The Cross - Our Way of Life (1)

 

“But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ From that hour the disciple took her into his own household” (John 19:25 – 27).

 

This was a horrid and cruel scene; a violent and bloody and drawn-out torture of three men filled with taunts directed to the One in the center. “If you are the Son of God, save Yourself, come down from the cross!” When the veil is drawn back, we often see the world’s leadership for what it is, including its religious leadership – here we see the “heirs” of Moses and Abraham not as they purport to be, but as their hearts truly are. What about our hearts?

 

Whether we trace our inheritance to the Fathers, to a branch of the Reformation, to the Ancient East, to more recent traditions and distinctives, or even to the Apostles; what about our own hearts?

 

The mother of Jesus stands by her Son in His agonizing death. Thank God she is not alone, other women are with her, and the disciple whom Jesus loves is there. Amid the shouts, the jeers, the gambling away of His clothing (is anyone selling popcorn?), the life of Jesus is ebbing away, His blood is dripping from the cross; it is on the wood, on the ground…is the blood of Jesus on those gathered around Him? Are Mary’s tears intermingled with Jesus’ blood?

 

Where are the multitudes whom Jesus has fed?

 

Where are the lepers He cleansed?

 

Where are the many who followed Him?

 

Where are the few who were with Him in the Upper Room?

 

These are not questions that matter so much, the question that matters is, “Where am I?”

 

Where are you?

 

Today, it is not enough to ask, “Am I standing by the cross?”

 

I must ask, “If I am standing by a cross, which cross am I standing by?”

 

Am I standing by a cross that has a dollar sign affixed to it? Is it a cross with a national flag wrapped around it? Is it a cross used to budgeon, imprison, and trample on others? Is it a cross employed to gather votes? Has the cross I am standing by been wrapped in cotton candy and entertainment? Has it had a “do over” to make it attractive and tasteful and profitable?

 

There are typically only two types of crowds around a cross, one crowd is crucifying the Son of God, the other crowd is around a cross they have made to order – a Christless cross. Perhaps the only place we shall see a faithful crowd around the true Cross is in heaven…at least until heaven is manifested fully on earth.

 

If there is no reproach, no shame…there is likely no true Cross with Christ crucified.

 

We are taught that we are to “Go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come” (Hebrews 13:13 – 14). How tragic when professing Christians are made the servants and slaves of the powers, leaders, and agendas of this world.

 

The Cross is offensive, it is foolishness, it is a stumbling block – it always has been, in this present age it always will be (1 Cor. 1:17 – 2:2).

 

On Easter morning the message of His resurrection first came to those women who had stood by the Cross of Jesus. As we know Him in the koinonia of His sufferings, we will know Him in the koinonia of His Resurrection!