road to the cross discovery & devotion. day of discovery… “and jesus, walking by the sea of...

Road to the Cross

Discovery & Devotion

Day of discovery…

““And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, sawAnd Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, sawtwo brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrewtwo brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrewhis brother, casting a net into the sea; for theyhis brother, casting a net into the sea; for theywere fishermen. were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me,Then He said to them, “Follow Me,and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediatelyand I will make you fishers of men.” They immediatelyleft left theirtheir nets and followed Him. nets and followed Him. Going on from there,Going on from there,He saw two other brothers, James He saw two other brothers, James the sonthe son of ofZebedee, and John his brother, in the boat withZebedee, and John his brother, in the boat withZebedee their father, mending their nets. He calledZebedee their father, mending their nets. He calledthem,them, and immediately they left the boat and theirand immediately they left the boat and theirfather, and followed Him.” father, and followed Him.” Matthew 4:18-22Matthew 4:18-22

Follow me…

All four follow Jesus everywhere He goesAll four follow Jesus everywhere He goes

Follow me…

All four follow Jesus everywhere He goesAll four follow Jesus everywhere He goes For three years, they are His constant For three years, they are His constant

companionscompanions

Follow me…


companionscompanions They eat with Him, sleep near Him, witness the They eat with Him, sleep near Him, witness the

miracles He performsmiracles He performs

Follow me…


companionscompanions They eat with Him, sleep near Him, witness the They eat with Him, sleep near Him, witness the

miracles He performsmiracles He performs They begin to understand who He isThey begin to understand who He is

And then one day…

And then one day…

““The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be

rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes,

and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then He and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then He

said to said to themthem all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, all, “If anyone desires to come after Me,

let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,and let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,and

follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will

lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will

save it.” save it.” Luke 9: 22-24Luke 9: 22-24

Pick up your cross…


Jesus tells them there will be a price for Jesus tells them there will be a price for following Himfollowing Him



We give our lives up to HimWe give our lives up to Him



We give our lives up to HimWe give our lives up to Him We, too, will be on our own journey to We, too, will be on our own journey to

sacrifice and surrendersacrifice and surrender Not for our own benefit, but for the cause of Not for our own benefit, but for the cause of

ChristChrist

John, like Mary, loves Jesus


Peter would be the RockPeter would be the Rock


Peter would be the RockPeter would be the Rock Paul would be the great communicatorPaul would be the great communicator


Peter would be the RockPeter would be the Rock Paul would be the great communicatorPaul would be the great communicator But John is the Disciple Jesus lovesBut John is the Disciple Jesus loves



Maybe because of his youth, John believesMaybe because of his youth, John believes



Maybe because of his youth, John believesMaybe because of his youth, John believes Maybe because of his enthusiasm, John believesMaybe because of his enthusiasm, John believes



Maybe because of his youth, John believesMaybe because of his youth, John believes Maybe because of his enthusiasm, John believesMaybe because of his enthusiasm, John believes Maybe because he listened, John believesMaybe because he listened, John believes



Maybe because of his youth, John believesMaybe because of his youth, John believes Maybe because of his enthusiasm, John believesMaybe because of his enthusiasm, John believes Maybe because he listened, John believesMaybe because he listened, John believes But because he believes, Jesus loves himBut because he believes, Jesus loves him

John 13:21-25

Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and HeNow Jesus was deeply troubled, and He

exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you willexclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will

betray me!”betray me!” The disciples looked at eachThe disciples looked at each

other, wondering whom he could mean.other, wondering whom he could mean. TheThe

disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesusdisciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus

at the table.at the table. Simon Peter motioned to him toSimon Peter motioned to him to

ask, “Who’s he talking about?” ask, “Who’s he talking about?” So that discipleSo that disciple

leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”

Didn’t Jesus love all of them?

