“Love Through The Cross!”

“Love Through The Cross!”(Lk.9:18-22).
Welcome to Day Thirteen of Lent 2023.
Yesterday we reflected on the plot on Jeremiah’s life. He was fortunate that the several attempts to end his life were fruitless until God’s appointed time. Others were not as fortunate as him. Jesus once lamented, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you…”(Lk.13:34f). By Jerusalem the Lord was inferring the temple and specifically the religious authorities.
In almost all religions there is a sense in which the religious authorities go to the extent of killing in defense of the faith. They do this as a genuine service to their Deity, but which unfortunately is actually a disservice to that Deity! The Lord Jesus himself was to be a victim of such religious bigotry.
One time through the Twelve the Lord sampled public opinion about himself by asking them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” Peter their spokesman replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”
Jesus asked further, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?”, to which Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
“Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.” It was not yet time for the public to know his true identity. The expectation of a Messaiah was high but there was a hazy understanding of that expectation.
To the crowd he was either John the Baptist, or Elijah or one of the prophets of long ago. He was not the Christ of God whom they expected. Even though the apostles knew he was the Christ, their conception of the Christ was the combination of the Messaiah/King(cf. Ps.2).
As a king he was to be crowned in the manner of all earthly kings. This view was well expressed after his death by the disciples on the Emmaus road. “But we had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel”(Lk.24:21).
Jesus had told them but they did not believe it. “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
The religious authorities can do their worst, rejoicing that it is service to the LORD; which indeed it is. But while they considered that the service to the LORD was getting rid of the cankerworm destroying the crop, it turned out they were fulfilling the plan of God! No glory without a cross!
Dear friend, who is Jesus to you? It is not enough to parody Peter and say “He is the Christ of God!” Yesterday I was trying to know something about the satanic church of South Africa, only to read several articles saying that the co-founder has resigned and converted to Christianity because of love. Some Christians showed him love and Christ also overflooded him with love. He testifies that he realised that he and others of the satanic church are mere victims of brokenness.
To those who know Christ, all their burdens are lifted on Calvary and their load becomes lighter. The love of Christ in his sacrificial death heals all wounded souls.
Come to the cross and recieve love and from the cross take love and pass it on to others.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for your cross through which the burden of our sins have been lifted off. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.