The Attitude of Biblical Counseling
Eunjin Chang • August 28, 2020
The attitude of Biblical Counseling
Biblical Counseling leads the counselee in an invitation from God to be in a relationship with God. The main goal of the counselor is to facilitate the meeting. Biblical Counseling views the problems and issues as the symptoms and surface issues rather than the root of the true problem. By connecting the counselee to God, God heals and restores the counselee from inside out.
Connecting with God means creating a relationship with God. In a relationship, the two parties engage in revealing personal things, and as the relationship deepens, the sharing becomes deeper. By establishing a relationship with God, the counselee can view their lives in God's perspective and begin to understand God's will in their lives. BiblicalCounseling views the counselee's problems and issues as a derivate of the real issue the counselee is facing; spiritual issues.
Jesus came to this earth to heal the sick, free the oppressed, and proclaim the Kingdom of God. Jesus fulfilled the will of God perfectly on the earth. Jesus wants us to model after him, even in the arena of Biblical Counseling. Jesus' healing power came from the HolySpirit's work, and Jesus was always concerned and connected with the will ofGod.
Biblical Counseling views the deviation from God as the root of the problem. Thus, the counselor's remedy to resolve the issues and problems focuses on God's mercy, grace, and compassion. For the counselee to receive God's mercy, grace, and compassion, the counselee must have faith. Therefore, the counselor facilitates the counseling session to build up the counselee's faith with Scriptures and real-life examples and provides an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to strengthen the counselee's faith.
The healing and restoration from Biblical Counseling is a natural byproduct of the work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore the counselor does not focus on the problems and issues. Instead, the problems and issues are resolved as a byproduct of the counselee increasing in faith and building a relationship with Jesus.
Love and trust as the building blocks
One of the counselor-counselee relationship's main characteristics is built upon the trust and love of the parties. Encountering God is a personal experience, and the counselor facilitating the counselee's encounter with God is personal but has to be intentional. The counselor must love and trust the counselee. It has to be communicated to the counselee for the counselee to encounter God. The reason for it is because the counselee relies heavily on the counselor to resolve the issues and problems of the counselee while being weak.
Love and trust go hand-in-hand. Without love, there can be no real trust. Without trust, there can be no real love. Therefore, during Biblical Counseling, the counselor and the counselee will begin to develop a love relationship in trust based on Scripture. This love is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. The counselor is playing a role as a type of Christ for the counselee during the process. Through the love and trust in the counseling session, Jesus Christ is manifested onto the counselee through Scripture, and the Holy Spirit heals and restores the counselee.
Scripture as the main tool
The content of the counseling session is based on Scriptures and the truths established in the Scriptures. Secular and some Christian counselors use Scriptures out of context and without faith. They view the Scriptures as not the main tool but some good and encouraging phrases to help the counselee feel comfortable based on their religious belief.
Even Christian counselors use the Scriptures in conjunction with tools from secular psychology to resolve the issues and problems. However, the problem with this is that secular psychology's root and goal fundamentally different from Biblical Counseling. At the outset, the counselee develops the ability to handle the problems and issues. However, the root of the problems and issues have not been resolved; sin and its consequences.
Scripture rarely deals with the symptoms of the counselee's issues and problems. Instead, the Scripture relentlessly accuses the problems and issues that stem from the heart of the counselee, and without fixing the heart, the issues and problems will continue. Thus, it is where Biblical Counselingdiffers from secular and Christian Counseling.
Biblical Counseling's foundation is on the Scripture for removing the counselee's sinful roots, and restoration of the counselee through the restoration of the heart is the focus. Thus, the counselor's extensive biblical knowledge and experiences are extremely beneficial to the counseling session.
Speak out the real issue
Once the counselor and the counselee discover the real issues and problems, the counselor must help the counselee confront the real issue, the sin revealed through Scripture. It can be difficult for the counselee to admit it, but the counselee must confront it. This is the crucial part of Biblical Counseling, as the confrontation of Scripture to the counselee's true sinful-self reveals the grotesqueness of their true self.
