He had finished all that He had to do, He gave up His spirit and died.

Application:

Jesus, The Christ, was chastised, beaten, bruised, scourged, wiped, wounded, and crucified for our transgressions and iniquities. (Isaiah 53:5)  We are all included in the people that He prayed for His Heavenly Father to forgive because we made it necessary for Him to pay the price for our sins, and to take our place and suffer the punishment we deserved.  He was considerate and concerned for others even while He was suffering.  He who was without sin, took on the sins of the world, and paid the price for our sins, past, present and future. (John 1:29)  He suffered and gave us His life for us.  We should remember that, and how He suffered, especially when we take communion.  The good news is, that is not how the story ends.  Three days later He conquered death and rose from the dead.

"FATHER INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT"

Proclamation:

“Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.’  When He had said this, He breathed His last.” Luke 23:46 (NIV)  In The King James version of The Bible it reads “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit; and having said thus, He gave up The Ghost.”

Explanation:

Under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God Luke, the physician and traveling companion of the Apostle Paul, recorded these words which are considered to be the seventh and final of the last seven saying of Christ that He spoke while on the cross.  Normally death by crucifixion on the cross is a long, slow, painful process.  However, Jesus was only on the cross for a little over three hours before He died. (Luke 23:44)  Jesus was in control of the situation and ended His own life by quoting a verse from the Old Testament. (Psalm 31:5)  He had already told His disciples beforehand that no man could take His life, He had the power to lay down His life and to pick it back up again. (John 10:18)  Jesus ended His own earthly life after He had all that had to be done for the redemptive process of man. (Matthew 20:28)

Application:

When we die, the soul and the body separate, (James 2:26) the soul returns to God created it and gave it to us. (Genesis 2:7)  The body remains on earth to be buried, cremated, or disposed of in some manner prior to it returning to the dust of the earth. (Ecclesiastes 3:20 and 12:7)  When Jesus died His soul went to paradise and on that third day morning His earthly body was resurrected.  (Luke 23:43 and 24:6-7)  Now He sits at the right hand of The Father making intercessions for us. (Romans 8:34)  In order for us to be saved we must confess and believe that God raised Jesus, The Christ, from the dead. (Romans 10:9)  We can entrust our soul to the hands of God knowing that there is no place which is more secure.

JESUS PAID IT ALL

Proclamation:

"But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."  Isaiah 53:5-6 (NIV)

Explanation:

By the aid of The Holy Spirit of God the Prophet Isaiah wrote to the people of God, first, to warn them about their sinful behavior, and then secondly to tell them about the coming Messiah, Jesus, The Christ.  Here Isaiah stated that Jesus took upon Himself all of our iniquities, and by His physical injuries we were healed.  His punishment paid for our peace and made our salvation possible.

Application:

Jesus, who never sinned, paid the price for all of our sins. (Romans 6:23)  He was the sacrificial lamb who shed His blood for the remission of our sins. (Hebrews 9:22)  Jesus, The Son of God, endured the wrath of God, The Father, for our sins as our substitute. (John 1:29 and Revelation 14:10)  We had gone our own sinful way instead of following His way.  In fact, He is the way. (John 14:6)  Because He was hurt, we can be healed.  Because He was pierced, we can be protected.  Because He was crushed, we can be cured.  Because He was flogged, we can be forgiven.  Because He was punished, we can have peace.  Because He was wounded, we can be washed in His blood.  Because He took our sins, we can be saved.  Jesus paid it all and He did it for us.

THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST WAS PREDICTED

Proclamation:

“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."  Isaiah 53:5-6 (NIV)

Explanation:

This Holy Spirit of God inspired prophesy of the prophet Isaiah was regarding the crucifixion of Jesus.  It foretold of His suffering and punishment as a substitute for us.  He paid the price for our sins and iniquities so that we might be saved, because, like sheep, we had gone astray and were lost.

