When You Suffer, Look To The Cross | Philippians Ii.7

When Paul is writing his Epistles, others are writing as well. The anonymous author of Hebrews is running a parallel track with Paul, discussing the cross.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

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.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Hebrews 12.1-3, KJV)

Take a look at verse 3 again in the NASB

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Jesus humbles Himself and obeys, dying on the cross for our healing and salvation.

Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2.8)

Jesus also submits to the cross, to give us the strength to bear our crosses (see above Hebrews 12.2-3). When we suffer, we can endure it, because of the cross!

please allow me a little liberty for prose:

When you find yourself trapped in the mundane, look to the Cross!

If you are caught up in the daily grind, with your shoulder to the wheel, look to the Cross!
When you see others advance, climbing higher than you on the corporate ladder, look to the Cross!
If others turn against you in this dog-eat-dog marketplace, look to the Cross!
When you finally get your piece of the pie, but it tastes like humble pie, look to the Cross!
If you feel like you can’t go on, you’re spread to thin, look to the Cross!

When you suffer, look to the cross!

The Cross offers you forgiveness, and teaches you to forgive.
Our Lord’s Cross heals your wounds, the wounds of your soul and body.

The Cross heals our wounds as the Body of Christ and binds us together.

But the Cross also illuminates the humility, obedience, and endurance of Christ.
Because He endured the Cross, you can take up your cross, look to the Cross!

Paul shares the truths of the Cross, but also commands us: Let this mind be in you . . .

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. (Phil 2.5)

What did Christ model for us in the crucifixion?

How does the cross intersect with our daily lives?