Embrace the Cross

The grain of wheat that preserves its own life can produce no fruit. It abides alone. Christ could, if He chose, save Himself from death. But should He do this, He must abide alone. He could bring no sons and daughters to God. Only by yielding up His life could He impart life to humanity. Only by falling into the ground to die could He become the seed of that vast harvest,--the great multitude that out of every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, are redeemed to God.

With this truth Christ connects the lesson of self-sacrifice that all should learn: "He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." All who would bring forth fruit as workers together with Christ must first fall into the ground and die. The life must be cast

into the furrow of the world's need. Self-love, self-interest, must perish. And the law of self-sacrifice is the law of self-preservation. The husbandman preserves his grain by casting it away. So in human life. To give is to live. The life that will be preserved is the life that is freely given in service to God and man. Those who for Christ's sake sacrifice their life in this world will keep it unto life eternal.

The life spent on self is like the grain that is eaten. It disappears, but there is no increase. A man may gather all he can for self; he may live and think and plan for self; but his life passes away, and he has nothing. The law of self-serving is the law of self-destruction. The Desire of Ages, p. 623-624.

Observation: Powerful words... The law of self-serving is the law of self-desctruction. And the flip side would be that the law of self-sacrifice is the law of self-preservation. Die and you will live. Seek to save your life and you will die. Why? Because our life is dependent upon Jesus. He is the source. As as the source of life He laid down His life. He showed us the heart of our Father. He showed us that we serve a God ready and willing to give His very life for us. There is no good thing that He withholds from His children. At the cross the lie was forever broken that God is withholding something from us. For in Christ He gave all... There was nothing left to give.

Application: These words came to my mind this morning as I was reading from The Desire of Ages. I hear Jesus saying them to my heart; inviting me to come and die:

Embrace the Cross

Steve Green

I am crucified with Christ

Therefore I no longer live

Jesus Christ now lives in me

(Repeat twice)

Embrace the cross

Where Jesus suffered

Though it will cost

All you claim as yours

Your sacrifice will seem small

Beside the treasure

Eternity can't measure

What Jesus holds in store

Embrace the love

The cross requires

Cling to the one

Whose heart knew every pain

Receive from Jesus

Fountains of compassion

Only He can fashion

Your heart to move as His

Oh, wondrous cross our desires rest in you

Lord Jesus make us bolder

To face with courage the shame and disgrace

You bore upon Your shoulder

Embrace the life

That comes from dying

Come trace the steps

The Savior walked for you

An empty tomb

Concludes Golgotha's sorrow

Endure then till tomorrow

Your cross of suffering

Embrace the cross

Embrace the cross

The cross of Jesus

Prayer: Lord Jesus it is hard for me to comprehend the amount that You suffered for me. At times I feel in denial that anything I have done would have caused your death. But Lord I realize this is truth. I realize that I have life because You have given Your life. I realize that Your life requires my life. Lord Jesus may I die with You today. Jesus may my life be hid in Yours. May my hopes and dreams be buried in You. Jesus You know how I have longed for recognition. You know that I have envisioned leading a stadium of people in worship. But Jesus, may You are calling me to lead a hut of people in worship. Maybe You are just calling me to lead my family. Maybe You are just calling me. If it is only my worship that You receive it is enough Jesus. You are worthy of me alone. You don't need me to do great things. You just want me to offer myself. That is what You want. You're not looking for someone else Jesus. You are looking for me. And You expect the same. That I would look for no one but You. That I would desire no approval but Yours. That I would seek no success but You. Jesus You are my success. You are my victory and my crown.

Not with Sword

Never before had the world seen such a triumphal procession. It was not like that of the earth's famous conquerors. No train of mourning captives, as trophies of kingly valor, made a feature of that scene. But about the Saviour were the glorious trophies of His labors of love for sinful man. There were the captives whom He had rescued from Satan's power, praising God for their deliverance. The blind whom He had restored to sight were leading the way. The dumb whose tongues He had loosed shouted the loudest hosannas. The cripples whom He had healed bounded with joy, and were the most active in breaking the palm branches and waving them before the Saviour. Widows and orphans were exalting the name of Jesus for His works of mercy to them. The lepers whom He had cleansed spread their untainted garments in His path, and hailed Him as the King of glory. Those whom His voice had awakened from the sleep of death were in that throng. Lazarus, whose body had seen corruption in the grave, but who now rejoiced in the strength of glorious manhood, led the beast on which the Saviour rode.  The Desire of Ages, p. 572.

Observation:  Christ entered Jerusalem as a conqueror.  He had gotten the victory; not with heavy hand, but with a healing hand.  He would get the victory; not with sword in hand, but with spikes in His hands and feet.  O the beautiful irony of this upside down King and His upside down kingdom.  This King who came as a servant and a slave is worthy of our highest praise.  This King who sought not His own glory but the glory of His Father shall one day be glorified by every tongue and knee in heaven, on the earth, and under the earth.  This King is My King.  His name is Jesus.

King of Glory

Third Day

Who is this King of glory that pursues me with His love

And haunts me with each hearing of His softly spoken words

My conscience, a reminder of forgiveness that I need

Who is this King of glory who offers it to me

Who is this King of angles, O blessed Prince of Peace

Revealing things of Heaven and all its mysteries

My spirit's ever longing for His grace in which to stand

Who is this King of glory, Son of God and son of man

His name is Jesus, precious Jesus

The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart

The King of glory

Who is this King of glory with strength and majesty

And wisdom beyond measure, the gracious King of kings

The Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things

Who is the King of glory, He's everything to me

The Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things

He is the King of glory, He's everything to me

His name is Jesus, precious Jesus

The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart

The King of glory

Prayer:  Lord Jesus my prayer is simply one of worship this morning... I stand in awe of You.  You are the King of Glory.  You are the Desire of All Nations...  the Desire of Ages... the longing of every heart and the answer for every generation.

As the procession is about to descend the Mount of Olives, it is intercepted by the rulers. They inquire the cause of the tumultuous rejoicing. As they question, "Who is this?" the disciples, filled with the spirit of inspiration, answer this question. In eloquent strains they repeat the prophecies concerning Christ:  

Adam will tell you, It is the seed of the woman that shall bruise the serpent's head. 

Ask Abraham, he will tell you, It is "Melchizedek King of Salem," King of Peace. Gen. 14:18. 

     

Jacob will tell you, He is Shiloh of the tribe of Judah. 

Isaiah will tell you, "Immanuel," "Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isa. 7:14; 9:6. 

Jeremiah will tell you, The Branch of David, "the Lord our Righteousness." Jer. 23:6. 

Daniel will tell you, He is the Messiah. 

Hosea will tell you, He is "the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is His memorial." Hosea 12:5. 

     

John the Baptist will tell you, He is "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29. 

The great Jehovah has proclaimed from His throne, "This is My beloved Son." Matt. 3:17. 

     

We, His disciples, declare, This is Jesus, the Messiah, the Prince of life, the Redeemer of the world. 

And the prince of the powers of darkness acknowledges Him, saying, "I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God." Mark 1:24.   The Desire of Ages, p. 578.