The Cross!

‘From the cross God declares, “I love you” ’ (Billy Graham)

I have recently been watching a show of television that was recommended to me. There are many shows that people recommend due to one point or another, many are reality television shows that I have absolutely no interest in. The one that I have decided to watch though is a post-apocalyptic drama that is set on a train that is in constant motion.

The show is Netflix’s Snowpiercer (Netflix – 17 May 2020).

In season 2, there is an episode that visits a ‘tea room’ on the train. The tea room is a place where people of differing religions can visit and contemplate life etc. There is also a tea-cup on a stand at the end of the room, and the ‘pastor’ running the room said that although each person may have differing spiritual views, but, from wherever they sit, stand or kneel in the room, they can all see the cup, and from whatever angle or viewpoint they see the cup, it is still the same cup (Netflix – Snowpiercer – season 2, episode 2 – ‘Smoulder to Life’ – first aired 1 February 2021).

That got me thinking!

The cross is the symbol of modern Christianity, and has been for many years, but what do other people see when they look at it?

When people look at the cross, what do they see; do they see a symbol of gruesome punishment, torture and death? Do they see anything past the timber post and cross-piece? Do they see a future? Do they see you, the people that they know to be Christians?

When I was younger, I never considered the cross at all. I never went to church, and when I did, it was for, as my Uncle used to say, hatches, matches and dispatches, or births, marriages and funerals.

Many people these days do not attend a church regularly, and even when they do attend a church, it is general only for Christmas services or some other special service. So, what do they see when they look at the cross?

When I see the cross, I see a symbol of my redemption, of love, hope and peace.

I am far from a perfect person, but know that one day I will be taken to heaven where I will be a new person. I know that even though I am a sinner and do things that are wrong, Jesus died for me, because;

‘While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (Romans 5:8 NIV).

When we talk about sin, many people will say that they do not sin, and that they are good people, and there are many good people that do not attend church, but everyone has sinned or done wrong at some point in their life, even if they do not want to admit it;

‘for we have all sinned and are in need of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23 TPT).

I also know that when I decided to turn from my wrong-doings and follow Jesus that I was changed from within, I still look the same, but Jesus changed my heart;

‘Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he (or she) has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold everything is fresh and new’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 TPT – addition mine).

That does not mean that I will no longer do anything that I should not, for all of us are human;

‘For in my inner being I delight in God’s law’ (Romans 7:22 NIV).

‘I am a mystery to myself, for I want to do what is right, but end up doing what my moral instincts condemn’ (Romans 7:15 TPT).

When you decide to follow Jesus, you are changed, but the world and its sinful ways is still there. You have to decide each and every day that you are going to follow Jesus;

‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me’ (Luke 9:23 NIV).

So each and every day, we must make a difference in our life, we must make a choice, and that choice is to follow Jesus. It may not be a popular choice with some people, because things draw our focus, they try to make us concerned with other things, material things, and things of this world. We need to be in this world, but not of it;

‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2 NIV).

We need to look at the cross, as the citizens aboard ‘Snowpiercer’ look at their tea-cup that is on the stand, and we need to see it as it is.

The cross is where Jesus said “I love you” then, like a child when they spread their arm to show you something is big, Jesus stretched out his arms to show you how much he loved you, and then he died for you and me.

But we can have hope, because Jesus also said;

’And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’ (Matthew 28:20 NIV).

We know that it did not end with Jesus on the cross. My cross is empty, because Jesus rose and went to heaven to wait for us.

Make the choice today to follow Jesus, choose life!

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I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow,
Tho’ none go with me I still will follow,
Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry till I see Jesus,
My cross I’ll carry till I see Jesus;
No turning back, No turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

I have Decided to Follow Jesus

Traditional / Leslie B. Tucker

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Father we thank you that you sent your Son to this world to redeem us from our lives of sin and darkness and to give us another chance at life. Thank you for your love and grace, and most of all, we thank you for Jesus. We love you Lord.

