“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1st Cor. 2:2)
Not being crucified but having been crucified.
I want to repeat that because it is vitally important in your walk with the Savior, not being crucified, but having been crucified.
There is a subtle, even Satanic difference between the Romanist cult and those who have truly been born-again, they need to keep the Lord up on that cross, you will rarely see inside any of their so-called churches an empty cross, His image must perpetually hang upon that tree of shame.
You cannot fulfill Luke 9:23 if you stay at the place of the skull.
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
There is no joy at the cross, there is sorrow exemplified, unconsolable grief, and shame beyond compare. The wrath of God meant for you was poured out upon the Son of God there, and their plan, which has worked well for many centuries, is to keep Him up there so that their supplicants will follow them, not Him.
We who are hid in Christ do not stay at the cross and watch Him suffer and die, we do not stand by an empty tomb wondering about the miracle of life, eternal life from death.
“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 10:18)
He is at the right hand of the Father, and He calls us to walk the path that leads to the strait gate, suffering if He so desires, always in joy of the assurances of the promises.
Many wear an empty cross on a chain around their neck, some even have it tattooed on their body somewhere, that is their decision to make, but I personally have never seen an empty tomb on a chain and cannot recall seeing a path with that gate inked upon a person’s body. Images to remind these people of the price paid for them, one would hope.
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” (Heb. 6:1)
Walking with Christ, following where He leads us, requires personal effort, an exertion of our free will, sitting at the cross and gazing up at His bruised and bloody body encapsulates nothing more than an emotional response, one of sadness and great sorrow. Staying at an empty tomb brings a feeling of elation, of incredible happiness in the knowledge that He is risen.
But He is not in either of those places, and only the deceived or the foolish would remain there.
Christ crucified, not being crucified.
We serve a Risen Savior, we follow Him wheresoever He leads us, in every circumstance we obey in love, giving no thought of the consequences to ourselves, only that His name would be lifted up to the glory of the Living God.
“But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” (Matt. 8:22)
We are led to the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, we witness firsthand His suffering and sacrifice, we watch as they place Him in the tomb, we see the stone rolled away and then we follow Him wherever He leads us. Our path starts at the cross, our burdens are removed there, no one who serves the Lord Jesus Christ remains there.
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3)
Recall that dark, cold night, bring into your memory the cruel mocking’s and beating that He took, see Him walking, stumbling, crawling in obedience to the will of the Father. Hear the screams as the hammer falls on those nails.
But do not stay there, for He is not there.
We are not told to pick up our cross and sit at His, we do not place it on our back and stare at an empty tomb.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2)
No one walks in joy who stays at His cross.