Without faith, this part is impossible, as the counselee will flee from facing such a horrendous self-image. Most people have high self-esteem and do not view themselves as problems and issues. Instead, most blame others and the environment they are situated in. However, true healing and restoration start from accepting that truths revealed through Scriptural application into the counselee's heart bring illumination to undisclosed perception on the counselee's self.
To tell the counselee that the counselee's heart is the main problem, the counselor and the counselee must be in a love and trust relationship. To get to this point, the counselor must intentionally utilize previous counseling sessions to build trust and love in the reflection of Jesus Christ. The counselor must not allow the counselee to focus on the counselor but Jesus Christ in the Scripture reflection. When the counselor facilitates the meeting between the counselor and Jesus through Scripture, the Holy Spirit brings hidden things to light, causing the counselee to face the real issue.
Action leads to restoration
Once the counselee is confronted with the real issue, the counselor encourages the counselee to act on it. The action must be based on what the counselee learned from applying Scripture. The action must be something that the counselee can do so that the action reflects the exercising of the counselee's faith.
The counselor must continue to encourage the counselee to live and exercise the counselee's faith in daily life. When the cycle of exercising faith continues, the restoration begins from the inside of the counselee. Through exercising the faith, the counselee begins to develop a relationship with God, and the Holy Spirit begins to lead the counselee's life.
The process builds the counselee's character to Christ-likeness. As this process continues, the counselee lives under the Holy Spirit's influence, and Scripture becomes the guide.
Jesus, I desire to seek the throne of God at this moment. I know I am not worthy, and none of my work or accomplishments have any bearing on my ability to access God the Father. At this time, I pray and plead that you would cover my heart, thoughts, body, soul, spirit, environment, surroundings, and circumstances with the blood that you shed for me on the cross. Holy Spirit, I desire to seek the throne of God at this moment. I am accessing God the Father through the blood of Jesus Christ, as he has said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Holy Spirit, who knows the deepest things of God and searches my heart. I plead you to grant me the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation so that when I pray to the Father, the meditations of my heart and the prayers will please God the Father. Father God, I come to You, not by my righteousness or merit. I come to You humbly on one hand with the blood and the torn flesh of Jesus and on the other, the Holy Spirit. I plead You to look at the blood and the torn flesh of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He is the reason in my life and the only way I come to You. Please accept my petitions and prayers as the Holy Spirit leads it. Father God, I remember and believe in Jesus' prayer at the Mount Gethsemane. He pleaded to Father God; I remember and believe in Jesus's prayer at Mount Gethsemane. He pleaded to You, "Not my will, but Your will be done," three times. I want to pray like Jesus and my sincere heart to be like Jesus. However, You know my heart. The shortcomings and all thereof. Therefore, I plead and ask, the blood of Jesus, which was shed for me at Mount Getsemene, that I, too, will pray the things of God, like Jesus. Father God, I remember and believe in the blood that Jesus has shed for me as he wore the crown of thorns. If I am under any curse, by my sin or other means, I plead and pray the blood of Jesus that he shed for me when he wore the crown of thorns on all curses and their effects. In the name of Jesus Christ, I command that all curses placed upon me be broken at this time by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Father God, I remember and believe in the blood that Jesus shed for me when he was whipped forty times by the Roman soldiers. Isaiah 53 states that Jesus became blue and bled internally and bled externally in extreme pain due to my inequities and transgression. The scripture states that I have been healed by the stripes that Jesus has received on my behalf. I pray and plead the blood of Jesus that he had shed for me when he was whipped upon my life’s iniquities, lacking, diseases, emotional and physical diseases, relational issues, and other issues due to my iniquities. I pray and plead that the blood of Jesus that he shed for me as he was whipped be upon all these things I prayed. In the name of Jesus Christ, I command all iniquities, diseases, and unwholesome things in my life to be restored whole at this time by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Father God, I remember Jesus carrying the cross up to the place where he was hung. He bled while carrying the cross. