No Kingdom Without the Cross
As we come into the Easter season, our mind reflects on that week called “The Passion Week.” It begins with “Palm Sunday,” the day when Christ rode triumphantly into Jerusalem to announce Him as King of the Kingdom. “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt” (John 12:15).
The Pharisees said, “...behold, the world is gone after Him” (John 12:19). This was no exaggeration! The eyewitnesses of His miracles were present at this high feast telling everyone of the miracles they had seen, especially the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 12:17).
You could hear the snapping of palm branches everywhere. When I was a boy in Florida we used to jump in the air to grab palm branches. We would swing on them until they snapped and we would fall to the ground laughing. I can visualize the little children who loved Jesus and had sat in His lap and been blessed, like little monkeys swinging on palm trees throughout “the Holy City,” collecting palms of “praise” to welcome their King.
The children, men, and women were going after Jesus. Even the curious Pharisees were following. After Jesus entered the Temple even the Gentiles went as far as they could—to the court of the Gentiles. They were not permitted where Jesus was speaking because only Jews were allowed there. So in frustration, the Greeks cried, “Sir, we would see Jesus” (John 12:21). So you see, the words were literally true, “...behold, the world is gone after Him” (John 12:19).
Even today the world is gone after Jesus. When I sat in a class at Harvard University, the main topic the afternoon I visited a Divinity Class was “Who was Jesus?” In the ghettos you will hear His name, on the islands in the Pacific you will still see some crosses in the few remaining churches. In the course of everyday life you will hear His name, although too often in vain. Now if the world is gone after Jesus, why are so few saved? Why is the way broad to destruction and narrow to eternal life? The answer is given by Jesus just after His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Jesus said, “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die….” (John 12:24a). Christ was saying in essence, “Keep your crown for now—my Kingdom is not of this world—yet lead me to the cross! Don’t give me the coronation without the crucifixion! Don’t make me King of your land, make me King of your hearts! Don’t make me your “super-star,” let Me be the suffering Savior for your sins.”
Why do those who go after Jesus often stop short of eternal life? Because Jesus said further, “He that loveth his life shall lose it…” (John 12:25a). “If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be…” John 12:26a). In other words, if we are to truly have this King as our King, we cannot go into His perfect heaven and stand before His Holy Throne and ask for citizenship. We must bear His reproach, deny self, take up our cross by first meeting Him at His cross. There is no kingdom without the cross.
- Pastor Pope -