SENTENCED

It’s been a tough time for Jesus. He’s been heavily targeted by the chief priests; He’s been before Pilate; He’s been taken out and flogged, had a crown of thorns shoved on His head, and been beaten and mocked. A week before, He had been praised with ‘Hosanna’, and this week, it is ‘Crucify’. 

How ironic that the people who were God’s people, who would have said that God was their king, who hated the Romans and their occupation, called Caesar their king! They did anything and everything they could to remove the troublemaker Jesus.

So Jesus was handed over to be crucified and He was forced to carry His own cross.

Jesus talks about following Him and taking up our crosses (Luke 9:23). He is not talking about a physical cross, although our burden may be physical. He is talking about the cost of being a disciple. Jesus paid the full price on the cross. John writes that ‘God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16 (NIV)). 

What’s the challenge for us? Are we serious when we say we follow Jesus? Do we mean it? There can be a big cost and there will be challenges. Are you prepared to answer God’s call to go where He wants you to be? Are you prepared to stand up in front of others and say ‘Yes, I follow Jesus’?

Jesus willingly suffered that we might be brought back to God in a relationship once and for all time. We say ‘Thank you Lord, I love you, and let me serve you all my life.’

written by DAVID BARKER