Cross and the Believers: A Good Friday Message
Today is Good Friday, and the focus is on the cross. Traditionally we are used to listening to sermons about Jesus’s words from the Cross or the stations of the cross etc. More than any other day, Cross is on everybody’s mind today.
As we know , the cross was used as an instrument of torture and painful execution. Yes when we think about the excruciating pain and suffering that Jesus went through on Cross, our stomachs churn and our hearts bleed. And it is natural reaction to the actual happenings of the very first Good Friday. The cross was purely a method of painful execution that the Romans used. Several other forms of execution like the electric chair or the gun, or the gas chamber remained as forms of execution. But the Cross overcame the stigma associated with execution and rose to a very different level. Jesus’s death on the cross, made the cross a symbol of salvation, of hope, of love, of sacrifice and thus of Christianity itself.
And the Cross has been used in many forms. Unlike other forms of execution, that I referred to above, the cross is used as a jewelry, (even by people who have no idea about what it actually stands for), it is used extensively in arts, it is found in movies both spiritual as well as horror movies. Several Bollywood movies had the villains sporting a cross either as a tattoo or hanging around their necks. It is found in accident spots and cemeteries. The sign of the cross is used as a form of blessing. It is probably the most flaunted symbol that the word has seen. You just can’t escape the Cross. It is generally everywhere.
So let us continue that focus and ask the question, What does the cross mean to me? Me , personally? As a believers, as followers of Christ, as Christians? Is it a mere piece of jewelry? Is it a piece of decoration that hangs on my walls or adorns our buildings? Is it a show item that I keep in my show case? Is it a fashion accessory that I use to show off my faith? What does it mean to me?
We are all believers sitting here. We all have heard his Call “come follow me” (repeated about 16 times in the new Testament) some time or the other and decided to follow Him. May be we were encouraged by the rewards of following Jesus, as articulated by the master Himself in John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Sounds good, after all, who wants to walk in darkness right? or Matt 19:28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. That Sounds really cool isn’t it, being able to sit on the judgement throne with Jesus and judge others? Or we are tired and weary and need rest and we believed in His call Matt 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. Whatever the situation, we have decided to follow Jesus and that is why we are taking the trouble of logging into an online Service and participating in a Good Friday Service.
However, it is good thing to be reminded this Good Friday, that for us believers, the call to “follow me” comes with a condition. The call to follow me comes with a call to carry the cross just as He did. Luke 9:23 and Matt 16:24, or Mark 8:34 lays it out for us. Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Matt 10:38 and Luke 14:27 make it even clearer and affirms carrying the cross as a necessary condition to following Him. Matt 10:38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Luke 14:27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Scary isn’t it?
All of us know what Carrying the cross means. It simply means Imitating Christ in His sufferings. It means being prepared for trials and tribulations. The fact of life is that there will be trials . There will be sufferings. Just as we cannot escape the sight of the symbol of the cross in this world, we cannot escape the reality of sufferings in this world. Jesus Himself confirmed this. Our suffering friend Job got this very clearly; Job 7:1 (MSG) “Human life is a struggle, isn’t it? It’s a life sentence to hard labor”. Even if you don’t do anything, it will come searching for us. This is exactly what is happening today during the COVID19 spread and lockdown and the associated struggles that many of us go through because of the same. Sickness, viruses, deaths, job loss, estranged relationships, financial difficulties, cheating, demotions, accidents, wars, communal tensions, persecutions. I am sure there is none among us who have not gone through atleast one these in our life time, if not more. The question is, what has been our attitude while going through such difficulties and sufferings? Did we go through it kicking and screaming and complaining and grumbling or did we go through it willingly and cheerfully knowing that it is our bounden duty as a Christ-follower to suffer.
But if we find it difficult to accept suffering willingly, we are not alone. On the other side of the Good Friday, Peter had the same issue. In Matt 16:21-22 when Peter hears about Jesus’s confirmation that he has to suffer, Peter’s reaction is like many of us. No Lord, it can’t be. Can’t we have an easier way out? Why be morbid and talk about suffering and death. Why can’t we achieve the glory without all that painful talk? But on this side of the Good Friday Peter knows the value of suffering very well.. He lays it out for us in 1 Peter, his first Epistle. In Chapter 1 of his first Epistle, Peter talks about suffering being the will of God to purify our faith. 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NKJV) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,. In Chapter 2 he holds up Jesus as an example to explain why innocent people suffer. 1 Peter 2:20-22 (NKJV) For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";. In Chapter 3 Peter exhorts us to consider Suffering as a blessing 1 Peter 3:18 (NKJV) For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,. In Chapter 4 he says suffering should not surprise us, but be a cause for rejoicing. 1 Peter 4:12-14 (NKJV) Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
To close, let me quote from an real gem of an old literature. There is a book called the “The imitation of Christ” written way back in the 15th Century . Let me quote from this book. JESUS has always many who love His heavenly kingdom, but few who bear His cross. He has many who desire consolation, but few who care for trial. He finds many to share His table, but few to take part in His fasting. All desire to be happy with Him; few wish to suffer anything for Him. Many follow Him to the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the chalice of His passion. Many revere His miracles; few approach the shame of the Cross. Many love Him as long as they encounter no hardship; many praise and bless Him as long as they receive some comfort from Him. [Thomas A Kempis (2013). Imitation of Christ, The. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com]” Unquote.
So the message this Good Friday for us believers is this. Be willing to pick up the cross and follow Him. It does sound harsh to hear “Carry the Cross everyday and follow me” But remember it is much better than hearing the warning, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matt 25:41), because the Cross is not just a symbol of suffering but a symbol of Salvation and comfort and promise. The cross is not there just to give us a reminder of Christ’s sufferings. The cross offers proof that God cares about our pain and suffering. It is there to give us the assurance that He was, is and will be part of any suffering that we can imagine. He has Himself gone through those sufferings.
Let us Pray.
