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Topic: the cross

Michael Harrison
Advanced Member
Member # 6801

posted

Yea! Good answer. But i hadn't thought of it until i saw the cartoon.

Based on the Four Spiritual Laws witnessing phamplet, the cartoon is accurate. But then i thought of the fact that the cross isn't actually the bridge, while, in some way it nevertheless is.

Posts: 3273 | From: Charlotte N.C. | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged |

Eden
unregistered

posted

Hi, Michael Harrison. You said

quote:
Eden, I like it! I think that is funny (cute), but it is not accurate really. We are to take up our Cross; but He bears it for us. That doesn't seem to make a least bit of mortal sense, but it is quite true. It is why He said "Take my burden: it is light." If the Cross seems heavy, then the point He is making, is being missed.

That's true, the cross is not heavy to bear. In fact, I see this sequence of pix as meaning the more a man is touched and learned to depend on this cross of the same size, the more a man is able to cross wider chasms in our lives successfully.

By being lazy in learning about Christ and about the Father, this man was not able to cross a chasm in his life as easily as the ones who had born Jesus's cross more intimately in their own life, they had communed more with the suffering Jesus and loved Him and knew Him, than the one who wanted to cut a piece of his cross and ended up at the head of the pack, until he came to a chasm in his life that could only be joyfully be crossed with a larger internalized "cross of Christ". That's what I got out of the cartoon: the more of Christ I have, the more joy I'll be able to retain at the chasms of our lives?

thanks for participating in the Topic,
eden

MH, you then said

quote:
The fact is that it is not the Cross that bridges the gap. The Life of Jesus bridges the gap. We cannot experience 'the life' of Jesus if we do not 'take up the cross', which is 'laying down our (heavy) life' so that we can be raised with Him to be seated with Him in heavenly places.

Jesus is also saying that the humble life is a life which is very rich in pleasure and peace. "Learn of Me; My yoke is easy and light" and "I am humble and meek":

Matthew 11
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Jesus is saying, If I will be meek and humble, then the blessings of God will be toward me, plus
I find peace with my fellowmen.

That is the cross that I must put on in order to have a successful and rich life: I must be meek and humble. And that yoke is easy and is peace and life. Taking up my cross is not something heavy; it is death to soul-rule and to instead allow the Holy Spirit to rule, by me reading the Word of God and listening to what the Holy Spirit is sayint to my spirit.

The cross is having more of Christ and the Father and the Holy Spirit, by denying operating myself.

with love, eden

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Michael Harrison
Advanced Member
Member # 6801

posted

Ede, I like it! I think that is funny (cute), but it is not accurate really. We are to take up our Cross; but He bears it for us. That doesn't seem to make a least bit of mortal sense, but it is quite true. It is why He said "Take my burden: it is light." If the Cross seems heavy, then the point He is making, is being missed.

The fact is that it is not the Cross that bridges the gap. The Life of Jesus bridges the gap. We cannot experience 'the life' of Jesus if we do not 'take up the cross', which is 'laying down our (heavy) life' so that we can be raised with Him to be seated with Him in heavenly places.

If you don't believe me after reading this far, look at the last frame of the cartoon. They had to 'lay down their cross' in order to get over the gap. That is the opposite of what it is saying you must do! (It's so funny!)(Then on the other hand it is accurate, depending.... Perhaps it isn't fair to compare with a physical gorge that needs to be spanned. But what would you compare with? It is a bridge, or a portal of some kind.)

Nevertheless, to reinforce this, just think of Jesus walking on the water. That is what He makes us to do - if!

And we know that 'water', destroyed the world. It would destroy us if we sank. So, what is it about 'water'? On the one hand, water cleanses. But on another, it destroys. I am intrigued by scriptural references to water. In one place it talks about the seas, in another a flood is cast. We are to rise above the water, and we do so in the Ark, who is Jesus. What does everyone think about water?

Water = ?

Water destroyed the world.

The axe head floated in water.

We are born of water.

The wine was made from water.

The seas are humanity.

Oh yes! Elijah doused the alter with water, over and over. Then, fire came down from Heaven and consumed it with a vengance. (Here is what i think that i am sure of. Lightening struck! Water was the accelerator that made the area of static potential to be super conductive!)

Posts: 3273 | From: Charlotte N.C. | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged |

Eden
unregistered

posted