REAL MAN BEARS THE CROSS — NOT WEARS DIAPER!
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” — Hebrews 12:2
Why would the Almighty — clothed in infinite majesty, perfect joy, and sovereign authority — step down from the throne of heaven to become a fragile man subject to hunger, pain, rejection, and death?
Donald MacLeod described the pre-incarnate Christ as One who “possessed all the majesty of deity, performed all its functions and enjoyed all its prerogatives… invulnerable to pain, frustration, and embarrassment… His supremacy was total, His satisfaction complete, His blessedness perfect.”
And yet, for love — the motive — and for our eternal salvation — the reason — He willingly laid it all aside.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16
Jesus was born of a woman, lived among us, faced temptation, and endured betrayal — but without sin. He bore the cross not because He had to, but because He chose to. His joy? The sight of you and me redeemed, standing before the Father cleansed and restored.
“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.” — 1 Peter 2:24
Grace came to bridge the gap between God and man. Christ took the full weight of the Law — our moral indebtedness — and nailed it to the cross:
“Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” — Colossians 2:14
That is the mark of a Real Man — the perfect God-man — who conquers sin not with empty words, but with self-sacrifice.
By contrast, what can a mere man of questionable character — clothed in pride, frailty, and moral compromise — do for humanity? Nothing that saves. The misguided loyalty of his followers blinds them to the truth, much like ancient Israel missed the day of God’s visitation. They rationalize evil, mistaking God’s sovereign use of wicked men in history as divine approval of their wickedness. But as Scripture makes clear:
“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” — Romans 8:28
When God uses the unrighteous for His purposes, He does not sanctify their sin. But when the Righteous One bore the cross, He sanctified the lost. That is why Jesus Christ — not any pretender — is both the perfect man and the true God.
So, why are you still in hesitation? Come to HIM now, one who is able to bear our burden of sins upon HIM, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness…..
Eternity matters!