Faith at the Cross

Consider the Faith that shadowed the Cross! Can we even comprehend the idea of “Faith” being on hand as the Crucifixion is taking place? Yet John stood there Faithfully embracing the moment. He had followed Jesus. The rest of the Disciples had scattered in the fearful moments that followed. It is probable that each of us at sometime have had such a “crossing” a painful moment, a disturbing crisis, a trying and troubling situation and fear knocked at the door and we crossed over into anxiety and fear. Perhaps we sought some mechanism, some out or some place or person to hide out with to escape the crisis – a cross. I say this because we hear the Words of Jesus telling us to “take up thy cross and follow me.” Perhaps we have had moments where we felt the cross was too heavy, or we could not go another step … again we look to Jesus and the road that He trod. We see His Faith as He continues to pursue His Father’s desire. The beating, the mocking, the weariness, they let him away to Crucify Him. Movies often show Jesus falling and struggling, but Scripture does not tell us He fell beneath the load, it tells us – “As they came out, [the soldiers, Jesus, and the crowd that followed] they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, him they compelled to bear His Cross.”  Could this be an example to us?  When we hear Jesus say, “take up thy cross and follow me?” Simon finished Jesus’ journey to the Cross and now we must carry the cross of Salvation for the world is fast paced toward the end of all things. Faith is the things hoped for – the evidence of things not seen. Jesus’ Faith in the Father’s plan would be the evidence that we now “trust” – Eternal Life. What Faith Jesus had as He proclaimed to the man on the other cross … “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.”  Jesus Faith enduring the Cross abolished death, and brought life and immortality to us. May we have the Testimony of Faith in these trying times as we remember the men and women who walked before us.  In Faith we hear the Spirit say to John, write … “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the Testimony of Jesus: Worship God: for the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True. He was clothed with a vesture dipped in Blood: and   His name is called The Word of God.” Jesus Faith prevailed!     Loving you, Pastor