WORDTIPS: THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CROSS TAKES US TO THE KINGDOM: THE CROSS & THE KINGDOM (PART 2)
THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE CROSS AND THE KINGDOM
THE WISE THIEF – Even at the cross one thief could recognize Jesus as the everlasting King. One of the thieves at the cross was wise enough to discern even at the cross that Jesus is the everlasting King of an everlasting kingdom. Hence hanging at the cross together with Jesus, the thief said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” (Luke 23:42)
THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CROSS TAKES US TO THE KINGDOM –
Knowledge plus belief in Jesus make us eligible for His kingdom
More than any eloquence or any other wisdom, Paul writes that he was resolved to know nothing except Jesus Christ who was crucified at the cross (1 Corinthians 2:2). Paul also writes that the cross is the stumbling block and foolishness to many in the world (1 Corinthians 1:23) but the same cross is the only thing to boast of for us (Galatians 6:14).
– Today we children of God too consider our troubles as unpleasant and cruel. But it is not actually so unless we have chosen the nuisance ourselves. When it is permitted by God and when we know that God is in control of our lives, we should indeed be glad to carry and go through it knowing we have a throne at the end. The knowledge of the One True God and His Son Jesus Christ is eternal life (John 17:3).
– Not mere knowledge but by believing in Jesus Christ we can already grasp His everlasting life (John 3:36) and by now has passed from death to life (John 5:24).
– The sad part is that the men of the world love evil deeds than good and hence love darkness rather than the LIGHT, Jesus Christ (John 3:19). They abruptly refuse to know God (Jeremiah 9:6) and even hate the LIGHT because the LIGHT sternly testifies that their works are foul and malicious (John 7:7)
THE CROSS DISSOCIATES US FROM THE WORLD AND MAKES US ELIGIBLE FOR HIS KINGDOM
We boast of the cross of Jesus Christ because it is the one that crucifies the world to us and us to the world detaching all our association with it, thus qualifying and grooming us for His kingdom (Galatians 6:14). The cross crucifies all our self-will and makes us live as Christ within us (Galatians 2:20).
THE CROSS IS OUR ROAD TO THE KINGDOM
Paul writes that we can enter into the kingdom of God through many hardships (Acts 14:22). Jesus said to His disciples that if the world had persecuted Him (the King), it would persecute His followers too (John 15:20). He assures that we will have trouble in the world but we ought to take courage and look on to Christ who has already overcome the troubles of the world (John 16:33).
