There was another cross?!?

On Thursday, Jesus had his last meal, was betrayed by one of his disciples, sought refuge in prayer with God in a garden, and then Jesus was bound and arrested.

On Friday morning, Jesus has accused by religious leaders for be a blasphemer and a public nuisance and taken before the governor for a trial. Then his countrymen let a known murder go free and choose death and crucifixion for Jesus. Jesus was then mocked, beaten, spat on, and bruised. Roman guards smashed a crown of thorns into his head and put purple clothing on him to mock him as being a king. They then forced to pick up his cross and walk to Golgotha on the outskirts of the city. From there he was pierced three times. He struggled to breath and grew thirsty. Jesus took up his cross and bore the world's sin on it. There two other crosses that day that the criminals on them. They were to Jesus' left and to this right.

Yet there was another cross.

Wait, there wasn't four cross? But I thought there were only three?!?

Today, that fourth cross is yours and mine. It's the cross where our old self was crucified. "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin!"(Romans 6:6)

Jesus tells us in Luke 9:23-26:

 “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels."

Each of us have a cross to bear. Are we willing to pick up it, lose your selfish desires, let go of our life, and give it over to Jesus?

If we do believe in Jesus our lives will change dramatically. The old life will be gone and the new one is here. We will find forgiveness! We will find life! We will find purpose!

Hang up the old life you lived on the cross. Go start your new life now and live for Christ!