Sojourner #058: Living In The Shadow Of The Cross

“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2, ESV)

Around the world, the reality of Christ’s suffering remains the heartbeat of Christian hope. In this reflection, Sojourner Magazine staff journalist Taylor Stanfield offers more than words, he draws us back to the very center of our faith: a crucified and risen King.

This is not an empty doctrine or dead philosophy. It is the supernatural power by which all believers endure trials and pain, from the villages of Africa to the busy cities of the West. This is the Gospel we live by, and the Gospel we carry.

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The suffering of Christ cuts straight through the noise of life. 

It’s not some neat story pulled from a Sunday school lesson. It’s raw, brutal, real. The God who spun the universe into being chose to walk among us - fully human, fully divine - knowing the pain and suffering that awaited Him (John 1:14; Colossians 1:16–17).

He endured it willingly, not because He was forced to, but because in sovereign love, the Father sent Him, and the Son obeyed. It was the triune will of God (Acts 2:23; John 10:18). He loved us enough to take the weight of our sin, to face death head-on (Isaiah 53:5; John 3:16).

And here’s the truth: if we’re honest, we’re broken. Depraved. Dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1–3). We can’t fix ourselves. We’re powerless, and left to our own devices, we’d fall apart. But Christ, He bore our curse (Galatians 3:13). He paid the price, not just to show us some example, but to save us from our own ruin (Romans 5:8).

His death was brutal, shameful, painful, but it was also victorious. He rose from the grave - body and spirit - alive and unstoppable (1 Corinthians 15:4; Romans 6:9). That’s the power that sustains us, that calls us to stand firm in a world that’s constantly trying to break us (2 Corinthians 4:8–10).

And what are we supposed to do with that? It’s not about puffing ourselves up or pretending we’re stronger than we are. It’s about humility, recognizing our depravity, and trusting that His grace, His mercy, is enough (Titus 3:5–7). Every day, we wake up and make a choice: to trust in His finished work (John 19:30), to fight our own sin (Romans 8:13), and to live in a way that points back to Him (Philippians 1:21). Because the fight isn’t easy. It’s gritty, relentless, and often exhausting. But that’s where we are forged, when we cling to His promises in the midst of The World (2 Peter 1:4; James 1:2–4).

Living as a Christian isn’t about some superficial “good life.” It’s about embracing the suffering, the hardship, the grind, knowing that Christ suffered first, and He’s with us in it (1 Peter 4:1,12–13). We examine ourselves honestly, repent constantly, and lean hard on His mercy (2 Corinthians 13:5; Lamentations 3:22–23). Because without His sacrifice, we’re nothing. With it, we’re alive, resurrected, redeemed, and called to walk in obedience (Romans 6:4; Ephesians 2:4–6).

Peter reminds us not to cower when suffering comes. Keep Christ holy in your heart, he says. Be ready to tell others why you hope. Quietly, humbly, and with respect (1 Peter 3:15). Our lives should shine - rough, imperfect, but real - so that others see the Gospel lived out, not just talked about (Matthew 5:16). We’re not here to parade our righteousness. We’re here to reflect His (2 Corinthians 4:5–7).

It’s been over two thousand years since they nailed our Savior to a cross. Since then, the message’s been watered down, twisted, seemingly lost in the noise of the world. But His words remain true: “Blessed are the meek,” He says, “for they will inherit the earth.” “Hunger and thirst for righteousness,” He teaches, “and you will be satisfied” (Matthew 5:5–6).

We’re called into a daily struggle - examining our hearts, repenting, trusting in His mercy daily, moment-by-moment. Because His mercies are fresh, every day (Lamentations 3:22–23). And in that, we find hope (Romans 15:13).

The road is hard. The flesh is weak. But His Spirit is stronger (Galatians 5:16–17). His grace is enough (2 Corinthians 12:9). That’s the truth we hold onto. That’s the hope that keeps us going, knowing that Christ is The Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14:6). Always.

About the Author

Taylor Stanfield is a staff journalist for Sojourner Magazine, writing at the intersection of theology, global witness, and the cost of discipleship from his quiet cattle ranch nestled deep in the American West. His years spent in different parts of the world inform his grounded, clear-eyed, Christ-centered writing style.

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