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to follow me, deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow me.” I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, not by my might but by the blood he has shed for me while carrying the cross. I remember the places where he fell and picked up the cross as the Roman soldiers were whipping him, and people were shaming and physically harming him. The blood Jesus has shed for me while carrying the cross was for me so that I can become a disciple of Jesus. I remember when Simon carried the cross to the hill, you showed me that I, too, can carry my cross and follow you. Therefore, I plead and pray that the blood you have shed for me while carrying the cross is upon me, and by the power of the blood, I may be thoroughly equipped and encouraged to carry my cross and follow Jesus. I pray and plead that the blood of Jesus he shed for me as he carried the cross be upon my walk as a disciple of Jesus. In the name of Jesus Christ, I command all things hindering me from being a good and faithful disciple of Jesus be destroyed at this time by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Father God, I remember when he was nailed hand and feet upon the cross and suffered for six hours; he has shed his precious blood so that he can save me from sin and death. So that sin and death have no dominion over me. Father God, I pray and plead that the blood of Jesus Christ that he has shed for me on the cross be upon the past, present, and future of my life and completely submerged in it so that I, too, can live a life as "I've been crucified with Christ. Therefore, I no longer live, but Jesus Christ lives in me." I pray and plead the blood of Jesus and declare that my life is no longer but only in Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, I command my soul and body to submit to Jesus Christ's wishes and desires at this time by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Father God, I remember when Jesus gave up the ghost, the Roman soldier pierced his side, and his heart burst, and blood and water came out. Jesus did not reserve anything but gave all for me. I pray and plead that the blood and water that came out when the Roman soldier speared Jesus' side be upon me. I access Your throne in boldness and confidence by the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed from the piercing of the heart. I pray and plead that You look at the pierced heart and the blood and water that came out on behalf of me. Although unworthy, I come to Your throne boldly because of what Jesus has done for me, the blood he shed. Father God, teach me the most profound things that only the Son knew. Lead me to live in the most secret parts of God and let me live the way that makes my Lord Jesus joyful. In the name of Jesus Christ, I command all evil spirits, dominion, and powers that hindered me from accessing the deepest desires of God by degrading me and accusing me of being destroyed by the name of Jesus Christ. The blood of Jesus Christ be upon all the areas and influences that these wicked forces have occupied and be wholly transformed into Jesus' likeness. Holy Spirit, as You have granted me the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, I ask You to reveal what I should pray and how I should engage in spiritual warfare. I humbly ask You to take me and reveal the things of God that have been hidden for eternity. I humbly ask You that I will be a suitable vessel to You and Your ministry. Holy Spirit, take over my heart, thoughts, body, soul, spirit, environment, surroundings, and circumstances as Jesus' blood has done. After these prayers, do not hurry, but wait for God and His instructions to come into your heart. It may take a long time, but stay patient and keep meditating on the six bloods of Jesus Christ. God will reveal Himself to You because of the promise that is in the blood of Jesus.
Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." This verse explicitly mentions knowledge rather than wisdom, which is an interesting observation. It emphasizes the specific knowledge God has given to His people, which meant not only for survival but for thriving. This living knowledge comes from Jesus's works on earth and is applied to us through faith, specifically through His blood. In any spiritual warfare, our weaponry consists of the name of Jesus and the works He has accomplished for us. Our only connection to God is through Jesus, as He stated, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." God desires us to invoke Jesus in the spiritual battlegrounds. Instead of merely asking God to fight for us, He wants us to exercise the power and authority that has been bestowed upon the saints through Jesus. Many saints are unaware of the power and authority that God has granted them. Each saint represents God on earth, like an ambassador. God has called us to be priestly kings. Saints who do not exercise the power and authority God grants are like police officers who do not exercise their authority to maintain order and law. A truck may be physically more powerful than a policeman; however, when a police officer tells the truck to stop, it complies. The truck stops not because the officer is physically more powerful but because the state has given the officer the authority to command it. Similarly, God has given us authority as saints under Jesus' leadership. Jesus is the head of the church, and all saints make up His body. He paid the price for saints to exercise their authority on earth. However, if a saint is ignorant of their authority, the enemy can take advantage of that ignorance.
