A journey involves a path. And that path, for the Christian, takes us to and through God’s Friday – Good Friday. The Cross is an inescapable point of passage for the Christian. Some may rather see the Cross simply in terms of punishment exchanged. Jesus dies: we live. But there is much more to it than this. God's forgiveness, love and involvement in our humanity is expressed in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Something more than these is the reason for the Cross. The Cross is a point in the path of Jesus Christ that we too must pass through with Christ. It presents us with a path of Promise which brings us to a point of Pain, Perfecting and Purging. Path of Promise
Here is where God’s promises lead Jesus. Betrayal. Misrepresentation. Injustice. Persecution. The way of Jesus is not simply about Health, Wealth and Prosperity fulfilled in this world. Yes, there is healing that breaks through, provision and a sense of fruitfulness that is tasted; prosperity that can touch our lives here and now. But the path of promise reminds us of stark realities in a world where powers and principalities are set against Christ and His followers. There will be times when we face the profound realities of betrayal, misrepresentation, injustice and persecution. When escape will not be an option.
Point of Pain
Indeed, there are in our path points of deep pain and even the experience of forsakenness. This will come to us when we are immersed or engaged with the tragedies and pressures that descend upon people. To share the experience of others, in their struggles as well as their joys, will bring us to share in their experience of pain in a way that it becomes our own.
Here is where God’s promises lead Jesus. Betrayal. Misrepresentation. Injustice. Persecution. The way of Jesus is not simply about Health, Wealth and Prosperity fulfilled in this world. Yes, there is healing that breaks through, provision and a sense of fruitfulness that is tasted; prosperity that can touch our lives here and now. But the path of promise reminds us of stark realities in a world where powers and principalities are set against Christ and His followers. There will be times when we face the profound realities of betrayal, misrepresentation, injustice and persecution. When escape will not be an option.
Point of Pain
Indeed, there are in our path points of deep pain and even the experience of forsakenness. This will come to us when we are immersed or engaged with the tragedies and pressures that descend upon people. To share the experience of others, in their struggles as well as their joys, will bring us to share in their experience of pain in a way that it becomes our own.
Involvement with people and challenges can prove very costly. This is the way of the disciple of Jesus Christ.
Point of Perfecting
Let us never forget that Jesus Christ’s struggle against the temptation to turn away from this path was huge. But the New Testament Book of Hebrews speaks of how it was through His obedience and suffering that Jesus Christ became perfect. We need to pass through the point of the Cross to bring us through the fires of refining and maturation.
Point of Purging
The Cross is where God cures, in and through Christ’s humanity, all that defiles, degrades and destroys our humanity. He deals with death, the devil and disease. The Cross of Christ is the poultice that cures humanity's poison. Where the poison of sin is drawn from us into Christ Himself.
Let us never forget that it is at this point, which we find it so hard to pass through, that the power of sin and sickness is drawn from us. This is the redeeming and healing work of Christ on the Cross. It is the maturity of Jesus Christ’s humanity that truly demonstrates Him to be God’s eternal Word enfleshed, the Son of God. Such maturity that expresses utter empathy and compassion, bearing all the pain and punishment in Himself.
And still, this is not the end of the story of God's love ......
Point of Perfecting
Let us never forget that Jesus Christ’s struggle against the temptation to turn away from this path was huge. But the New Testament Book of Hebrews speaks of how it was through His obedience and suffering that Jesus Christ became perfect. We need to pass through the point of the Cross to bring us through the fires of refining and maturation.
Point of Purging
The Cross is where God cures, in and through Christ’s humanity, all that defiles, degrades and destroys our humanity. He deals with death, the devil and disease. The Cross of Christ is the poultice that cures humanity's poison. Where the poison of sin is drawn from us into Christ Himself.
Let us never forget that it is at this point, which we find it so hard to pass through, that the power of sin and sickness is drawn from us. This is the redeeming and healing work of Christ on the Cross. It is the maturity of Jesus Christ’s humanity that truly demonstrates Him to be God’s eternal Word enfleshed, the Son of God. Such maturity that expresses utter empathy and compassion, bearing all the pain and punishment in Himself.
And still, this is not the end of the story of God's love ......
