"Therefore... be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Cor. 15:58)
We often talk about the love that sent Jesus to the cross: His passion for humanity, demonstrated in the sacrifice of Himself, so that you and I could be reconciled in our relationship with God.
But how often have we considered what that
love looked like at the rock face in the life of Jesus, incarnate in human
flesh, experiencing all the joys and sorrows of the human condition?
As Son of Man, He poured Himself out into
the lives of others constantly:
He
poured new hope into ravaged hearts.
He
poured new healing into deep woundedness.
He
poured forgiveness into guilt-ridden spirits.
He
poured new life into blighted lives.
He
poured new love into those who knew rejection and abandonment.
He
poured time and attention into those who were lost and hurting.
He
poured Himself out in healing and redemption and restoration and care and
authentic relationship, touching lives with the riches of the Kingdom of God,
giving of Himself tirelessly and constantly.
And after He had done all of this:
The
mob screamed, “Crucify Him!”
His
closest companions deserted Him.
His
onlookers mocked Him.
His
enemies reviled Him and spat on Him.
His
leaders subjected Him to hours of torture followed by a long and excruciating
death.
And
then at the hour of His greatest suffering… the Father turned away…
The words that Jesus spoke during the time
of His arrest, trials and crucifixion resound through redemption history. Yet
the words He did not speak may be
just as significant:
“After
all I’ve done for you…”
These
are the words He never said.
Instead
He said,
“Father
forgive them…”
In what ways have you poured yourself out:
Into
the lives of family members and friends.
Into
the lives of people under your ministry.
Into
the lives of colleagues and co-workers.
Into
the lives of neighbors and acquaintances,
And
perhaps even complete strangers…
And at the end it all, are there times
when you feel that you have been left:
Exhausted and expended
Bereft
and alone
Cast aside
Cast aside
Unappreciated
Unrecognized
Your
own needs unmet
Forgotten.
Ignored.
Is it tempting at such times, to cry out,
at least in your heart, “After all I’ve done…?”
And yet… Jesus beckons us to Himself by
way of the cross. Yes, it is the cross of our salvation, our redemption. But it
is also…
the
cross of our own surrender;
the
cross of our own lives laid down;
the
cross of the right to self sacrificed at the feet of the One who suffered there
on your behalf and mine;
the
cross we embrace not only as a one-time event but as a way of life.
Whatever we pour into the lives of others,
is given for the sake of, and in the Name of the One who gave Himself up for
us. The One who said:
“If
anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and
follow Me” (Matt. 16:24).
“…
anyone who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt.
10:38).
Is this painful at times? Oh yes! You
cannot have a cross without having pain. But because of Jesus and the cross we
have embraced, we also receive His grace and power to pour out our lives for
others in self-sacrificial love in His Name, expecting nothing in return. The
way of the cross is the way of love:
Love
is patient
Love
is kind
If
does not envy
It
does not boast
It
is not proud
It
is not rude
It
is not self-seeking
It
is not easily angered
It
keeps no record of wrongs
It
rejoices with the truth
It
always protects
Always
trusts
Always
hopes
Always
perseveres…
Love
never fails
Not human love, but love learned at the
cross where the One who is Love poured
Himself out: The One who beckons us now, to follow in the way of love – the way
of the cross.
Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross
(Hillsong United)
