Jesus, Man of Sorrows

When we look to Jesus, it is not possible to follow in His footsteps without also encountering sorrow and trouble.  And yet here is the great mystery, if we are willing to go there, to put ourselves aside for the benefit of others, then though there is sorrow, there will also be great joy in the journey.

In the Garden of Gethsemane we learn this truth.  Hours before Jesus would go to the cross, we read how  Jesus was "greatly distressed and troubled” and “very sorrowful, even to death." (Mark 14:33-34)

Hebrews 12 tells us this way, “to run the race God has given us with great perseverance, throwing off every sin and weight that would encumber us and set our eyes on Jesus, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, though despising its shame… consider Him,” the Hebrew’s writer exhorts us, “that we too may not grow weary and fainthearted.”

God is inviting us on a journey to give ourselves away for His cause.  That is where the joy of knowing God and serving others is discovered.  But this path of sacrifice and service is difficult and as Jesus shows us involves suffering and a cross. 

It is for that reason Jesus tells us that if we are to follow Him we must “deny ourselves and pick up the cross.”    That is why Jesus exhorts us in Matthew 16:25 that “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."

But the garden also teaches us about man’s weakness and fallibility.  We see how the three inner disciples, Peter, James and John, after being asked by Jesus to pray with Him and stand watch with Him for one hour fail in their mission.  Again and again they fall asleep and were unable to keep watch with Jesus during one of the greatest hours of His temptation.  We see Jesus’ declaration to them that though “their spirits were willing their flesh was weak.”    

This should alert us to this one primary truth.  If we are to follow Jesus and accomplish God’s will for our lives, then we will need a power beyond ourselves.  And by God’s grace He gives it through His Holy Spirit.  It is for this reason that II Pet 1:3 tells us that “His divine power has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness.” 

So let us “pick up our cross” and stay true to the mission God has for each of us, which is to sacrifice ourselves for others and His glory and to live a life submitted to God’s will.  When we do that, joy is discovered and our journey on earth will be filled with meaning and purpose.