THE WAY OF THE CROSS - Part II
REVIEW
We have looked at WHAT the Way of the Cross is, as defined by Jesus Himself in Scripture. The first mention of “the cross” in the Bible is spoken by Jesus Himself:
“And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].”
According to Jesus, Way of “The Cross” is self-denial. In another Scripture , Jesus also instructs us that “The Cross” is “for the glory of the Father”. And yet another aspect of “The Cross” is that it is “daily”, as Jesus said that we were to “take up our cross daily and follow Him.” The Way of the Cross is a daily life style of self-denial.
In discussing WHY the Way of the Cross, we concluded that our essential spiritual need is a change from a self-centered to a God-centered point of view; and that this “change” is theologically referred to as repentance. The Greek word translated repentance is: metanoeo . It is a combination of two words: meta, which means to change; and noeo, which means to perceive. Fundamentally, we need a change of perception – we need to change our point of view – from a self-centered to a God-centered point of view. And the Way of the Cross has been provided by God to accomplish this work in fallen humanity.
By looking at Scripture, we have also considered that the Way of the Cross is the only way God does things. The “Work of the Cross” and the “Way of the Cross” are perfect expressions of the very essence of God’s nature, which is self-denying love.
SUFFERING, RULING AND REIGNING
Now, as we continue with the question of WHY the Way of the Cross, we see that the Scriptures reveal that those who have come into Christ are destined to rule and reign with Him in the age to come. In order to rule and reign WITH Him, and not contrary to Him, we need to learn HOW He rules and reigns. And we know from Scripture and experience that He rules and reigns with a self-denying love. If we are to rule and reign with Him, we are to learn this self-denying love, which is so contrary to our self-centeredness. This is something that we must learn to obey; and this “learning to obey” presents suffering to us. It is even said of Jesus that, “although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered”.
A man named Paul Billheimer wrote effectively concerning these concepts. In his book, Destined For The Throne, he discusses our calling to rule and reign with Christ; and in the sequel, Don’t Waste Your Sorrows, that through the Way of the Cross, we learn the self-denying love which will enable us to rule and reign with Christ. Billheimer refers to the Cross as “the throne of the universe”.
The apostle Paul expressed the desire to know Christ “and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” This “fellowship of His sufferings” is a participation in, a sharing in, the sufferings of Christ. And Paul mentions twice in his epistles that if, through these sufferings, we learn self-denying love (the Way of the Cross), we will be glorified with Christ and reign with Christ:
“And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
and …
“It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure (suffering), we will also reign with Him….”
We can make this summary thus far: The Way of the Cross is defined as “self-denial”. In that it is contrary to self, the Way of the Cross entails a type of suffering. Since self-denial and suffering are contrary to our natural self, we must “learn obedience from the things we suffer”. And, if we learn the Way of the Cross, that is, if we suffer with or like Christ, we will learn how to rule and reign as He does – that is, with self-denying love.
In Galatians 6:14, the apostle Paul said:
“But may it never be that I would boast, except in THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, through which (the Cross) the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
This is quite a statement, but suffice for now to point out that he referred to “the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” – that is, Jesus’ cross. But Jesus referred to OUR cross when He said: “…let him deny himself, and take up HIS CROSS daily, and follow Me.” Yet, in saying “follow Me”, He was also saying that THE LORD’S cross is a pattern for OUR cross. The writer to the Hebrews confirms this in three places in his epistle:
1) “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
As “Author and Perfecter of faith”, Jesus is our pattern in this process of “enduring (suffering) the cross” in order to rule and reign.
2) “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect (bring to maturity) the Author of their salvation through sufferings.”
As “Author of our salvation”, Jesus is our pattern in this process of suffering that brings us to God’s glory.
3) “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected (brought to maturity), He became the Author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”
As “Author of eternal salvation”, Jesus is our pattern in this process of “learning obedience by the things we suffer and being “perfected” (brought to maturity).
Jesus is our pattern in this process – The “process” is the Way of the Cross. And this is the operating principle in the process:
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord (the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ ) are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
In other words, as we see Jesus as our pattern in the process of the Way of the Cross – seeing His self-denying love , the Holy Spirit will spiritually transform us into His image. The LORD’S cross will act as a pattern for OUR cross. The LORD’S self-denying love will act as a pattern for OUR self-denying love.
The apostle Peter wrote:
“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.”
There are a number of ways Jesus left us “an example for us to follow in His steps” on this Way of the Cross. We will be looking at each one in some detail, but for now will just list them:
We have looked at WHAT the Way of the Cross is, as defined by Jesus Himself in Scripture. The first mention of “the cross” in the Bible is spoken by Jesus Himself:
“And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].”
