The suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ also known as the way of the cross was initiated by the chief priest and elders of the then Church just to fulfill their plan and the plan of God unknowingly. As Christians, any time we are passing through the way of the cross, we are expected to face some challenges. As we have read or have been told or probably have seen on television stations and other media means, the first challenge I know was denial because Jesus Christ was deserted by his close friends, brothers, and praise singers on Palm Sunday. Peter denied even to a curse but Jesus Christ could not deny Himself because He has a vision (Mark 14:68 and 71).
The second challenge I know again was false accusation because the chief priests accused Jesus Christ without evidence to proof it (Mark 15:3-4). The third challenge was envy and this envy is one of the critical issue that we face on this way of the cross, even among brethren, envy grows to the extent that a brother will deliver a brother (circumcised or born again) to an enemy of the Gospel (uncircumcised or heathen).
In 2 Samuel 1:13-14, David said how can an uncircumcised Amalekite raise his hand against God’s anointed. The forth challenge to be identified was humiliation because Jesus Christ passed through humiliation in Mark 15:17-19 and 27-28 by men who He has come to redeem and He opens not His mouth like a lamb for sacrifice. Are you facing this type of situation as a Christian? If heaven is your aim, these ailments found in this way of the cross cannot weigh you down because Christ overcomes it all. Now, He is in eternal glory and He will strengthen you.
- By Jokpeme Joseph Omode
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