Text: John 14:1-6, Act 4:10-12, 1Peter 4:12-16.
Message:
In today's sermon titled,
THE WAY OF THE CROSS LEADS HOME, there are some terms we need to examine very
well in that topic:
The Way of the Cross:
The way of the Cross is the way that you are tested, tried, bear suffering and
shame because of your faith in Christ Jesus. Talking of way, a way is a passage
that leads to some specific places or destinations. It is a route or road that
you take to reach a place.
Leads: This means to guide or conduct
in a certain course, or to a certain place or end, by making the way known; to
show the way, especially by going with or going in advance of
Home: Home is a town, district or a country that you come from or where you are living and that you feel you belong
to.
In John 14: 1-6, it tells us of the assurance of the houses and beautiful mansions that had been prepared for all genuine children of God. Now, Thomas asked a cogent question from Jesus Christ, he said: "We know not to wither thou goest; and how can we know the way?"
A reply came from Jesus telling him He is the way, the truth, and the
life, no one can go to God the Father but by Him. Act 4:12 now cemented it all
saying "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
These two passages clearly
state that the way of the Cross that leads home is Jesus Christ. Home in this
aspect is talking about the KINGDOM OF GOD.
In this way of the Cross
that leads home, what are we to expect? Remember, if we talk of the cross; the cross
is not an easy object to carry. And cross differs from one person's own to
another, which means we do not carry the same cross. What is this Cross? They
are challenges that rise against us because of our faith in Jesus Christ.
Things to Expect
On the way of the Cross, some
things will come your way. The one that will come my way may differ from the
one that would come your way. These may be:
- False accusations against you. I.e. intentionally or unintentionally accusing you wrongly of what you did not do and punishing you for it.
- Hatred from the people of the world, even from among fellow Christians
- People betraying the trust you have for them
- Rejection from loved ones or colleagues when you fail to comply with their ungodly act. E.g. stealing from the place of work, forging a signature, manipulating figures in terms of money, and the likes.
- Hunger threat, and so many others.
Now, the question you are to ask yourself is that "can I truly endure this way of the Cross till the very end when the above listed and any other things rose against me because of my faith?. It is saddening that most people do not always endure to the end. But when we consider Romans 8:39, it gives is courage that none of those afflictions should separate us from the love of Christ i.e., nothing should prompt us to turn our eyes away from the way of the Cross.
What are we to do on the
Way of the Cross?
The book of 1 Peter 4:12-16
gave us the answer and highlighted some things to us. Let's consider it verse
by verse.
Verse 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. It means that when the pains of the Cross is hard against us, we should not be alarmed.
For example, a person carrying a log of firewood
on his head, he would expect to feel some pains because of what he is carrying,
he won't be surprised at all. So also, if pains come to our way because of our
Cross, we should not be surprised. It is not a time to murmur to God that why
is this happening to me? John 16:33. They are just a trial for us.
Verse 13: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye
are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed,
ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. In this verse, it does not tell us that
it is a period to be downcast or a period to regret that you choose the way of
the Cross neither a period to be in the sad mood, but it says we should rejoice (1Thessalonians
5:16). Brethren, rejoice in your pains, if you are in a sad mood, the devil
will come to console you with a false help that will lead you out of the way of
the Cross, and this will be very disastrous.
Verse 14: If ye be reproached for the
name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon
you: on their part, he is evil spoken of, but on your part, he is glorified. It
means we must be happy when we are reproached because of Christ. Matthew 5:10.
To those who are reproaching us, Jesus may be evil spoken of, but to we, Jesus
is glorified, and Jesus Himself will be happy with us for this reason if we are
also happy to be reproached because of Him.
Verse 15: But let none of you suffers as
a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's
matter. This verse is a critical piece we must consider. It warned us
strictly not to suffer as a lawbreaker or criminal as I will term it because if
our suffering is because of our offence, there is no gain at the end. There are
many today suffering for their past sins and would term it as their cross.
Never, it's their reward of ungodly attitude and not their Cross.
Therefore, examine your
life to be careful not to suffer as a criminal but as a soldier of Christ.
Verse 16: Yet if any man suffers as a
Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. This
verse even tells us to glorify God when we suffer as a Christian treading on
the way of the Cross. We should not be ashamed of our Cross, no matter how
painful and heavy it is. Remember, it will lead you home (heaven).
Be aware that Jesus
Christ also treads this path before He was given a name that is above all other
names that in the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven,
and things in Earth and things under the Earth. That is why He said in Matthew
16:24 that "if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross and follow me." He further made a declaration in Matthew
10:38 that "And he that taketh not his cross and follow after me is not
worthy of me." Will you be worthy of Christ?
One thing you must know
concerning this way of the Cross is that it is the only way that leads home, no
other way again leads home. Every other way leads to Destruction.
Central Truth: Proverb
24:10 If thou faint in the day of
adversity, thy strength is small. If you get tired on the way of the Cross and
you turn back, you are not worthy of Christ. Luke 9:62
Before we go, let's
consider the wordings of this song below
1. I must needs go home
by the way of the cross,
There’s no other way but
this;
I shall ne’er get sight
of the Gates of Light,
If the way of the cross I
miss.
Refrain:
The way of the cross
leads home,
The way of the cross leads
home;
It is sweet to know, as I
onward go,
The way of the cross
leads home.
2. I must needs go on in
the blood-sprinkled way,
The path that the Savior
trod,
If I ever climb to the
heights sublime,
Where the soul is at home
with God.
3. Then I bid farewell to
the way of the world,
To walk in it nevermore;
For my Lord says, “Come,”
and I seek my home,
Where He waits at the
open door.
Edited by Henry Corparations
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