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In the Book of Colossians, we come across a verse resembling a treasure map leading to precious resources. The scripture reveals that unique treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Jesus. These treasures are not typical; God actively conceals them, and only those who earnestly seek Jesus will discover them. Jeremiah 33:3 states, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." The treasures of wisdom and knowledge found in Jesus are incredibly powerful in spiritual warfare. Since God actively hides them, they are not easily discovered by anyone. Access to these treasures is granted only to those who continuously seek Jesus and whom He allows to find them. It resembles a treasure hunt or a game of hide-and-seek, where the pursuit leads to a significant and mysterious reward. When we dedicate our daily lives to walking with Jesus, our relationship with Him becomes the key to uncovering these hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus provides a white stone inscribed with a name that no one knows except the person who receives it. This stone symbolizes the hidden treasure in Jesus and is personal to the recipient; no one else can understand its significance. This unique gift can significantly benefit the individual, especially during spiritual warfare. The hidden treasures discovered in Jesus will activate and create turmoil in the spiritual realm. These treasures embody the hidden knowledge of God, who brought the universe into existence from nothing. They represent the essence of creation itself. Those who reflect God's personality, character, and way of living will have access to these invaluable treasures regarding the creation account.
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him The Apostle Paul was nearing the end of his life when he wrote the epistle to the city of Ephesus. He had gone through numerous mission trips, faced life-and-death situations, and endured many near-death experiences in his efforts to spread the gospel. Whenever he thinks about the church in Ephesus, he gives thanks to God for their growth in Jesus. Paul felt a sense of pride in the church of Ephesus and encouraged them to continue fighting the good fight. Before discussing spiritual warfare, he expresses his personal greetings and mentions that he prays for the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation to be upon the church. The Spirit of Wisdom enables the saints to view their current situations and circumstances from God's perspective and values. The church of Ephesus struggled to understand many things. Paul desired for them to receive the Spirit of Wisdom to help them interpret their experiences and be patient as they endured difficult circumstances. When the saints see their situations through God's perspective, they can step back from actively engaging in the struggles and find comfort in God's sovereign reign, though they may not understand from their perspective. The Spirit of Revelation is God's insight into future events, presented with a current understanding of His values. God knows everything, including the future, and the Spirit of Revelation functions like a Spirit of Prophecy, revealing things that will happen in the future but are understood in the present. When the Spirit of Wisdom works in harmony with the Spirit of Revelation, both present and future events can be interpreted from God's perspective, allowing the saints to find comfort in His omnipresence and sovereignty. In other words, the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation is granted to the saints for the purpose of discernment. There are numerous approaches to solving issues and problems when engaging in various spiritual battles. Some solutions may achieve quick resolutions, while others may require more time and effort. With the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation manifesting in a saint involved in spiritual warfare, the Spirit of Wisdom can provide specific guidance on how to engage, including which spiritual weaponry to apply to each target. The Spirit of Revelation can reveal the most effective means to combine these strategies for defeating the enemy. A saint filled with the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation operates like a super radar, functioning at the highest frequency to cover nearly everything happening in the spiritual realm. Instead of solely focusing on the physical realm and its effects, the saint can discover the source of issues and can directly address those sources for quick relief. When encountering demons and evil spirits, each has specific characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. The Spirit of Wisdom can identify these traits in real-time and guide the saint in engaging in spiritual attacks using the power of Jesus' blood. Similarly, the Spirit of Revelation can assess the situation from a future perspective, enabling the necessary discernment to execute effective spiritual warfare. The enemy may employ different attack vectors and types when engaging in spiritual battles. These various spirits may sometimes be intertwined, and the Spirit of Wisdom will help identify each individual spirit by its unique characteristics. However, when the Spirit of Revelation shines light on the same situation, it can reveal that some spirits may not be the main controlling spirits, although present. If only these surface spirits are addressed, the immediate issues may seem resolved, but the deeper, underlying problems remain unaddressed. Therefore, the collaboration of the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation leads to coherent and comprehensive solutions for the spiritual warfare at hand.
