04/11/2019
When we sit with a saint in their final hours of life and we witness the struggle as their body clings to life, we are inclined to wonder why they are being allowed to suffer in this way. Then, as they take their final breath, and the raspy rattle of death in their breathing grows silent, yielding to peace at last, we thank God for His mercy. Death comes in many forms yet whether in a slow release of breath, or in a sudden heart attack, there is pain, but then comes the peace, joy, and rest from the struggle. This is our homecoming with Christ; this is the transition from simply picking up our cross, to actually being placed upon it, and what awaits us beyond.
“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.”
Psalms 22:14-15 ESV
The women followed Jesus to Calvary crying and wailing as they went, but Jesus knew all too well that each of those who picked up his cross and followed Him would travel this same steep road. He knew what He was enduring because He knew the prophetic scripture, and as He quoted it from the cross, He also knew the fate of those who would choose to follow Him. He knew all too well that these women would suffer not only their own deaths, but mourn the deaths of those they loved.
“And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”
Luke 23:26-28 ESV
Before we can join Jesus in glory we must pick up our cross, and follow Him to Calvary where we too will meet our death upon it. I hear people speak often about picking up their cross, but they seldom acknowledge the fact that this is not an academic exercise. We carry it as He did, but it isn’t just the weight of it in life that we must bear, we too must die upon it as we summit Golgotha... just as did. This is our moment of greatest suffering, and in that final instant it is our greatest joy, our deepest peace, rest, and eternal life.
“Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Matthew 16:24-25 ESV
We are approaching Holy Week, and the passion of Christ becomes more and more real to us with each passing hour until at last we hear His words “It is finished”. This isn’t just the journey of Christ, it is ours as well, but friends take heart because we know what awaits us. We know our stone will be rolled away, and we know we will join Him in glory... we have read the end of the story.
“After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst." A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
John 19:28-30 ESV
So Jesus tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him, but not just in our struggle up the Via Della Rosa (the way of suffering), nor our crucifixion and death upon that selfsame cross, but into death, resurrection, and the subsequent ascension to sit at the Father’s Table.
“For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:21-23 ESV
We cry and wail for the dead and dying, we mourn death, not because it is the end, but because we are left behind awaiting our own trip to Calvary to join those who are now imperishable... those that have gone before us. Why else would we bemoan the fate of those who sit in glory, dining at the table of God our Father?
“So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”
1 Corinthians 15:42-45 ESV
Today we live mortal lives, suffer, and die, but for the believer there is much more... for those who pick up their cross and follow Jesus there is paradise...
“And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."”
Luke 23:43 ESV
This is our hope and promise... this is our journey of faith... this is our eternal joy.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who leads me to Calvary and beyond. Thank you Holy Father for not just the agony, and death earned by Adam, but for the promise of a joyous eternity with you as purchased by the blood of Jesus. Give me strength and courage Father as I carry my cross up the way of my own suffering, and give me fortitude, and long suffering, as I hang upon it awaiting my death. Then, with my final breath, release me Merciful Father from this perishable body to accompany Jesus into your house, where I will take my seat at your table forevermore. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God of mercy and grace. Praised be your name because you have made provision by your Son for my redemption and salvation. Glory is yours forever Lord, and all worship and praise will follow you always as I serve and love you into eternity.
“Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.”
1 John 2:24-25 ESV
Rich Forbes