The Journey to the Cross Is Our Journey Too

We need to be reminded of the promise of Jesus from the cradle to the grave to Heaven because not only has Jesus saved us in this life, but his death and Resurrection changed the course of mankind's eternal destiny. It is here where we find Heaven's celestial stairs.

Reflect on the one (Holy) week that changed the world. The week started with joy and praise and ended with Jesus on the Cross—every moment from innocence to betrayal to shouts of crucify him—nails hammering, blood spilling, thorns tearing, linen hanging, and women weeping as the sky darkened. The earth quaked, the temple rumbled as the veil tore, and God in the flesh died a human death. 

Imagine the sorrow of Jesus' mother, disciples, and followers. It was as if all creation held its breath for three days, which is what it is like today, isn't it? We have Good Friday, and while we may be finalizing weekend plans or at a lunch spot with friends, we feel the gravity of God's love for us. Then, on Saturday, we wait, and although we are planning our menus, preparing Easter baskets, or dying eggs, we know what this Saturday really is. It is the day that we wait. We wait in anticipation as our sorrow turns into joy, like the night before Christmas (we know what is coming).

We will run to the tomb with Mary on Sunday morning and find it empty. Envision running into Jesus as he asked, "Why do you weep. I have risen."

When she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and she did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" John 20:11-13 NKJV

Not only was Jesus, the disciples' best friend, whom they loved, gone, but what of all Jesus' teachings? What were they supposed to do? How could they continue? The wonderful thing about Jesus is He never leaves us alone to figure these things out. Just as Jesus showed up to the women outside the tomb, doubting Thomas and on the road to Emmaus, He shows up to us when we need Him. And that is what the Holy Days are. We intimately get in touch with the awe and wonder of our God, who loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die for us. To make a way for us, to bring us home forever. Jesus is forever. Our Salvation is forever. This is not a passing conversation, a decade, or even a lifetime. This is an eternal commitment. The Holy Days of Christmas transform into the Holy Days of the Resurrection. Our joyfulness is uncontainable because Jesus has risen. Hallelujah shouts across the heavens. Glory be to God in the highest. All creation sings jubilantly for the poor dying, unfallen world no longer must die.

God is not one to do the normal—

Always doing the unexpected, like being born from a virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14). (Although it was expected by God, who prophesied Christ's coming down to the last detail.)

Dying on the Cross—again, it was prophesized (Psalm 31:5), but the Apostles did not expect it.

Then Jesus rose from the dead, and although He said he would, no one expected it (Matthew 17:22-23).

This tells me that Jesus does more than I could ever expect or imagine. He is ever full of wonder, surprises, and unlimited delight. But we who live after the Resurrection can expect more resurrection power, the Second Coming. It is not will, or can it happen because the King is coming.

We were never meant to live fallen—

"Nicodemus said to Him [Jesus], "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (John 3:4) Can a baby be born again? Nicodemus asked Jesus, not grasping the miracle that would soon be. Not yet seeing the plan God had made and orchestrated since the garden when he told the cunning serpent, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel," (Genesis 3:15KJV).

It has always been about you and me. Our innocence was stolen in the garden, our unfallen fell, and we are born into this world as fallen. But God has offered us a way to return to our innocence—a wonderful rescue plan. He would send an innocent, His son Jesus, an unblemished Lamb who would be slain for our sins. In Jesus's Resurrection, God makes a way for us to follow and return to innocence.

When we trust Jesus as our Savior and step onto the Pilgrim's path back to our innocence, Savior, our God. One day, we will enter the unfallen garden, the new world, the celestial City, and sit at the feet of the Lamb.

With Jesus, we get to live this every day—we live in Resurrection joy, in the safety and security of our Salvation. Our deliverance to the Holy City to unfallen Eden. As we walk through the Holy Days on our journey to the Cross, never forget God's love—sending His Son to die to make a way to bring us home.

We were never meant to live forever unfallen; we were always meant to live unfallen with God himself.

The journey to the Cross has everything to do with us because our Salvation is the most beautiful thing ever. What could be more exciting than celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus? 

Deborah Rutherford is a Christian wife who loves to write stories, devotionals, and poetry. She is also an award-winning makeup artist. Deborah shares her journey of faith, joy, and beauty on her blog at www.deborahrutherford.com and social media. She is a contributing writer for Aletheia Today Magazine, Kingdom Edge Magazine and Gracefully Truthful Ministries and has a devotional in the book “Shepherd on Duty: Promises of God you Can Trust” (Arabelle Publishing) and the Calla Press, Literary Journal Spring 2023.

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