After a great victory at the city of Jericho, Joshua began a siege against the town of Ai. Confident in his tactics and disregarding the need for divine consultation, he assumed that, since Ai was a small town, victory would be easily achieved. Unfortunately, he viewed this battle purely through human reasoning, failing to recognize that our own power or might does not win true victories. Every battle Joshua faced in the land of Canaan was a form of spiritual warfare that required direction from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit understands God's deepest truths and is the spiritual realm's creator. Later, Joshua faced a significant defeat, which led him to repent and seek guidance from God. His experience in the battle of Ai illustrates the nature of spiritual warfare. After experiencing great victories, we can become overly confident, which may lead to pride—similar to the "Pride of Life." This pride can take root in our souls, even if we acknowledge that we are crucified with Jesus and carry the spirit of martyrdom. Ultimately, victories are not achieved through our own efforts but through the power of God. As Ephesians 6:12 reminds us: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places." The tactics of spiritual warfare do not adhere to the rules and laws of the physical world. We cannot afford to make the same mistake Joshua made in his spiritual battles. The consequences of ignoring God's guidance can be severe and costly. Like Joshua, we must earnestly seek the counsel of the Lord and wait humbly for clear directions before proceeding.
The seven instances of Jesus' blood being shed empower all saints to access the throne of God and engage in spiritual warfare. Revelation 12:11 states explicitly that the saints overcame the Devil "by the blood of the Lamb." Previously, we examined the different types of blood and their applications. To continue our exploration of spiritual warfare, we must examine the other two components in Revelation 12:11: "By the Word of Their Testimony" and "not loving their lives unto the death." The second element in defeating the Devil is "by the word of their testimony." This testimony is closely connected with the final part of Revelation 12:11, which states, "and they loved not their lives unto the death." In other words, we are talking about martyrdom. So why is martyrdom considered the ultimate weapon in spiritual warfare? The truth is that, according to Romans 8, nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus, which is the strongest bond for any saint to enjoy. However, to experience this bond, the saint must endure through the path of self-denial, ultimately leading to martyrdom. Jesus said that the greatest love is to lay down one's life for a friend. The Bible explicitly states that when Jesus died for us, it was while we were still sinners, in enmity with God. We were enemies of Jesus, yet He died for us. The death of Jesus represents the greatest love God has shown to fallen humanity. The One who died for us created our most profound bond through His precious blood. The six instances of blood that Jesus shed for us testify to God's fulfilled covenant. Simultaneously, these instances of blood represent the ultimate weapon against the Devil. Yet, for any saint to utilize the efficacy of Jesus' blood, they must be willing to be a channel for that blood to flow onto the spiritual battlefield. When the Apostle Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ," he was not physically present at the crucifixion. His confession is based on the belief that when Jesus was crucified, it was for the sake of all sinners. Though he was a sinner himself, Jesus bore the consequences of sin on the cross. Although Paul was not there at the cross, he spiritually identified himself with Jesus at that moment. Because the Apostle Paul was crucified with Jesus, he endured numerous sufferings and near-death experiences. The Devil could not hold onto him, not because he was an apostle or a "super Christian," but because Paul took upon himself the consequences of that spiritual crucifixion. When Apostle Paul was unified with Jesus on the cross, the Devil had no ground to attack him. The blood of Jesus completely covered Apostle Paul, and because his spiritual crucifixion was ongoing, the Devil could not overcome him. The same principle applies to all saints today. Those who do not cling to their lives will gain them, while those who love their lives will lose them. Jesus stated this paradoxically, as those who have not experienced self-denial cannot understand or accept such a spiritual truth. A saint with no attachments to the world and who lives a life that genuinely reflects the crucifixion will be free from the Devil's grasp. This is a life in which the individual actively carries their cross, just as Simon did for the Lord along the Via Dolorosa. Thus, when a saint employs the six instances of Jesus' blood with a spirit of martyrdom, the Devil cannot overcome that saint. This guarantees our victory in every spiritual battle. But why do we sometimes experience seemingly insurmountable defeats? Having an effective arsenal in any warfare is advantageous, but without precision and proper strategy, that weaponry becomes a wasted effort. In spiritual warfare, we often mistakenly rely on past victories and experiences for current battles. This is a serious error, as each spiritual conflict is unique, with varying stakes at play.
