His Cross, Our Cross

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
(from Matt 27:46)

The cross of Christ was grievous beyond our understanding. Jesus gave himself on the cross that no one else could bear, because he alone was without sin. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (see 2Cor 5:20-21)

All of his friends left him, he was falsely accused, condemned, beaten, spit upon, nailed to a cross, and ridiculed by those he loved. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luk 23:34) And he suffered and died for our sins in desperate, dark, loneliness. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (from Matt 27:46)

On that cross, Jesus Christ reconciled us to God. As his own, we are called to pick up our own cross, and follow Jesus. Our cross is like the cross of Jesus in that we obediently deny ourselves, and endure the sins of others by humbly forgiving them.

But our cross is also very different than his was. Because of his cross, our cross is the yoke that is easy and light, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (see Heb 13:5)

Lord Jesus, my Saviour, I do not know your terrible cross, where you died and give your life for me. Because of your obedient love, I am no longer separated from your love, and the cross you give me is easy and light, because you will never leave me. Such love is beyond my understanding. Help me to walk in you, to know you, to pick up my cross, and follow you.

A very great and precious promise

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Rom 5:10)

You have God's Word on it.