THE WAY OF THE CROSS

John 14;1,2
Jesus promises his disciples that he is going ahead of them in order to prepare a place for them in heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:3
The cross is of first importance. We must hold it in our hearts as such. Though much may happen in our lives to confuse, distract or discourage us, we must keep our focus on the cross.


1. THE WAY OF THE CROSS IS THE WAY OF GRACE
Luke 23:13-25
The people wanted Barabbas set free and not Jesus. The wanted the rioter and rejected the Redeemer. They wanted the murderer and rejected the one who came to give life.

Jesus chose not to try to defend himself. Instead he went to the cross - for all of us and for Barabbas. This is grace.

Q. Are you a man or woman of grace?
Q. Would you put up with suffering as Jesus did for the greater good of others?

Luke 23:39-43
The one thief understood grace because he understood that he was as much a sinner as anyone - and everyone - else. The opposite is to easily find fault with others and look down on them because of their sin.

Matthew 27:1-5
Judas chose the way of regret and self-pity over the way of grace. He failed to see the grace that God would gladly and freely have extended to him if he had come back to the Lord.

When we fail to see God's grace we give up and we give in. See God's grace. Appreciate God's grace, and let it motivate you to keep up not give up.


2. THE WAY OF THE CROSS IS THE WAY OF REPENTANCE
Matthew 26:50-56
The disciples desert Jesus at this point. They forget that Jesus promised (in John 14:2) that was going to prepare a place for them in heaven. Later, though, they came back.

Matthew 26:69-75

Peter not only fell away, but he denied the Lord as well. Later, though, he came back.

The way of the cross is the way of repentance.

No matter what sin has gotten you down, no matter how far from God you strayed, no matter how low your faith has fallen, what counts most is repentance. God respects and rewards repentance, e.g. Peter and his reinstatement - John 21:15-19

Peter's life was forever transformed because he chose the way of the cross.

Q. Are you hiding somewhere? Are you hiding something?
Q. Have you repented today as a result of the resurrection?

Acts 1:12-17
God gave all the disciples a second chance - Peter who had denied him, Thomas who is well known for having doubted him, all who turned and fled at the time of his arrest. He gave them all a second chance. He gave them a chance to repent and to start over again. As a result, they went on to impact the world around them in an incredible way.

When you respond to the cross of Christ by seeing God's grace and then repenting, your life because powerful.

Q. Does your life reflect gratitude for God's grace?
Q. Does your life demonstrate repentance as you appreciate the second chance that God has given you?