Rev. 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. After the Lord's Supper with His disciples, Jesus took a towel and a basin to wash their feet. The disciples were unsure of how to react, and when it was Peter's turn, he protested, telling Jesus that He would not wash his feet. However, Jesus replied that if He did not wash Peter's feet, then Peter would have no part with Him. In response, Peter asked Jesus to wash his feet, hands, and head. Jesus explained that those who are clean only need to have their feet washed. This moment beautifully illustrates Jesus' sacrifice, from the time in the Garden of Gethsemane to His crucifixion, which opened the way for His disciples to come to the Father. As Jesus' disciples live on Earth, they need only to repent and pursue Him, akin to the washing of feet rather than the whole body. Those who have come out of great tribulation have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, similar to how Jesus washed His disciples' feet after the Last Supper. As disciples of Jesus, we must apply the significance of His sacrifice in our daily lives, just as the disciples shared in the Last Supper. We must repent for our sins, as we live in a world where we can face temptation. Therefore, we only need to wash our feet, not our whole bodies, as we are already clean. This act of washing our feet is akin to washing our garments in the blood of the Lamb.
When the sun was about to set, the Roman soldiers broke the two thieves' legs so that they could die before the sunset. Jesus was already dead, so the Roman soldier pierced his side, and blood and water came out. This was done because it was Passover feast day, and for the religious leaders and people to have a Passover meal, no dead bodies could be hanging on the cross. Modern scientists and doctors are beginning to discover that the human heart is not just an organ for pumping blood but has memory and other functions unknown to man. The heart is the most sacred place in the human body as it is the vital sign of a person's well-being. Throughout the Old Testament, God wants His people to follow and obey God in their hearts. God wanted to inscribe His Words onto their hearts. Jeremiah 31:33: " But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." What has been embedded into a person's heart is who that person becomes. Hence, God wanted His people to inscribe God's law in their hearts. It almost seems as if God places the heart in the same place as the person's most precious place. Jeremiah 44:9: "Thus saith the Lord God; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel." Circumcision was the physical sign of God's people. God did not only want His people to have a mark on their physical bodies but also on their hearts as well. God looks deep into the hearts of man. In the New Testament, we discover the Old Testament's reference to the heart in a more vivid image. 2 Cor 3:3 "Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart." Galatians 4:6 states, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." The heart is the connecting link between God and the children of God. The children's hearts cry out, Abba, Father, as it is a natural response of the children of God to call out their Father. In the opposite sense, we find it in Hebrews 3:12: "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." If the heart does not respond to God, that person is not of God. Hence, in the same Hebrew, the author talks about the Old Testament reference to Jeremiah 31:33 in Hebrews 8:11 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:" So it is the heart that has been inscribed with the Word of God is the sign that the person is a child of God. It is natural for children to think and want to become like their parents. In Rev 17:17, "For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.' Hence, when Jesus' heart was pierced, it opened the way for all who trust and believe in Jesus to access God as their own Father. Just like Adam's rib was removed to create Eve, the church was created from Jesus' pierced heart. Jesus is the head, and the church is the body. Just like when Eve was created by removing a rib from Adam, the church was created from the bursting of the heart of Jesus through the piercing of his ribs. The birth of the church can be allegorized by the removal of Adam's rib for the creation of Eve. John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Through the pierced heart of Jesus, we can go to God the Father boldly. It is not our righteous acts or anything we do that gives us the right to the Father, but through the covenant Jesus made in John 14:6, we have access to the Father. Many Christians think that because I have committed a sin or lived ungodly, they cannot access the Father. Contrary to their beliefs, the merit that grants access to the Father is not how holy we lived nor how much we did not sin, but it is the total reliance on the work of Jesus on the cross and the pierced heart of Jesus and the blood that came out that gives us the access to the Father.