Pressing Toward the Cross: Embracing Transformation and Forgiveness
Summary
The journey to the cross is a story of pressing through obstacles, both external and internal, to draw near to Christ. There are always forces—sometimes even within ourselves—that try to keep us from the transforming power of Jesus. Yet, just as the blind man and Zacchaeus pressed through crowds and opposition, we are called to press on toward the cross, refusing to let anything hinder our pursuit of Christ. The cross is not just a symbol of suffering, but a source of power and transformation. When we fix our eyes on it, even the weights and burdens we cannot lift on our own become possible to bear.
Personal transformation often requires us to confront our own weaknesses and failures. Sometimes, the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. True change begins when we believe that our past does not define us, and that in Christ, we are made new. This is the path to resurrection in our own lives: to let go of old identities, to forgive ourselves, and to step forward in faith, trusting that God is doing something new within us.
The resurrection narrative is deeply personal. Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Jesus shows that God meets us in our grief and confusion, calling us by name and turning our sorrow into joy. The disciples, each in their own way, come to believe in the resurrection—some through seeing, some through hearing, and some, like Thomas, through touching. Jesus meets each person at their point of need, never shaming them for their doubts, but inviting them into deeper faith.
The miracle at Cana, where Jesus turns water into wine, is a foreshadowing of the resurrection. Just as Jesus transformed the ordinary and even the impure into something extraordinary, so too does he take our brokenness and make it new. The resurrection is not just about Jesus coming back to life, but about the Holy Spirit coming into us, making us the new temple, the place where God dwells.
This indwelling Spirit gives us the power to forgive. Forgiveness is not just a command, but a divine empowerment. It is the threshold of transformation, the act that liberates us from the past and opens the door to new life. As we forgive—ourselves and others—we participate in the resurrection power of Christ, becoming agents of healing and reconciliation in the world.
Key Takeaways
- Pressing Toward the Cross: The journey of faith is marked by obstacles, both from others and from within ourselves. Yet, the call is to press on, refusing to let anything—fear, shame, or opposition—keep us from the transforming presence of Christ. The cross is not just a destination, but a source of strength that enables us to overcome what we could not on our own. [07:13]
- The Power of Self-Forgiveness: True transformation often begins with forgiving ourselves for past failures. We must believe that our old identity does not define us, and that in Christ, we are made new. This act of self-forgiveness is a step of faith, allowing us to move forward and embrace the new life God offers. [10:11]
- God Meets Us Where We Are: Jesus’ resurrection appearances show that God is willing to meet each of us at our unique point of need. Whether we believe easily like John, need to hear our name like Mary, or require tangible proof like Thomas, Jesus comes to us without condemnation, inviting us into deeper faith. [25:58]
- The Inner Sanctum Within: The resurrection shifts the place of worship from external temples to the inner sanctum of our hearts. God’s presence is no longer confined to a building or ritual, but dwells within us through the Holy Spirit. This personal connection is the foundation for true transformation and worship. [22:28]
- Forgiveness as Resurrection Power: The Holy Spirit empowers us to forgive, which is the threshold of true transformation. Forgiveness is not merely a moral duty, but a participation in the resurrection life of Christ. As we forgive, we are liberated from the past and empowered to become who God created us to be, bringing healing to ourselves and to others. [30:59]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Recap: Journey to the Cross
[03:05] - Pressing Through Obstacles
[07:13] - The Power of the Cross in Our Struggles
[08:49] - Lessons from the Weight Room
[10:11] - Learning to Forgive Ourselves
[13:29] - Mary Magdalene at the Tomb
[15:20] - The Disciples’ Response
[16:40] - The First to Believe
[17:48] - Connecting the First and Last Miracles
[20:52] - Jesus Transforms the Ordinary
[22:28] - The Inner Sanctum of Worship
[23:53] - Thomas’ Encounter with the Risen Christ
[25:58] - Jesus Meets Us in Our Doubt
[27:08] - The Gift of Forgiveness
[28:28] - The Power of the Holy Spirit
[29:31] - Resurrection and the Power to Transform
[30:59] - Forgiveness as the Threshold of New Life
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Pressing Toward the Cross and the Power of Forgiveness
---
### Bible Reading
1. John 20:1-23
(Mary Magdalene at the tomb, the disciples’ encounter with the risen Jesus, and Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit on them)
2. John 2:1-11
(The wedding at Cana, Jesus’ first miracle turning water into wine)
3. Luke 19:1-10
(Zacchaeus presses through the crowd to see Jesus)