Application:

Just as he had predicted the birth of Christ, more than four hundred years beforehand, (Isaiah 7:14), the prophet Isaiah also predicted the crucifixion of Christ for our sins.  He predicted that Christ would b wounded so that we could be healed.  The suffering that Christ endured, the verbal and physical abuse, being spat upon and beaten, being wiped and scourged, the crown of thorns, being nailed to the cross, being pierced in His side, and dying upon the cross was all done for our sins, transgressions, and iniquities. (Matthew 27:27-35 and Mark 15:15-26)  We had turned away from God and each of us was doing what was right in our own eyes. (Proverbs 12:15)  We were lost, and He came to save the lost. (Matthew 18:11 and Luke 19:10)  Christ bore the sins of the world upon Himself and paid the price our sins so that we could have a chance at salvation. (John 1:29, John 12:27, John 18:37, and 1 John 2:2)  He suffered the chastisement of God for our sins in order to procure our salvation.  This is what Isaiah predicted would happen, and he predicted this long before Christ was born.  However, before we can receive the gift of salvation from the penalty of sin we must confess and believe in Jesus, The Christ. (Romans 10:9-10)

The Crucifixion Of Christ Predicted

"But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."  Isaiah 53:5-6 (NIV)

This prophesy of the prophet Isaiah was regarding the crucifixion of Jesus.  It foretold of His suffering and punishment as a substitute for us.  He paid the price for our sins and iniquities so that we might be saved, because, like sheep, we had gone astray and were lost. 

Just as he had predicted the birth of Christ, more than four hundred years beforehand, (Isaiah 7:14), the prophet Isaiah also predicted the crucifixion of Christ for our sins.  The suffering that Christ endured, the verbal and physical abuse, being spat upon and beaten, being wiped and scourged, the crown of thorns, being nailed to the cross, being pierced in His side, and dying upon the cross was all done for our sins, transgressions, and iniquities. (Matthew 27:27-35 and Mark 15:15-26 )  We had turned away from God and each of us was doing what was right in our own eyes. (Proverbs 12:15)  We were lost, and He came to save the lost. (Matthew 18:11 and Luke 19:10)  Christ bore the sins of the world upon Himself and paid the price our sins so that we could have a chance at salvation. (John 1:29, John 12:27, John 18:37, and 1 John 2:2)  He suffered the chastisement of God for our sins in order to procure our salvation.  This is what Isaiah predicted would happen, and he predicted this long before Christ was born.  However, salvation from the penalty of sin is only available if we confess and believe. (Romans 10:9-10)

Jesus Said "It Is Finished"

"When He had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.'  With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit."  John 19:30 (NIV)

The Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, records that one of the last words that Jesus said  while He was on the cross before He died was "It is finished."  This was a reference to the work that God, The Father, had assigned for Him to do for the redemption of mankind.

Jesus said that He must be about His Father's business and He must work the work of Him that sent Him. (Luke 2:49 & John 9:4)  He knew from the very beginning that He came into this world to teach, suffer, and die, so that we could have the choice of salvation. (John 18:37)  Because of His love for us, Christ died for us. (John 15:13-14 & Romans 5:8)  He could have saved Himself or called for legions of angels to do whatever He wanted, but He knew that this was the only way that we could be saved and that the scriptures could be fulfilled. (Matthew 26:53-54)  When Jesus said "It is finished" He knew that He had done all that needed to be done in the redemptive process for the salvation of man.  Thankfully, He completed His work and He paid the price for our salvation.  All we have to do is believe.

"Father Forgive Them"

"Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."  Luke 23:34 (NIV)

According to the record of Luke, the physician companion of the Apostle Paul, one of the last things that Jesus did as He hung on the cross at Calvary was to pray for the people who were responsible for His suffering and crucifixion.

There are those who believe that Jesus prayed that prayer for the forgiveness of those Roman solders who were involved in His physical crucifixion.  However, most of us know that Jesus was actually praying for all of us, all of humanity, because it was for the remission of our sins that the shedding of His blood, His crucifixion, His death on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection was necessary. (Galatians 1:4 & 1 John 2:2)  The price He paid, He paid for all of us. (Romans 5:8 & 14:9)  We should remember that as we celebrate the period of Passover, the Passion Week, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday.