The CROSS - 2

The CROSS - 2

And those who passed by blasphemed Him,

wagging their heads and saying,

"You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself!

If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

Matthew 27:39-40  

The worldly mindset is diametrically opposite to the way of the cross.

To have the mind of CHRIST is to be mindful of the cross of CHRIST.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

who, being in the form of God,

did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

but made Himself of no reputation,

taking the form of a bondservant,

and coming in the likeness of men.

And being found in appearance as a man,

He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death,

even the death of the cross.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him

and given Him the name which is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

of those in heaven, and of those on earth,

and of those under the earth,

and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11

Taking up my cross means, having the mind of CHRIST.

Having the mind of CHRIST means:-

• making myself of no reputation
• taking the form of a bondservant
• Identifying with those below my position and with transgressors

He who humbles himself will be lifted up by GOD.

Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

 Isaiah 53:4-5

but we preach Christ crucified,

to the Jews a stumbling block

and to the Greeks foolishness,

1 Corinthians 1:23

At a certain point in your pathway in life you will encounter the cross.

You cannot ignore the cross of CHRIST because it confronts you for a decision.

If you retreat from the cross you will go backwards.

You cannot go around it because it embraces the whole world.

You cannot go under it as it is planted on earth.

You cannot fly above it as it reaches heaven.

If you decide to humble yourself to accept the forgiveness the LORD offered from the cross, you will embrace it and go through it and find salvation and peace.

You need to take up your cross to be yoked to the LORD to progress in Him and serve Him. The light of the cross is the only path of victory.