A thought from many years ago.

In Matthew 27, after the soldiers had spit on him and hit him across the face, after they had pressed the crown of thorns down into his bleeding scalp, and after they had given him a kingly robe to wear, the Lord Jesus carried his cross to a place called Golgotha.

The path that he walked has come to be known as the Via Dolorosa, the way of suffering. Tradition has marked out 14 'stations' along this 'way of suffering,' Fourteen main events from the time that Jesus was condemned to death, to the time that his body was laid in the tomb.

But are there more 'stations' than this for us to consider?

The Way of the Cross did not start in Matthew 27. This chapter has Jesus standing before the civil ruler, Pilate, being accused of crimes that he had not committed. He is then tortured, and killed. Not many believers reach this station. Frankly, most of us aren't that passionate about the Great Commission or the Lord Jesus. But we have all read stories about the martyrs 'overseas' who have died for their faith. I wonder, will I carry my cross to this station?

But let's back up to chapter 26. In this chapter, the religious rulers are conspiring against Jesus. Jesus is at a party being honored with a great sacrificial gift - the ointment from an alabaster box being poured upon his head. Then came the evening of the Last Supper. One of Jesus' closest 'friends' goes off to the religious rulers, and agrees to deliver up Jesus for a certain sum of money. Jesus and his other friends partake of the bread and wine, and then sing a hymn. Jesus goes out to pray, and is captured by the authorities. His friends desert him. They deny ever knowing him. They turn their backs on him.

You see, the way of the Cross started before the Via Dolorosa. The way of the Cross includes betrayal, and lies, and denials. It is people turning their back on you - people that had claimed to love you, and who were willing to die for you. But the way is also one of celebration, of honor, of singing.

But let's back up to chapters 24 & 25. These are chapters of instruction and teaching. There are warnings about things to come, cautions against false brethren, and parables about how the Kingdom of Heaven actually works. There is even a dire warning concerning 'professors' versus 'possessors' (false vs. true believers).

The way of the Cross is about others. It is not just about Jesus dying, it is about Jesus preparing his followers for when he is gone. Are you preparing anybody to carry the torch after you are gone? Are you instructing others in the way of the Kingdom? Are you warning others to make their calling and election sure? The way of the Cross will lead you to this place of final instructions before it leads you to the place of your final breath.

But let's back up to chapter 23. If chapters 24 & 25 are warnings and instructions for true Christ-followers , then chapter 23 is a rebuke of the religious hypocrites. This chapter is fraught with rebukes and clearly-stated denouncements of religion. This 'false way' is the enemy of the way of the Cross, and Jesus does not hold back! "Blind guides," "fools," "hypocrites," "ye serpents"!!! And then, with utmost compassion, he turns to those who have trusted in these religious leaders, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, . . . how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathered her chickens under her wings"

The way of the Cross will lead you to a place where you will hate religion, where you will denounce it. Why? Because you are compassionate for those who have been deluded by it. You see their pain even when they do not. They will cry out for your crucifixion, but you cry out for their freedom.

But let's back up to chapter 22. Before they crucified him, before they denied him, before he was betrayed, they sought to "entangle him in his talk." They took his words out of context. They quizzed him seeking to trip him up. They asked him 'hypothetical' questions meant to make him look like a fool. But he was wiser that they, and he put questions back to them that 'stumped them.'

The way of the Cross is about the mind. It is about our understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven, about our understanding of God himself. As we teach and instruct in the way of grace and life, the religious (works-oriented) crowd will not understand. But thinking that they understand the Book better, they will pose questions trying to reveal a flaw in our theology.

This really has me thinking of Steve McVey, and some of the Grace teachers I know! How many "unlearned" questions they must deal with on a daily basis! How often they are misunderstood. How often they are misquoted, and misrepresented.

But let's back up to chapter 21. Chapter 21 is more of the same. Shouts of "Hosanna" honor the Lord. The sound of crashing tables reveal his anger toward those who use his Father to 'make a buck.' And in private, he talks with his disciples about answers to prayer. In public, he confuses the religious with words that seem (to them) to be intentionally confusing and mysterious.

The way of the Cross is about consistency. It is teaching the brethren who will 'hear' and pointing out the blindness of those who cannot 'see.' There are times when you will receive honor that speaks of the royalty just inside your 'tabernacle of flesh,' and there are times when you will positively SHOCK your followers by going (to them) too far. You will be called a mystic, a 'deeper life' teacher, a confused mess.

But let's back up to chapter 20. And 19, and 18, and 17, etc.

The way of the Cross began when Jesus left his throne and became a man. Grace will ask you to leave your 'throne' and to submit to God. In so doing, you will discover your 'humanness.' This is the beginning of the way of the Cross.

Along the way, you will see miracles. You will see angels. You will experience love and devotion that will humble you, and you will experience misunderstandings and cruel words that will leave you scratching your head. You will worship God. And He will talk with you.

You will wander, being led of the Spirit; yet you will be consistent in your walk with Christ. Life will overflow from with you. Joy will be your companion, prayers never far from your lips.

People will look up to you, and then turn away from you. You will instruct others, only to watch them fall.

You will be called 'proud' and 'sinful' and 'un-biblical.' The religious will say that you follow doctrines of devils.

Your parents might not get it. Your brethren might not get it. Those of your hometown might not get it. But some will. And they'll walk with you.

But in the end, you'll carry the Cross alone. Just you and the Father.

And on the other side, be received up into glory!