John 19:17-27

1. We should observe how our Lord had to bear His cross when He went forth from the city to Golgotha.
2. We should observe how our Lord was crucified as a King.
3. We should observe how tenderly our Lord took thought for Mary, His mother.

"To wear crosses as an ornament, to place crosses on churches and tombs, is cheap and easy work and entails no trouble. But to have Christ’s cross in our hearts, to carry Christ’s cross in our daily walk, to know the fellowship of His sufferings, to be conformed to His death, to have crucified affections, and live crucified lives—all this needs self-denial and Christians of this kind are few and far between."

"They only will find Him their Saviour at the last day who have obeyed Him as King in this world. Let us cheerfully pay Him that tribute of faith, love and obedience which He prizes far above gold. Above all, let us never be afraid to declare ourselves His faithful subjects, soldiers, servants and followers however much He may be despised by the world."

"It is not too much to say, however painful the assertion, that of all the inventions of the Church of Rome there never was one more without foundation in Scripture and reason, than the doctrine of Mary-worship."

Questions:

1. We see Jesus carry the cross like a criminal for our sake. Ryle draws the practical application that just as Jesus bore his cross, so we are called to carry our cross and follow Him. He says that to wear crosses is cheap, but to have Christ's cross in our hearts and to carry Christ's cross in our daily walk and to know the fellowship of his sufferings requires self-denial and is the only cross-bearing and cross-carrying that does any good in the world. Where are we when it comes to denying ourselves and taking up the cross in our lives?
2. We see that the sign declaring Jesus as the King of the Jews, though mocking, declared what was right and true. As a king he was born, lived, was crucified, and will come again. Ryle exhorts us that only those who know Jesus as King in their hearts will know him as Savior. Are we those who cheerfully pay him the tribute of faith, love and obedience that he prizes far above gold?
3. We see Jesus, in great pain and agony, caring for his mother. Ryle points out in this how unfounded the Roman Catholic Church is to venerate Mary, but for our purposes, we also see the matchless tenderness, sympathy, and consideration of Jesus for his people. And what a helpful thing to consider in the context of carrying the cross! Do we see in Jesus our Lord the one who also cares for us? May this truth carry us through whatever trials and cross-bearing may bring!