Jesus Carries His Cross

Martin Luther said, "Living, or rather dying and being damned make a theologian, not understanding, reading or speculating." God can't be found in the ascent of our intellect to places of speculation through reason. God can't be found in taking our minds to higher levels or arguing the logic of forms behind reality. Our minds might be able to conceive of a universe that exists because of the work of some ultimate creator, but ultimately God is found where we find divinity emptying itself and dying on a cross.

One truly begins to know God, not in reading or studying books and making proposals about the nature of God, but rather in suffering, because the kingdom of God has come for the suffering, the dying, the poor, and those who mourn. And who doesn't understand what it means to lose someone, or suffer, or be poor or hunger for justice?

Last night we talked about Jesus carrying his cross. Jesus said that if we want to follow him, we must take up our cross. Taking up our cross means being willing to suffer and even die for Christ, but perhaps there is another aspect. Perhaps taking up our cross also means allowing Jesus into our situations, into our suffering, to walk with us in it, and lead us out of it.

Jesus said, "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness."

Sometimes in our suffering we feel no more valuable than the rocks on the ground. Sometimes the world makes us feel like rocks that get trampled upon. But if people were kept from praising the Lord, even the rocks would cry out. And when Jesus was carrying his cross, the rocks were the willing vessels to catch his precious blood as it fell to the ground.

I would rather be a rock covered in the blood of Jesus than a diamond on the hand of a queen. (Both are rocks anyway, one just knows it). So as we jouney to the cross during this season, let us be like the rocks, covered in the blood of Jesus and bursting forth with praise.

God bless you all this week!
See you next week at the Gathering.
-Tim