Yes, He didYes, He did


Yes, He didYes, He did Perhaps the difference was that John Perhaps the difference was that John

realizes the depth of Jesus’ love for themrealizes the depth of Jesus’ love for them And John openly accepts it and cherishes itAnd John openly accepts it and cherishes it




Like Mary, John believes what Jesus saysLike Mary, John believes what Jesus says




Like Mary, John believes what Jesus saysLike Mary, John believes what Jesus says And like Mary, John would have a special And like Mary, John would have a special

opportunity to bless Jesus before His deathopportunity to bless Jesus before His death Jesus would give him the responsibility of caring Jesus would give him the responsibility of caring

for His motherfor His mother

In the matter of a few hours…

Jesus would leave the upper roomJesus would leave the upper room


Jesus would leave the upper roomJesus would leave the upper room He would go to the GardenHe would go to the Garden


Jesus would leave the upper roomJesus would leave the upper room He would go to the GardenHe would go to the Garden He would be arrestedHe would be arrested


Jesus would leave the upper roomJesus would leave the upper room He would go to the GardenHe would go to the Garden He would be arrestedHe would be arrested He would be falsely charged by CaiaphasHe would be falsely charged by Caiaphas


Jesus would leave the upper roomJesus would leave the upper room He would go to the GardenHe would go to the Garden He would be arrestedHe would be arrested He would be falsely charged by CaiaphasHe would be falsely charged by Caiaphas He would appear before Pontius PilateHe would appear before Pontius Pilate


Jesus would leave the upper roomJesus would leave the upper room He would go to the GardenHe would go to the Garden He would be arrestedHe would be arrested He would be falsely charged by CaiaphasHe would be falsely charged by Caiaphas He would appear before Pontius PilateHe would appear before Pontius Pilate He would be beaten and scourgedHe would be beaten and scourged


Jesus would leave the upper roomJesus would leave the upper room He would go to the GardenHe would go to the Garden He would be arrestedHe would be arrested He would be falsely charged by CaiaphasHe would be falsely charged by Caiaphas He would appear before Pontius PilateHe would appear before Pontius Pilate He would be beaten and scourgedHe would be beaten and scourged And He would head to a hill called GolgothaAnd He would head to a hill called Golgotha

Mark 15: 20-22

““Then they led him away to be crucified.Then they led him away to be crucified. A passerbyA passerby

named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in

from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced

him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon was the father of him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon was the father of

Alexander and Rufus.)Alexander and Rufus.) And they brought Jesus to And they brought Jesus to

a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the

Skull.”)Skull.”)

What would it be like?

To encounter Jesus on the way to the crossTo encounter Jesus on the way to the cross


To encounter Jesus on the way to the crossTo encounter Jesus on the way to the cross To see the looks on the faces of those who To see the looks on the faces of those who

love Himlove Him Mary, His motherMary, His mother Mary of BethanyMary of Bethany JohnJohn


To encounter Jesus on the way to the crossTo encounter Jesus on the way to the cross To see the looks on the faces of those who To see the looks on the faces of those who

love Himlove Him Mary, His motherMary, His mother Mary of BethanyMary of Bethany JohnJohn

To have your day so horribly interrupted…To have your day so horribly interrupted…

But to meet the Savior on the way to the Cross… To come face to face with His innocenceTo come face to face with His innocence

But to meet the Savior on the way to the Cross… To come face to face with His innocenceTo come face to face with His innocence To witness His compassion and forgivenessTo witness His compassion and forgiveness

But to meet the Savior on the way to the Cross… To come face to face with His innocenceTo come face to face with His innocence To witness His compassion and forgivenessTo witness His compassion and forgiveness To be forced to carry a Cross for the One To be forced to carry a Cross for the One

who is going to the Cross for youwho is going to the Cross for you

And they reach Golgotha

Jesus fulfills what He must doJesus fulfills what He must do


Jesus fulfills what He must doJesus fulfills what He must do John discovers what he will doJohn discovers what he will do


Jesus fulfills what He must doJesus fulfills what He must do John discovers what he will doJohn discovers what he will do And Simon must choose what he will doAnd Simon must choose what he will do

Just like each of us when we come face to face Just like each of us when we come face to face with the reality of what Jesus does on the Crosswith the reality of what Jesus does on the Cross

