At Lent, Good Friday, Easter, or really any time of the year, you can experience greater intimacy with Jesus by meditating on the joy of the cross. Of course, the cross itself is not joyful–it’s a brutal instrument of torture. Yet, Jesus Christ has brought us the joy of forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and abundant life forever through dying on the cross for our sins. In this article I share with you a series of meditations based on the ancient Stations of the Cross to help you open your heart to Christ and the abundant life that comes through his cross and resurrection.
You’ll explore:
- Scriptures about the Jesus’ journey to the cross
- Scriptural prayers about the cross
- Reflection questions
- A Breath Prayer to help you follow Jesus
- More resources to journey with Jesus
The Joy of the Cross: Jesus Accepts His Cross While His Disciples Flee
The best way to experience the joy of the cross is to follow Jesus through the Gospel accounts. Each account provides a glimpse into the heart of Christ as he endured the cross for the joy set before him (Heb. 12:2). As you meditate on the Scriptures below, allow yourself to enter into the scenes, notice what you feel and how Jesus responds to the cross he bears.
Read Scripture
“All the disciples deserted him and fled” (Matthew 26:56).
“Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged” (John 19:1).
“’Here is your king,’ Pilate said to the Jews. “But they shouted, ‘Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!’ Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified… Carrying his own cross, Jesus went out to the place of the Skull” (John 19:14-17).
“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5).
“For the joy set before him Jesus endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2).
Pray Scripture
After meditating on these Scriptures, the Spirit of Jesus may be stirring your heart to respond in prayer. The prayer that follows is my heart’s reply of repentance, gratitude, and the joy that can only come from Christ’s redemption.
Lord Jesus Christ, the cross didn’t overtake you — you seized it! For the joy of obeying the Father and saving us from sin you set out resolutely to Jerusalem to go to the cross and die in our place for us (Mark 10:32-34; John 12:27-28).
Thank you for the joy of salvation! Please renew that joy in my life today (Psalm 51:12).
You asked your disciples to watch and pray with you so that each of them could take up their cross and follow you (Matthew 16:24, 26:4), but when you were arrested they all fled in fear. They couldn’t accept that their Messiah was letting himself be flogged and crucified.
O King Jesus, forgive me for the ways that I have shrunk back from your cross. It is only there that I receive your forgiveness and healing. Help me, Lord, to take up my cross and follow in your steps out of love for you, and so that others can also know your forgiveness and healing.
Questions for Reflection
How have you avoided taking up your cross (denying yourself) to follow Jesus?
How has this has held you back from experiencing greater joy in your love for God and others?
Take up your Cross to Follow Jesus
Make time to watch and pray with Jesus that you’d learn to deny yourself and take up your cross for the joy set before you of loving Jesus and other people in his name.
Breathe a Prayer
Breath prayers can help you to abide in prayer. By combining prayer with a rhythm of breathing, you are engaging your mind and heart with Scripture in a special way. This is a favorite breath prayer that helps me to watch and pray in my trials. It encourages me to bear the small crosses in my own life with greater peace and joy.
“Abba… Not my will but yours…”
Breathe in: “Abba….”
Breathe out: “Not my will but yours….”
Pause between each section of your breath to meditate on the words of the prayer and your heart’s intention.
Journeying With Jesus to the Cross
I’ve written Biblical meditations and prayers for each station and have used them in my personal devotions and ministry for many years. I invite you to join me on the life-changing journey of my 68-page booklet: Unforsaken: With Jesus on the Stations of the Cross. The Unforsaken journey is especially powerful during the season of Lent for personal devotions. It’s very meaningful in small groups, retreats, and church services.
May you experience more of the joy of the cross and the presence of the risen Christ in your life today.
