I am sure that you have seen a movie or live passion play either on TV, outdoors or on stage. No movie or play really does justice to the actual suffering, the excruciating pain and suffering that Jesus went through at that time. (And He did it willing for you and me).
I am also sure that at least one question has crossed your mind. If Jesus had humbled Himself to the limits of a man while on earth (which He did – see the Epistle of the Philippians 2:8), then He felt the pain of the cross in all of it’s intensity.
So then, how on earth was He able to face it and go through it?
We can find the answer to this question in another of the Epistles, Hebrews 12:2.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Let’s look closely at this verse.
There are some gold nuggets here. And remember, Jesus faced all of this having taken upon Himself the weaknesses of humanity. So in the same way that Jesus was able to face the horrors of the experience of the cross in His Life, you too can use the same keys to face those difficult times of life that could be described as facing your cross.
The golden key:
Looking unto Jesus …. who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame ..
Here we discover the Golden Key, which is one word is FOCUS. During those difficult days of facing the cross, Jesus was able to bear it because His focus was set beyond the cross.
This is the golden key: During those dark days of suffering, pain, shame and all that He went through, Jesus was able to do it as a man because He was focused on the joy that was set before Him beyond the cross. The joy of the resurrection!
Every cross leads to a resurrection AND every resurrection can only be experienced after a death. (You can’t resurrect something or someone who is not dead right?)
So, how can YOU face those dark hours that come into your life from time to time?
- By focusing on the resurrection that WILL follow.
- No death experience in our lives is meant to be a “camping ground”, but a “passing ground”. It is the path towards a new place of life in your life.
Your choice:
Why do some people seem to be forever going through “death experiences” in their lives? Because of their FOCUS.
Here is the key:
Your WORDS demonstrate and strengthen your FOCUS and your FOCUS attracts the very thing you are focused on.
In other words, if you constantly focus on the negative, guess what you will find yourself experiencing more often than not? Yes, negative experiences.
However if you are constantly focusing on the positive solutions you will be able to walk through any difficult situation in life and experience the resurrection.
Remember – fear is faith in evil (negative) – but real faith always believes and expects a resurrection!
Shileen
school grants
Jill
Bruce
