The Necessity of the Cross

Man is adverse to suffering. There is an innate desire to avoid it altogether. Suffering is painful, distressing, and threatening to the physical and mental state of an individual. Yet, there is the blessing of suffering that God gives. Imagine a crisis or a tragedy happening and with it enemies become friends. Why is the Cross and its sufferings a necessity to the Christian life?

IT IS DESIGNED TO PRODUCE HUMILITY IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN.
The Lord humbled himself, as he walked this world. Becoming a man was already an act of humility, as was born in a working class family, subjecting himself to His earthly parents, living among common men and washing the feet of His disciples. His life of humility was given as an example for us. The cross we bear is given as the test of this humility. Proud as we are, Godʼs will is for us His people to be humble. God uses the cross as the tool through which humility can be produced; it is His tool to mould our obedience to Christ, thus allowing Him to use us.

IT IS DESIGNED TO TRAIN OUR LIFELONG OBEDIENCE TO GOD.
The Lord was obedient unto death (till His death). Our Saviourʼs life was one of obedience (John 8:29) and of principled obedience to God and His word. This life is hard to follow because Man, by nature, loves himself more than God, considers
himself more able than God and therefore, sees no need to follow the words of another authority, since he is his own authority. Yet, the cross is given for us to learn that if we love God, we will obey Him (John 14:15). It is also given that we may have faith in Him (Hebrews 11:6.) How can we be faithful to the Lord if we do not love Him? And how can we be faithful to Him if we do not have faith in Him? Obedience is the key to loving Him and trusting Him, and therein lies the purpose of the cross. Do we love Him enough to bear the cross He has placed in our lives? Do we remember that He bore His cross to Calvary. Do we trust Him that He knows the path that we take?

IT IS DESIGNED TO PREPARE US FOR GLORY: EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS,
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Philippians 2:9

There is nothing that we have done for God that He does not remember and will not reward. The death of the cross is a shameful, cruel and painful death. It removes all pride, self and personal confidence. It teaches complete surrender to God. When, as a Christian, we have humbled ourselves – having removed all self and personal confidence and trusting wholly in Christ and Him alone to assist our life on earth and through every trial – we are fitted for Heaven and prepared for glory to come. We are ready for that blessed city!!

Dear friend, we have a necessary cross to bear in this life, a cross to help humble us, teach us obedience to God and help prepare us for Heaven. Thank the Lord, we have the church to support us as we do so. Each of us has a cross to bear for the Saviour: may we bear it cheerfully as individual Christians and may we help each other carry the cross, for the glory of God.

Evangelist – Pastor Johnny Tan
Ambassador Baptist Church