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are all acutely aware of His sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world. John 1:29 (KJV) states, "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Most Christians recognize the details of Jesus' crucifixion, where He was nailed to the cross for six hours, from morning until afternoon. This event occurred during the Jewish festival of Passover, which commemorates the last judgment that God brought upon the Egyptian gods to free the Israelites from bondage. As God commanded, the Passover lamb holds significant value for the Israelites. Yet, the Jews who condemned Jesus did not fully understand that the Passover lamb symbolized the impending death of Jesus Christ on the cross. At noon, a darkness enveloped the world, illustrating the depth of sin. In those final hours on the cross, Jesus paid the price for the sins of all humanity, proclaiming that the debt had been paid in full. Then, He surrendered His life, confirming that the wages of sin had been ultimately settled. Anyone who believes in and relies on the covenant that Jesus established on the cross is saved from sin and death, becoming a child of God. Immediately following the payment for humanity's sins, earthquakes occurred, and the veil in the Jerusalem temple—dividing the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place—was torn in two from top to bottom. The high priest, who likely entered the Most Holy Place to offer a blood sacrifice on behalf of the Israelites at the Ark of the Covenant, along with the other priests performing their duties, were left shocked and horrified by this dramatic event. The temple shook, and the curtain ripped apart with a loud noise, symbolizing a profound change. Previously, no one could enter the Most Holy Place except the high priest, and even then, only once a year during Passover after he had made sacrifices for his own sins. To ensure safety, a rope was tied to the high priest's feet, along with a bell, to signal whether he was still alive. If he were to die inside, they could drag his body out without entering the sacred area themselves. Access to the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, was strictly forbidden. However, when Jesus settled the debt for mankind's sins, the barrier between humanity and God was removed. Now, everyone has access to the Father through the blood of Jesus Christ. This left the priests grappling with a profound question: Was Jesus indeed the Son of God? If so, what had they done? Later, after Jesus' resurrection, instead of repenting, they paid large sums of money to the Roman soldiers, instructing them to say that Jesus' disciples had stolen His body to fabricate a story of resurrection. As Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ; therefore, I no longer live."
When Jesus was with his disciples, many people followed him. He said that if they wanted to follow him, they must deny themselves, pick up their cross, and follow him. This statement was perplexing and difficult for them to understand. In those days, the cross represented the most terrifying, horrific, and shameful way to die, as the person crucified would be stripped naked and hung on a cross. Even the day before Jesus' crucifixion, the disciples were arguing among themselves about who was the greatest and who would sit at Jesus' right and left hands when he restored the nation of Israel. They had no idea what Jesus would do for mankind and the eternal implications of his actions. When Jesus was arrested, all the disciples fled except for Peter. Peter, the outspoken disciple whom Jesus loved dearly, stood at a distance, warming himself by a fire made by the servants of the high priests while anxiously watching what would happen to his master. Would Jesus call down fire from heaven to destroy those who mocked him and demonstrate his power? Peter's curiosity was not rooted in belief but rather in doubt mixed with hope. When a female servant accused him of being a disciple of Jesus, Peter denied it three times, even cursing. Then, when the rooster crowed, and Jesus looked at Peter, he realized his true self. He had been testing Jesus instead of truly believing in him. Peter wanted to prove himself to Jesus and the other disciples, hoping to witness Jesus' power and understand events in his own way. When Peter recognized that he was testing Jesus and felt fear even before a female servant, he was ashamed and ran outside, crying bitterly. From this account, we see that even Jesus' best disciple, Peter, became a coward when faced with difficult circumstances that could cost him dearly. When Jesus calls us to deny ourselves daily and pick up our cross to follow him, it cannot be done through our own power or will. This transformation requires a complete change from within, facilitated by the Holy Spirit. Later, when Jesus restored Peter, he became a mighty Apostle for the church and ultimately died as a martyr, along with most of the other disciples. None of them considered their lives precious in the cause of Jesus. How is this possible? When a person believe in Jesus for the first time, they are saved by hearing the word of God. The word enters their soul, and the Holy Spirit brings it to life in their spirit. Although the spirit becomes alive, the soul (mind) and body often remain entrenched in old ways of living. Denying oneself is a daily practice at the level of the soul. However, our survival instincts make it difficult