Jesus’ trust in John results in…

Mary is cared forMary is cared for


Mary is cared forMary is cared for Jesus’ siblings become believersJesus’ siblings become believers


Mary is cared forMary is cared for Jesus’ siblings become believersJesus’ siblings become believers John writes one of the GospelsJohn writes one of the Gospels


Mary is cared forMary is cared for Jesus’ siblings become believersJesus’ siblings become believers John writes one of the GospelsJohn writes one of the Gospels John writes 1, 2, 3 JohnJohn writes 1, 2, 3 John


Mary is cared forMary is cared for Jesus’ siblings become believersJesus’ siblings become believers John writes one of the GospelsJohn writes one of the Gospels John writes 1, 2, 3 JohnJohn writes 1, 2, 3 John John receives and writes the RevelationJohn receives and writes the Revelation


Mary is cared forMary is cared for Jesus’ siblings become believersJesus’ siblings become believers John writes one of the GospelsJohn writes one of the Gospels John writes 1, 2, 3 JohnJohn writes 1, 2, 3 John John receives and writes the RevelationJohn receives and writes the Revelation Recognizing how much you are loved by Recognizing how much you are loved by

Jesus creates opportunities and abilities to Jesus creates opportunities and abilities to accomplish incredible thingsaccomplish incredible things

Simon’s encounter with Jesus results in… Incredible impact on his lifeIncredible impact on his life

Simon’s encounter with Jesus results in… Incredible impact on his lifeIncredible impact on his life Incredible impact on his familyIncredible impact on his family

Simon’s encounter with Jesus results in… Incredible impact on his lifeIncredible impact on his life Incredible impact on his familyIncredible impact on his family Simon’s son is mentioned later in the Book of Simon’s son is mentioned later in the Book of

Acts as someone who is a disciple of Acts as someone who is a disciple of influenceinfluence

So what do we do with this?

What do we do with the Cross of Christ?What do we do with the Cross of Christ?


What do we do with the Cross of Christ?What do we do with the Cross of Christ? What do we do with knowing we are asked to What do we do with knowing we are asked to

carry our own cross?carry our own cross?


What do we do with the Cross of Christ?What do we do with the Cross of Christ? What do we do with knowing we are asked to What do we do with knowing we are asked to

carry our own cross?carry our own cross? How does coming to terms with John’s How does coming to terms with John’s

devotion and Simon’s discovery impact us?devotion and Simon’s discovery impact us?

We find and share hope…

Recognizing how much you are loved by Recognizing how much you are loved by Jesus creates opportunities and abilities to Jesus creates opportunities and abilities to accomplish incredible thingsaccomplish incredible things



Seeing Jesus at the cross impacts not only Seeing Jesus at the cross impacts not only our lives, but the lives of our familiesour lives, but the lives of our families



Seeing Jesus at the cross impacts not only Seeing Jesus at the cross impacts not only our lives, but the lives of our familiesour lives, but the lives of our families

But we also must have a passion for and But we also must have a passion for and compassion with those who simply are going compassion with those who simply are going about their day and need to meet Jesus as about their day and need to meet Jesus as He is heading to the CrossHe is heading to the Cross


Ask God to show you Simon this weekAsk God to show you Simon this week


Ask God to show you Simon this weekAsk God to show you Simon this week Ask Him to show you who needs to meet the Ask Him to show you who needs to meet the

Savior on the way to the CrossSavior on the way to the Cross



Savior on the way to the CrossSavior on the way to the Cross Ask Him who needs to see the Crucifixion Ask Him who needs to see the Crucifixion

and understand what it means to themand understand what it means to them




and understand what it means to themand understand what it means to them Believe, like John did, that if Jesus asks you Believe, like John did, that if Jesus asks you

to do something, He will help you do itto do something, He will help you do it




and understand what it means to themand understand what it means to them Believe, like John did, that if Jesus asks you Believe, like John did, that if Jesus asks you

to do something, He will help you do itto do something, He will help you do it Anticipate mighty and miraculous thingsAnticipate mighty and miraculous things

road to the cross discovery & devotion. day of discovery… “and jesus, walking by the sea of...

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