Since I can even remember, I always have this fear of the
cross. It may be due to the manner we Filipinos celebrate Holy Week annually. We
see men beating their backs until it bleeds as an act of penitence for the sins
they committed throughout the year while some are even nailed to the cross. But
nothing will surpass the pain Jesus bore when He walked the road to Calvary and
then nailed to the cross, not for His sins but for the sins of the world. Therefore,
the cross is tantamount to severe pain and death.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to “take up our
cross daily.” As has been reiterated in Sunday schools, no servant is greater
than His Master. We indeed must take up our cross and follow Him! But as any
Christian, we can even sing so loudly “Lead me to the Cross” but deep inside…
there is fear in carrying the cross!
But at specific points in our journey, we do encounter the
“cross.” Though the cross is painful yet the lessons are more precious than
gold! 
What then are the phases of the cross?
Ø
LOSS OF
INTEGRITY - As people of God, we are so conscientious of our integrity. Who
wouldn’t be? As Christians, we bear the Name of Christ! In fact, to people in
ministry, integrity is very precious and probably the only wealth we have. BUT,
there are times that God requires us to lay our very integrity at His altar.
Jesus did that! As an innocent man he was falsely accused. His Name was marred
and He wore a crown of thorns to humiliate him in front of the people who were
anticipating him to be their Messiah and King. If it happened to our Master, it
will happen to us.
Ø
BETRAYAL
- As people in ministry, our lives evolved in serving others, and these
“others” become our so-called “friends”. BUT, there are times that in our
pursuit of following God, there are those whose eyes lose sight of the vision
and are hindered by self-interest and selfish ambitions. These are those that
betray us. Let us not be discouraged. Remember, Judas was personally chosen to
be a bona fide member of the “famous twelve.”
He heard and saw Jesus doing miracles and transforming lives, but his
eyes were still in the money. His heart was “What is in it for me?”
Ø
DENIAL – The offenders of denial are
those closest to us. They had seen our visions, shared our cup, leaned on our
shoulder and know our deepest thoughts and dreams. BUT, when we were going
through the darkest moment of our lives, they denied the relationship. This is
what Peter did. He was a part of the inner circle, witnessed the
transfiguration and even declared that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the
living God, yet, in the very hour that Jesus needed him most, he denied Him.
This may be due to fear of association or the fear of the unknown.Ø REJECTION - People who demonstrate rejection are those who do not know the whole truth. They are just dependent on information provided by others or sometimes by “itchy tongues” and never had the courage to find out for themselves. Often times, they are those who are influenced by the band-wagon mentality and just go along with the crowd. In Jesus time, they were those who followed Him wherever He went, shouted “Hosanna!” as he entered Jerusalem but screamed “Crucify Him!” in front of Pilate.
But the most painful for Christ was when His own Father took His eyes of Him because of sin. In that very moment, their precious relationship was severed. He experienced rejection.
Ø FORGIVENESS – Forgiveness is the essence of the cross! This is what God gave for the sinful mankind to redeem us from the clout of darkness and eternal damnation. God gave His Own to redeem us to Himself! Forgiveness is salvation
Although difficult, forgiveness is what we need to give to those who destroyed our integrity, betrayed and denied us and left us all alone during our darkest hour. We must forgive them as Christ forgave us!
Ø VICTORY – When Christ shouted “It is finished!” and resurrected after three days, God was victorious over sin! Satan was defeated and man can live victoriously over sin! When we partake of the cross in humility and total submission, yielding to the painful yet divine purging, the “self” dies and the life of Christ is lifted up and God is magnified! When God is glorified in our lives, this is victory!
Passing through the cross indeed is painful BUT this must be
a reality and not just mere words we say or sing! A life that is crushed by the
cross yields a sweet aroma to our Heavenly Father. Our journey through the
cross creates a life that is totally yielded to His divine plan and purpose. Indeed,
our life begins and ends at the cross!
“I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ
who lives in me…”
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