to deny ourselves. Jesus' command goes against the very fabric of our soul's existence. Yet, as new believers begin their walk with Jesus through the Holy Spirit, they learn the teachings of Jesus while the Holy Spirit searches their hearts, helping to train their souls to become followers of Christ. We aspire to be good disciples of Jesus; however, we often find it nearly impossible, even with the best intentions. This is where the blood that Jesus shed while carrying the cross is crucial, allowing us to become true disciples of Jesus. After Jesus was whipped and beaten, the crowd demanded his crucifixion. Although Jesus did not sin, the crowd was incited to demand his death. When Pilate washed his hands and claimed to have nothing to do with Jesus' death, releasing Barabbas instead, his cowardly decision and the crowd's behavior reflect how cowardly we can be as we follow Jesus, labeling ourselves his disciples. Peter and the rest of the disciples ran away, leaving Jesus alone to carry the cross to the hill. As he made his way to the crucifixion site, the crowd jeered, threw trash, and spat at Jesus despite having welcomed him just days earlier with cheers of "Hosanna! The King of the Jews!" That same crowd, under the influence of mob mentality, turned against the true King of the Jews. Jesus did not have to carry the cross; it was the cross of Peter, the disciples, and all mankind. Nevertheless, Jesus took upon himself that cross after receiving beatings and wearing a crown of thorns because he wanted to be an example of what he had said: "Whoever wants to follow me must deny themselves and take up their cross." Jesus denied himself, even though he was God, and humbly carried the cross to Jerusalem. Today, you can visit the Via Dolorosa, the path where Jesus carried his cross to Golgotha, marked by seven churches along the route. It is said that Jesus fell seven times, and at each place he fell, a church was built in his memory. As he carried the cross toward Golgotha, Jesus bled continuously from the wounds inflicted upon him. Each drop of blood that fell on the way to Golgotha was shed unjustly because Jesus was innocent. Matt 27:32 “And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.” Mark 15:21 “And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.” The person that the Roman soldier gave the task of carrying Jesus' cross was a person named Simon from Spain. Many scholars claim he was a diaspora Jew who came to Jerusalem on his holy land journey to enjoy the feast. He prepared many years to come to this feast. When he came to a street in Jerusalem, he heard a crowd jeering and in an uproar. As his curiosity brought him to the center of the crowd, he was faced with a man with a crown of thorns on his temple and without any form or shape, as he was completely drenched in blood. As Simon was forced to carry the bloody cross of Jesus, many thoughts were going through his head. What if the soldiers at the crucifixion site relate Simon to being crucified as well, as Jesus' blood on the cross, and probably gotten onto Simon's clothes? There might have been a possibility that when Simon arrived at Golgotha, the Roman soldiers there might have made a mistake in crucifying Simon, as it was a norm for the prisoner to carry his own cross to be crucified. There were no SNS, internet, or phones at that time, and it was a real possibility that the soldiers might mistakenly crucify Simon at Golgotha. Simon's nice clothes and his plan for the afternoon were ruined as he came closer and closer to the crucifixion site. When he arrived, he saw two robbers already crucified and in great pain. As he drops the cross onto the ground, he finds his new clothes drenched in his sweat and the blood of Jesus. This was definitely not part of his plan but forced upon him. As Jesus walked up behind him, Simon saw Jesus' bloody body lying helplessly on the cross and in pain as the Roman soldiers began to nail his hands and feet onto the cross. What thoughts were going through Simon's mind at that time? The soldier who wrote the title "Here, the king of the Jews" nailed it onto the cross of Jesus, and Simon became fascinated with who this person Jesus was. Later, we find out that he and his entire family became great leaders who played vital roles in establishing churches worldwide. Had Jesus not allowed Simon, who did not know what was going on, to carry Jesus' cross, we could have given all kinds of excuses for not carrying our own cross. But because Simon carried Jesus' cross, then he had no relation to Jesus; we can effectively proclaim that we, too, can carry our own cross and follow Jesus. The blood Jesus shed for us while carrying the cross is the power that gives all of his disciples the ability and courage to carry our own cross. When we see that even Simon, a nobody, carried the cross up, we can be courageous enough to carry our own cross. The power of Jesus's blood that he shed on the way to Golgotha gives the reason and power for all disciples to live a life as disciples of Jesus. When we begin to meditate, pray, and apply the blood of Jesus, which he shed for us on the way to Golgotha, we will be strengthened by the power of the blood of Jesus and can receive the courage to carry our own cross.
