The Banquet Table
April 24, 2024
His Cross
April 04, 2023
His Cross
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“They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha”John 19:17
Wooden Cross
Wood is one of the most common elements on earth. So abundantly found, it is burned for warmth, sliced to make paper, joined to build houses. Yet two very common pieces of wood, once drenched with rain, and perhaps even gnawed at by insects or animals, would soon absorb the sweat and blood of our Lord as He was crucified.
“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”1 Peter 2:24
Golgatha
Meditate on the pieces of wood that composed Christ's cross. Imagine such a rough surface jammed against your back. His cross was not padded. It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t custom-fitted for His body. It was just a normal piece of wood, plucked out of a forest, suddenly made holy through the touch of the Messiah.
Think long and hard about what it meant for Jesus to accept these pieces of wood. As He began carrying the cross, every step took Him closer to the horrors of Golgotha.
“As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross.”Matthew 27:32
The Journey
He knew where this journey ended; He was not ignorant of the physical, spiritual and emotional suffering that lay ahead. At any moment, He could turn around and walk away. He could command the angels to slay the soldiers who "guarded" Him. He could ascend to heaven and take His rightful throne. He could avoid every drop of blood, calm every screaming nerve, reject every sin that was about to be laid on His shoulders.
But Jesus kept walking, carrying the common wood on which He would be crucified, to accomplish His mission. He did it so that you wouldn’t have to.
“the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”1 Corinthians 1:18
Prayer
Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times when my life doesn’t turn out exactly how I had hoped and I begin to question Your love accordingly. Visualizing the wood of Your cross, remembering how You knew it would be the tool of Your crucifixion, I have no right to question Your commitment or care for me ever again. Thank You for giving me a glimpse of how great a price was paid for my salvation.
