2 April 2022 - The Crucifixion of Jesus

In Matthew 16, Jesus speaks about how He will be crucified.

Mat 16:21 “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. Mat 16:22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” Mat 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Matthew 10:38 says, “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”

We see here that we all have a cross that we need take-up. Crosses are not going after your own ambitions, following your own plans in life, following what other says is good. Your career is not the cross, your wealth is not your cross, your work is not your cross, your cross is what God has created you for.

To fulfil God’s will is your cross. If you want to be successful get ready for some crosses. On the cross you feel like complaining, you feel like you are not going to make it. Sometimes you feel that you are in a cave, in a tomb. Don’t worry Sunday is coming.

During this difficult times, we all entered cross country. It is a country full of crosses. Let no-one tell you it will never happen to you. Carrying your cross is part of becoming what God has intended you to became. Peter had this spirit; “This shall never happen to you.” He had it wrong. Every day is full of crosses.

I conclude with James 1:2-8 J.B. Phillips “When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realise that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character with the right sort of independence.”

May God Bless You.