Jesus’ Journey to the Cross: Week 1
The road to the cross wasn’t an accident—it was the plan from the beginning.
In this series, Jesus’ Journey to the Cross, we’re walking with Him step by step through the final days of His life on earth and studying from the book of Mark. From the dusty roads of Galilee to the agony of Gethsemane… from the trial to the tomb… every moment reveals the depth of His love and the weight of His mission.
As we journey with Him, we’ll discover what it truly means to follow Jesus, not just to the cross—but through it, into resurrection life.
"I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."
— 1 Corinthians 9:23
What does it really take to live a life that reflects this kind of sacrificial posture?
Paul says, “I have become all things to all people.” That’s not just about adaptability—it’s about surrender. It’s about giving up your right to be understood, your need to win the argument, and your obsession with being comfortable. That kind of life can only be lived by someone who has fully embraced the cost of following Jesus. It’s not about pretending to be something you’re not; it’s about laying down the parts of yourself that stand in the way of someone else meeting Christ.
We live in a world where disagreement often leads to division. But Paul shows us a better way. A way where we don’t just tolerate those who are different—we move toward them. We sit at their tables. We listen to their stories. We love them, not after they’ve changed, but right in the middle of their mess. Why? Because that’s exactly what Jesus did for us.
The Weight We Carry
C.S. Lewis paints a haunting picture in The Great Divorce. It’s a fictional tale where a bus full of people from hell are given a glimpse of heaven—an invitation, really. They’re told, “You can stay, but you can’t bring anything with you.” No pride. No bitterness. No tightly held identity. Just you, fully surrendered.
And most of them? They go back.
Why? Because surrender is painful. Because letting go is hard. Because dying to self feels like... well, dying.
One character in the book carries a small red lizard on his shoulder—whispering lies, symbolizing lust. He wants to silence it, not kill it. He wants to manage it, not lose it. But heaven isn’t a place for half-measures. The angel tells him plainly: "I have to kill it." It’s not until he gives permission—through fear, trembling, and a breaking heart—that the angel slays the lizard. What happens next? The lizard transforms into a white stallion. The man mounts it and rides into glory.
Resurrection always follows death. But you can’t get the stallion without first killing the lizard.
The Invitation to Lay It Down
Jesus wasn’t unclear. Over and over, He told His disciples He would die. And each time, they didn’t like it. They resisted the message, tried to change the subject, and looked for their own elevation in the story. Sound familiar?
We often do the same. We want the glory without the sacrifice. We want the blessings of the gospel without dying to our own preferences, comforts, and pride. But Jesus says: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant… and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (Mark 10:43–44).
That’s not poetic exaggeration. That’s the invitation of discipleship.
So Here’s the Question: What Do You Need to Let Go Of?
What are you holding onto that’s keeping you from fully stepping into what God has for you? Is it an identity you’ve crafted? An opinion you won’t surrender? A need to be in control? A sin you’ve tried to silence but won’t kill?
Whatever it is—Jesus is inviting you to lay it down. Not just because it’s the right thing to do. But because He has something better on the other side.
There is no resurrection without death. But for those willing to die to self, there’s a kind of freedom, power, and purpose waiting that you can’t get any other way.
So what if we lived like that? What if we actually believed that the blessings of the gospel are worth the cost?
Because they are. And Jesus is.