Amen

We’ll walk for truth, in Jesus’ name

‘Follow, follow, I will follow Jesus‘ (Robert Lowry 1826 – 1899)

Robert Lowry was a 19th century Baptist Minister, a professor of literature, and composer of gospel hymns, and he wrote these words which seem so simple, but yet are so deep.

‘Follow follow I will follow Jesus 
Anywhere, everywhere, I will follow on
Follow follow I will follow Jesus
Everywhere He leads me I will follow on‘

(R. Lowry – emphasis mine)

They are really easy words for us to sing or say, yet they are really quite difficult words for us to live out fully in our lives.

Are we prepared to follow Jesus wherever he takes us, whatever the challenges may be, as the word say? This is a big ask!

When Jesus called many of his disciples, and when he talked about the cost of following in his way, the main words that he said to people was, ‘Follow me‘ (Matthew 8:22 ESV).

These were the only words recorded when he called the tax collector, Matthew, ‘Follow me‘ (Matthew 9:9 NIV).

When he called his first disciples, he told them that they would be doing the same type of work that they were used to, but in a different arena. They probably did not really understand what he meant, but they went with him. He called to them saying, ‘Come follow me‘ (Matthew 4:19 NIV) and the work they were to do, was still fishing, he said ‘I will make you fishers of men‘ (Matthew 4:19 ESV).

The way people chose to follow Jesus, and the way that they flocked to him, makes me think that he must have had a very magnetic presence; the type of person that walks into a room and commands everyone’s attention, but Jesus did this without creating a spectacle.

Not everyone actually followed Jesus, because after speaking to him, the rich young man  was told to sell everything and then return to Jesus and, ‘come, follow me‘ (Matthew 19:21 ESV). He was very rich, and not really prepared to sell all his belongings and give away his wealth.

The cost of following is not easy, we may have to change our entire outlook on life; we may be called to work with people that we would rather not, we may be called to give away a large portion of our money, or we may be called to give our time which could easily be as precious to us.

Paul reminded Timothy that Christians should not be materialistic people, ‘the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil‘ (1 Timothy 6:10 NIV). Money and the values of the world attract us, because we are human, with all the desires that come with that.

Paul said to the Roman Christians that they should hold themselves apart from the world, he said to them, ‘Do not be conformed to this world‘ (Romans 12:2 ESV).

After predicting his death for the first time, (Mark 8:31-32) Jesus spoke of the cost of following him, and he said, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me‘ (Mark 8:34 NIV – emphasis mine).

So if we are to follow Jesus, we have to choose to do that, Jesus will not make us follow him, even though he chose us first. He said to his disciples, ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you‘ (John 15:16 NIV).

Jesus chose us to be part of his family, because his Father, God, has a good plan for each and every one of us (Jeremiah 29:11). We know, as David knew, that God will always be with us to guide and teach us (Psalm 32:8). We know that God will always be with us, because he told us that (Hebrews 13:5).

So we know that he wants the best for us in all things, and the best thing for us is to look to Jesus and follow him.

Do we look to our Saviour and ask, or should we look to him and ask, as Peter did, ‘Lord (Jesus) where are you going?‘ (John 13:36 ESV). Peter could not follow where Jesus was going at that time, but now, anyone who wants to and chooses to follow him, can.

Peter was told, ‘you cannot follow me now, but you shall follow me after ward‘ (John 13:36 NKJV).

Are we prepared to follow Jesus?

I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

Attributed to Sadhu Sundar Singh (1889 – 1929)

Father we thank you that we have free to choice to follow you, and worship you openly. Help us to live our lives enthusiastically for you. Help us to follow you fully and live our lives wholly for you, let us be lights in the world for you. Lord we want to shine for you and to show the world that we belong to you, and what it means to have the hope that we have through your sacrifice.
Lord we know that you have a plan for us, help us to look to you for your leading. We know that you want the best for us, help us to always be willing to follow you and to trust you in all that we do.

Amen