Jesus Christ took that journey down the Via Dolorosa [1] all the way to Calvary [2] just for you, and just for me. It was not a fun walk for Him. He sweat blood for us in Gethsemane [3], and I might add, while his disciples slept [4]. He was scourged [5], beaten [6], bled [7], Denied [8], ridiculed [9], and people spat on Him [10]. Christ then trudged a half a mile carrying the crossbar of His Cross [11] on His back with meat and bone clearly visible; truly, a lamb led to the slaughter, as the Bible prophesied [12]. With each step on the cobblestone road, the bar scraped and dug into the meat and sinew of His back.

Then the soldiers hammered huge seven-inch spikes through the ulna of His wrists, which would have been excruciating. not to speak of a numbness. They then drove seven inch spikes through his ankles at a 45-degree angle [13], which would have made it near impossible to lift himself somewhat so he could expand his lungs and breathe. It took Christ six hours to die [14].

Now, because of Christ’s walk to death, we can take our walk to life, through Him. However, there is one caveat. My last five blogs have highlighted this qualification. Our road to life, through Christ, is conditional on receiving our individual salvation through Christ’s redemption on the Cross [15].

v1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
v2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. [Romans 12:1, 2 KJV]

Sometimes, we all need a reminder of the basics and the foundation on which we base our faith. We get so tied up in the growing that we sometimes forget from where we came on our new journey down our own Via Dolorosa. I know I do. From here on out, these blogs will be somewhat of a refresher for us. For me as well. So please, join me as I get into God’s Word.

After receiving the redemption of Jesus Christ, we all must metaphorically take up our own cross and follow Him [16]. Staying on course is a process, one that is a lifetime adventure. To me that’s the best way of putting it, an adventure. God made us in his image [17], so, as His child [18], maybe I should do my best to emulate Christ for my Father in heaven [19].

The thing about this journey is, we will all fail [20]. I know, because I fail daily and I’ve been a Christian for 57 years. That’s 20, 805 days of failure. Does anybody doubt that I am not worthy to be in His kingdom, let alone to be called His son? Deserving, no. But worthy, yes, because Christ lives in me through His Holy Spirit. Thank you Father for your grace and mercy.

Now that we have accepted the invitation to belong to Christ and have taken up our cross [21], we are no longer separated from God. Taking up our cross is nothing more than working toward holiness, righteousness, and doing our best to please God. However, we have also learned that taking up our own cross, is a process. So, what do we do when we sin and fail to please God? Will He forgive us automatically because we are His children? Next week, we will continue the process with repentance, the right way and the wrong way.

Thank you, Lord, for your many decades of love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. I am nothing without you. Thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for your redemption, Blood, and for the Cross. Bless all my spiritual brothers and sisters, Lord. I pray that my efforts please you Lord. I love you and worship you and give you all the honor and glory that you so richly deserve. In your precious name I pray, AMEN.

The Lord is worthy of praise, honor, and glory.
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[1] The road that Jesus walked (trudged) from the Hall of Judgement to Golgotha. Latin, for “The Way of Grief.”
[2] Golgotha, the place of the skull, the tree, the Cross.
[3] Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-42
[4] Matthew 26:40-45; Mark 14:37-41; Luke 22:45-47
[5] Matthew 20:19; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:16; John 19:1
[6] Matthew 27:30; Mark 14:65, 15:19-21; Luke 22:63; John 19:1-3
[7] Seven times Jesus bled for us (1) Gethsemane Luke 22:44 (2) Crown of thorns Matthew 27:29, John 19:2 (3) Scourge Matthew 27:26, John 19:1 (4) Internal bleeding Isaiah 53:5 {Bruising – Blood or bleeding under the skin due to trauma of any kind; typically black and blue at first, with color changes as healing progresses. A bruise rising in the skin revealing inward bleeding.} (5-6) Spikes in hands and feet Mark 15:24 (7) Spear in Christ’s side John 19:34
[8] Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:58-62; John 18:15-27
[9] Mark 15:20-23, 29-32; Luke 23:11
[10] Matthew 27:27-31; Mark 14:65; Luke 18:32
[11] Jesus John 19:17; Simon Matthew 27:31, 32; Luke 23:26
[12] There was not much skin left. Isaiah 53:7-9; Acts 8:32 Christ not recognizable as a man Isaiah 52:14
[13] Mark 15:24
[14] Normal time on the cross is 18-48 hrs. Christ’s Passion 18-20 hrs. Christ is on Cross for six hours. The third hour, Mark 15:24, 25 (Christ starts His crucifixion at 9:00 AM). The sixth hour, Matthew 27:45 (Darkness begins at noon). The ninth hour, Matthew 27:46-50; Mark 15:34-37; Luke 23: 44-46 (Christ dies at 3:00 PM). https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-on-the-cross.html
[15] Acts 16:31
[16] Matthew 16:24-26
[17] Genesis 1:26-28
[18] John 1:12; Romans 8:14-19; Galatians 3:26
[19] 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Ephesians 5:1; 1 John 2:6; and many more. Matthew 5:16; Luke 6:40, and more.
[20] Romans 3:23, 24
[21] Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23-27