In today’s Bible reading, when the religious leaders shouted, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!", they believed they were executing a man who was turning the Laws of Moses upside down and disrupting their authority. Little did they know that the cross was part of God’s divine plan to save humanity from sin. What they saw as shameful and foolish became Christ’s ultimate victory.

The cross and the crown are inseparable in the Christian journey. To remain consecrated to God, we must daily take up our cross and follow Jesus. Cross-bearing means enduring the challenges and trials believers face because of their love for Christ, without complaining. The cross of Christ not only demonstrated God’s power but also freed us from condemnation. Through the cross, every sin, suffering, and sorrow was dealt with, and it provided forgiveness and acceptance into God’s royal family, no matter our background.

Although cross-bearing can be difficult, believers are urged to remain firm in their faith, never looking back. Just as Christ was led to Golgotha to be crucified, we too will face our own trials and challenges. Our survival as Christians depends on our willingness to surrender our desires and ambitions, and choosing to obey God’s will, even when it is uncomfortable. To truly follow Christ, we must be ready to sacrifice our wills, sins, as well as our quest for wealth, status, and power. We must put the world behind us and endure hardships for Christ’s sake with patience, trusting that God is refining our faith. Those who faithfully bear their cross will be rewarded with crowns in eternity (2 Timothy 4:8).