05 May Toward the Cross
John 1:30; Matthew 16:21–27; Luke 9:51; John 15:13
The story of Jesus is a journey—one that moves steadily and intentionally toward the cross. From the very beginning of His ministry to His final moments, everything points to that central act of sacrifice. The cross was not an accident or a tragic ending. It was the mission.
To understand the depth of the gospel, we must see Jesus as the Lamb who came, warned, resolved, and loved—all the way to the cross.
The Lamb
At the outset of Jesus’ ministry, He is identified in Gospel of John 1:30 as the Lamb of God. This title is rich with meaning. It points back to the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, where lambs were offered for the sins of the people.
By calling Jesus the Lamb, Scripture reveals His purpose: He came to be the sacrifice for sin.
This was not a role He grew into—it was who He was from the beginning. Every miracle, every teaching, and every step of His journey was moving toward the moment when He would lay down His life.
The cross was not a detour. It was the destination.
The Lamb’s Warning
In Gospel of Matthew 16:21–27, Jesus begins to clearly tell His disciples what lies ahead. He explains that He must suffer, be killed, and be raised on the third day.
This was not what they expected. They wanted a conquering king, not a suffering Savior.
But Jesus not only reveals His path—He also defines what it means to follow Him. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
This is a sobering call. Following Jesus is not about comfort or convenience. It involves surrender, sacrifice, and trust.
Yet it also comes with a promise: “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” The path of the cross is the path to true life.
The Lamb’s Resolution
In Gospel of Luke 9:51, we read that Jesus “set His face” toward Jerusalem.
This is a statement of unwavering determination. Jesus knew exactly what awaited Him—betrayal, suffering, and death. Yet He did not hesitate. He did not turn aside. He moved forward with purpose.
This reveals the heart of our Savior. His journey to the cross was not forced upon Him. It was chosen.
He walked toward suffering because of His commitment to the Father’s will and His love for sinners.
The Lamb’s Love
Ultimately, the cross is about love. In the Gospel of John 15:13, Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
This is exactly what He did.
Jesus did not go to the cross reluctantly. He went willingly. He laid down His life so that we might be forgiven, restored, and brought into relationship with God.
The cross is the clearest display of God’s love. It shows us both the seriousness of sin and the depth of God’s grace.
Our Response
The journey “toward the cross” does not end with Jesus—it extends to us.
He is the Lamb who gave His life, we are called to respond. Jesus’ warning still stands: we are to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.
This means surrendering control, trusting His plan, and living for His purposes rather than our own. It means recognizing that true life is found not in holding on, but in giving ourselves fully to Christ.
But we do not follow Him in our own strength. We follow because of what He has already done. The Lamb has gone before us. The sacrifice has been made. The victory has been secured.
Living in Light of the Cross
To live “toward the cross” is to live with the gospel at the center.
It means remembering that Jesus is the Lamb who took our place.
It means embracing the call to follow Him, even when it is costly.
It means trusting His sovereign plan and walking in obedience.
And it means resting in the love that led Him to lay down His life.
The cross changes everything.
It redefines love.
It reshapes our priorities.
It redirects our lives.
Jesus did not turn away from the cross. He moved toward it—for us.
And now, in response to His grace, we follow Him.