Words of Encouragement

When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. – Matthew 27:35-44

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. – Mark 8:34

Christ and the Cross. The truth of the cross. We often times look at the cross of Christ and think about all that we received because of the cross, but we tend to miss all that Christ gave because of the cross.

The cross was an insult. The cross was punishment for the criminal. There was horror in the cross. The cross was a means of disgrace to the one being hung upon it. As we read the scripture in Matthew we see the treatment Jesus received. He was charged as a criminal, yet he was innocent. He was counted among the criminals when he was placed between the robbers. Those that stood around insulted him. He was mocked and told to show himself by coming down off his cross. He was yelled at to save himself as they continued to heap insults upon him.

This did not stop Jesus from finishing the task of the cross. Jesus was counted as unrighteous so that the righteousness of God could be fulfilled. Jesus withstood the insults and the mocking because he knew in God’s perfect timing he would be shown righteous again.

Jesus was counted as a mere criminal so that you and I could be counted as children of the most high. Jesus did not come down from the cross because he knew that if he did, all would be lost. He willing died so that we could live.

So when we hear the command from Jesus, to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow him, what does that mean for you and I? The truth in the cross is you and I were give liberty or freedom from sin, so that we could be the avenues for freedom for someone else. When we take up our cross we must be willing to stand under the insults and mocking. There will come those that will insult you for what you do and mock you as a fool. There will come those that will count you as a criminal, yet God knows you are righteous. Yet you willing stand up to the mocking because you know in God’s perfect timing he will show you righteous before all. To take up your cross you willing die to your desire to prove who you are. Jesus could have proved who he was and come down from the cross, but in doing so, he would have turned aside God’s plan. So instead he stayed on the cross and proved who he was that way, but showing his ultimate power over sin.

You and I must withstand the trick of the enemy to make us come down from where God has placed us. We must resist the pleas to show who we are. Instead we must continue to carry our cross until God himself shows to all, who we really are.

Today I pray for us that we thank the Lord for not only what we received from the cross, but to show our thankfulness for all that Jesus gave up for us. He gave up all, and mainly he gave himself. Today let us take the stand, the challenge of Jesus, let us give up all, and mainly ourselves and follow him.