According to Jesus, Way of “The Cross” is self-denial. In another Scripture , Jesus also instructs us that “The Cross” is “for the glory of the Father”. And yet another aspect of “The Cross” is that it is “daily”, as Jesus said that we were to “take up our cross daily and follow Him.” The Way of the Cross is a daily life style of self-denial.
In discussing WHY the Way of the Cross, we concluded that our essential spiritual need is a change from a self-centered to a God-centered point of view; and that this “change” is theologically referred to as repentance. The Greek word translated repentance is: metanoeo . It is a combination of two words: meta, which means to change; and noeo, which means to perceive. Fundamentally, we need a change of perception – we need to change our point of view – from a self-centered to a God-centered point of view. And the Way of the Cross has been provided by God to accomplish this work in fallen humanity.
By looking at Scripture, we have also considered that the Way of the Cross is the only way God does things. The “Work of the Cross” and the “Way of the Cross” are perfect expressions of the very essence of God’s nature, which is self-denying love.
SUFFERING, RULING AND REIGNING
Now, as we continue with the question of WHY the Way of the Cross, we see that the Scriptures reveal that those who have come into Christ are destined to rule and reign with Him in the age to come. In order to rule and reign WITH Him, and not contrary to Him, we need to learn HOW He rules and reigns. And we know from Scripture and experience that He rules and reigns with a self-denying love. If we are to rule and reign with Him, we are to learn this self-denying love, which is so contrary to our self-centeredness. This is something that we must learn to obey; and this “learning to obey” presents suffering to us. It is even said of Jesus that, “although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered”.
A man named Paul Billheimer wrote effectively concerning these concepts. In his book, Destined For The Throne, he discusses our calling to rule and reign with Christ; and in the sequel, Don’t Waste Your Sorrows, that through the Way of the Cross, we learn the self-denying love which will enable us to rule and reign with Christ. Billheimer refers to the Cross as “the throne of the universe”.
The apostle Paul expressed the desire to know Christ “and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” This “fellowship of His sufferings” is a participation in, a sharing in, the sufferings of Christ. And Paul mentions twice in his epistles that if, through these sufferings, we learn self-denying love (the Way of the Cross), we will be glorified with Christ and reign with Christ:
“And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
and …
“It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure (suffering), we will also reign with Him….”
We can make this summary thus far: The Way of the Cross is defined as “self-denial”. In that it is contrary to self, the Way of the Cross entails a type of suffering. Since self-denial and suffering are contrary to our natural self, we must “learn obedience from the things we suffer”. And, if we learn the Way of the Cross, that is, if we suffer with or like Christ, we will learn how to rule and reign as He does – that is, with self-denying love.
In Galatians 6:14, the apostle Paul said:
“But may it never be that I would boast, except in THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, through which (the Cross) the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
This is quite a statement, but suffice for now to point out that he referred to “the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” – that is, Jesus’ cross. But Jesus referred to OUR cross when He said: “…let him deny himself, and take up HIS CROSS daily, and follow Me.” Yet, in saying “follow Me”, He was also saying that THE LORD’S cross is a pattern for OUR cross. The writer to the Hebrews confirms this in three places in his epistle:
1) “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
As “Author and Perfecter of faith”, Jesus is our pattern in this process of “enduring (suffering) the cross” in order to rule and reign.
2) “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect (bring to maturity) the Author of their salvation through sufferings.”
As “Author of our salvation”, Jesus is our pattern in this process of suffering that brings us to God’s glory.
3) “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected (brought to maturity), He became the Author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”
As “Author of eternal salvation”, Jesus is our pattern in this process of “learning obedience by the things we suffer and being “perfected” (brought to maturity).
Jesus is our pattern in this process – The “process” is the Way of the Cross. And this is the operating principle in the process:
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord (the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ ) are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
In other words, as we see Jesus as our pattern in the process of the Way of the Cross – seeing His self-denying love , the Holy Spirit will spiritually transform us into His image. The LORD’S cross will act as a pattern for OUR cross. The LORD’S self-denying love will act as a pattern for OUR self-denying love.
The apostle Peter wrote:
“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.”
There are a number of ways Jesus left us “an example for us to follow in His steps” on this Way of the Cross. We will be looking at each one in some detail, but for now will just list them:
Jesus set an example for us by DENYING HIS WILL for the glory of God.
Jesus set an example for us by DENYING HIMSELF OF PEOPLE’S ACCEPTANCE for the glory of God.
Jesus set an example for us by DENYING HIMSELF BY ALLOWING HIMSELF TO SUFFER AT THE HANDS OF SINNERS for the glory of God.
Jesus set an example for us by DENYING HIMSELF BY NOT OPENING HIS MOUTH for the glory of God.
posted by Unknown at
11:05 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home