The Way of the Cross

Rev. Wilson L. Go Kiao

                              “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only

                          To believe on him, but also to suffer for him” – Philippians 1:29

I. The Grace of Believing in Him

            It is by the grace of God that we have been granted to believe in Jesus Christ!

The way of the cross started from heaven when the Son obeyed the will of the Father. He was sent by God the Father not just to look at what the people are doing to the world He had created. No, he was sent to die for the world. He had to leave the glorious heaven where the angels encircled him and worshiped Him, to come down to this sinful world where people rejected Him. The Word became flesh and had to be born in a manger because there was no room for Him. Growing up for thirty years in a poor family, He worked hard as a carpenter to support the family’s financial needs. His foster father may have died young and He had to take over the responsibility as the eldest of the family to oversee the upbringing of His younger siblings.

            At the age of thirty, after Jesus had fulfilled his family responsibility, He then went to full time ministry. This did not mean that the family burden had been taken from him; rather the burden of the world was added onto his shoulder. When He saw the people like sheep without a shepherd, He felt the need that He had to take care of them and feed them. He had to preach and teach without ceasing, He had to heal the sick and drive out demons. So many times He had to skip meals and experience exhaustion. He had performed a lot of miracles. Yet some still would not believe Him, especially the leaders of the Jews who envied and hated him to the point of plotting His death!

            “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrow, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 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.”- Isaiah 53: 3-5.

            “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the Lord made His life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities…” – Isaiah 53: 10-12.

            After the triumphant entry, Jesus predicted His own crucifixion for the last time. (Mt.26:1, 2). The suffering started to get intense following each day and along the way. The Jewish leaders plotted His death with the help of Judas who chose to betray Him. During the last supper, He washed His disciple’s feet as an example to serve and to love one another. He predicted Peter’s denial and prayed three times in extreme agony in Gethsemane. Then he was arrested.

            He stood the first trial before Annas. He stood the second trial before Caiaphas. Peter denied Him three times. He stood the informal third trial before the priests and elders. Mocked and beaten by temple guards, formally sentenced to death by the Sanhedrin,  He stood the fourth trial before Pilate. He stood the fifth trial before Herod. He stood the sixth trial before Pilate again! And then, He was flogged and mocked by the Roman soldiers. Finally, He carried his own cross along the via Dolorosa. Along the way He stumbled and stumbled and Simon from Cypress had to carry the cross for Jesus up to the place of crucifixion.

            The pain and shame that He suffered on the cross is beyond comprehension and description. In addition, He had to endure the mocking and teasing, until God silenced them with darkness and lightning.

            After the resurrection Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-27)

II. The Grace to Suffer for Him

            “The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.” – Psalm 25:14. In other words, the Lord reveals His secret to those who are very close to Him! Paul was one of the persons that the Lord revealed His secrets to. To suffer for Christ is truly grace upon grace! Not everyone is called to suffer for him. Only a chosen few, those who are worthy to suffer for Him, will go through what Paul experienced for the sake of Christ.

            Jesus suffered for us; hence it is but natural for us to suffer for him. It is a privilege if we are chosen to suffer for him. “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” (Acts 5:41)

            Jesus said that we have to take up our own cross and follow him. Throughout the ages, the heroes of faith gladly followed what Jesus had said, followed the way of the cross and suffered for him. “The blood of the martyrs is the seed and from this blood grew churches that soon covered the four corners of the world!

            The first martyr, Stephen, was stoned to death with Saul’s approval. But Jesus was standing at the right hand of God welcoming him home. The great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and Christians were scattered like wildfire but revival took place wherever they went. Saul was converted and Paul was commissioned to suffer for Christ’s name. James was put to death by the sword, but it did not affect the spreading of the message of the cross throughout the Roman world.

            Jesus took away our sins and gave His own life to give us eternal life. He had walked the way of the cross before and He surely can accompany us as we walk the same path. Suffering is like good medicine. It is bitter yet it is good for healing. To suffer for Christ is indeed grace upon grace! The way of the cross is the way to glory!