HE WAY OF THE CROSS-


The way of the cross is the way of Jesus the way that Jesus wants to lead us. We are all living the way of the cross some realise it others don't. To realise it and accept it is a wonderful way to live it gives great purpose. I use the word accept rather then understand because to accept leads to freedom to understand leads to mental anguish we were never meant to understand its all a wonderful mystery. At different stages of our life we get glimpses we get a feeling of oneness; a oneness with nature a oneness with God these times we don't forget and they help us on our journey to continue on. Jesus is the most powerful word in the world Jesus in happy times, Jesus in sad times, Jesus in times of despair Jesus is always there just waiting to be called upon. Jesus who can work miracles in our lives, Jesus who in many ways is just like you and me human, a Son of God we are all sons and daughters of God. God sent Jesus to become man to show us the way that leads to freedom, to life…
There was an old man who walked the roads summer and winter. This particular day was very cold he had his torn clothes wrapped around him he had coats over coats trying to keep warm but nothing seemed to prevent the cold going right through to the bones. He walked faster carrying his total belongings over his shoulder in a black tattered bag going no where - no where to go - no one to talk to - no one wanting to talk to him.
As the night drew close snow began to fall and he wondered where he could lay his head. He wandered back to his home an old derelict farm barn
and began collecting the straw that lay around so he could get cosy .As the wind blew he clutched to his belongings crying out in desperation "Jesus". Eventually he fell asleep.
The next morning the early sun shining through the broken window woke him. He got up as he always did dusted himself down and wrapped his clothes tightly around himself threw his bag over his shoulder and headed towards the fields. The snow had settled during the night the whole place was white and the sun was reflecting in the snow. He stopped and looked cherishing the beauty crying out in awe "Jesus". He felt different realising that in his desperation and now in his wonder he had called "Jesus" brining back memories of the past. He stood there memorised for a moment and then began to walk the familiar road. As he walked the sun shone all around him but it didn't seem to matter something had began to spark inside a warm flame had ignited deep within his being a flame that he new was there for good never to be quenched. As he continued to walk his footsteps were lighter the sun shining all around him he was happy, his clothes began to feel heavy as they clung to him so untangling the knots on the rope which kept his coats close to him he started to peel off the layers of coats until the last one was removed. He continued to walk becoming aware
of the weight of his bag over his shoulder no coats there now to cushion it from hurting him he realised it was now time to let it go. So taking the bag off his shoulder and taking one last look in caught the bag and threw it as far as it would go. He walked on smiling knowing he would never look back. Feeling warm inside he knew he had found something more precious something whiter then snow.

1 In the Bible Jesus says to us "come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light."
2Jesus also says, "come to me just as you are".

Some people find it hard to understand the bible so I will explain what these quotations mean to me and hopefully they will help you on your journey.


“Come to me all you who labour and are over burdened and I shall give you rest…

You might ask come where! Jesus is in silence – in stillness so his in a lot of places. Whether it’s a church, garden, beach a room in your home, in your car if it’s a place where you can sit quietly and be still - Jesus and you are connecting! If you are working, walking down the street amid noise, places where music is blaring at home and arguments are flying just to stop and think Jesus – you are connecting because Jesus is in the silence of your heart. So every one is welcome to come to Jesus wherever they are he has made it all very easy no telephones or computers need here!!

 

“…Who labour and are over burdened

Every one who works and who is under stress -  that’s everyone. Everyone is doing something; even doing nothing is doing something! Stress is a fact of life it can weight heavy on our minds or bodies until it makes us sink, take us over and we become overburdened, depending on the type of stress.

“…And I shall give you rest”…

Jesus promises us a rest, a break who doesn’t need one! Jesus is saying bring all your problems to him no matter what they are hand them over to him and have a break. If you sit down and mentally hand your problems over to Jesus in silence your mind will feel rested, as Jesus has promised

“Come to me and I will refresh you”.

“…Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls…”

A yoke is a wooden crosspiece fastened over the necks of two Oxen pulling a plough. A piece of wood in a cross shape. So Jesus says shoulder my

Yoke – shoulder my cross imagine like the oxen a wooden cross resting on your shoulder and the other side resting on Jesus’ shoulder you both sharing the weight like the oxen getting the work done quicker. Jesus is telling us that he is gentle and that he has a wonderful heart the best kind a humble heart. We have nothing to fear in coming to him he will be gentle with us. He will give us rest – to our worn out souls and renew our spirit.

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“…Yes my yoke is easy and my burden light.”

So Jesus is telling us that his cross, which he gives us, is light!! Just to explain what a cross is as it took me years to understand that word. Whatever problem you have in your life whether large or small is your cross. Jesus reckons it should be easy and light! But is it? A lot of people would say no, I would have said no years ago until I began reading and mediating on the station of the cross and Jesus way began to unfold for me my burden was lifted from me and today what ever the problem I can say my cross is easy and my problems are light. Our one fault is that we go it alone not realising we don’t have to we think it all depends on us, we have to be in control, we have to do this and have to do that and sigh if only. What a waste of time and energy. The reality is we don’t have to do anything but to cling on to Jesus and let him lead us while we learn to accept and to go with the flow. Turning fear into courage knowing that good comes from all things and learning to thrust in Jesus’ way – the way to real freedom and

To life. Jesus promises us he will lead us from the darkness into the light. Jesus has given us many promises, promises he has never broken and that will be there for us through all eternity but to experience the reality of these promises we must be prepared to take a leap into the unknown .One needs courage and you’ll receive that as Jesus whispers “do not be afraid I have you engraved in the palm of my hand” “I love you even till the end of time” “ I go before you as a pillar of light” “Be still and know that I am God”.

The way of the cross 2