---
### Observation Questions
1. In John 20, how does Mary Magdalene react when she finds the tomb empty, and what changes her grief into joy?
*(see [13:29])*
2. What is significant about Jesus calling Mary by her name at the tomb?
*(see [14:18])*
3. In the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19), what obstacles does he face in trying to see Jesus, and how does he overcome them?
4. At the wedding in Cana (John 2), what does Jesus do with the jars of water, and why is this miracle important?
*(see [17:48])*
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the sermon emphasizes that the journey to the cross involves pressing through both external and internal obstacles? How does this relate to the stories of the blind man and Zacchaeus?
*(see [03:05])*
2. The sermon says that “the cross is not just a symbol of suffering, but a source of power and transformation.” What does it mean for the cross to be a source of strength in our struggles?
*(see [07:13])*
3. How does Jesus’ interaction with Mary Magdalene, the disciples, and Thomas show that God meets us at our point of need?
*(see [25:58])*
4. The miracle at Cana is described as a foreshadowing of the resurrection. In what ways does Jesus’ transformation of water into wine point to the new life he offers us?
*(see [20:52])*
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon talks about “pressing on toward the cross” despite obstacles. What are some specific obstacles—either from others or from within yourself—that make it hard for you to draw near to Christ right now? What would it look like to press through them this week?
*(see [03:05])*
2. The pastor shared a story about learning to forgive himself for past failures before he could move forward. Is there an area in your life where you need to forgive yourself? What step could you take to start that process?
*(see [10:11])*
3. Jesus meets Mary, the disciples, and Thomas each in a different way. How has God met you in your doubts, grief, or confusion? Is there a place in your life where you need to invite Jesus to meet you right now?
*(see [25:58])*
4. The sermon says that the resurrection shifts the place of worship from a building to the “inner sanctum” of our hearts. What does it mean for you to worship God from your heart, not just in a church building? How can you make space for God’s presence in your daily life?
*(see [22:28])*
5. Forgiveness is described as the “threshold of transformation.” Is there someone you need to forgive—either yourself or another person? What is holding you back, and what would it look like to take a step toward forgiveness this week?
*(see [30:59])*
6. The Holy Spirit empowers us to forgive and to live out resurrection power. Are there practical ways you can rely on the Holy Spirit’s help when forgiveness feels impossible?
*(see [28:28])*
7. The sermon says, “As we forgive, we are liberated from the past and empowered to become who God created us to be.” Can you think of a time when forgiveness brought you freedom or healing? How might God want to use you as an agent of reconciliation in someone else’s life?
*(see [30:59])*
---
Devotional
Day 1: The Transformative Power of the Cross
There is a power in the cross of Christ that draws us, transforms us, and enables us to become more than we are, giving us strength to overcome obstacles and press on toward Jesus. When we fix our eyes on the cross, even the weights and hindrances of life become surmountable, and we find ourselves empowered to do what we could not do before. The cross is not just a symbol of suffering, but a source of strength and transformation for all who seek Christ with faith, reminding us that our journey is about pressing forward, no matter what stands in our way. [07:13]
1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel weighed down or hindered? How can you intentionally focus on the cross of Christ today to find strength and transformation in that area?
Day 2: Forgiveness and New Identity
Forgiving ourselves is essential to transformation; we must let go of past failures and embrace the new identity Christ gives us, believing that we are no longer defined by our old mistakes. True change begins when we accept that who we were is not who we are now, and that through faith and forgiveness, we can step into a resurrected life. This act of self-forgiveness is not about ignoring the past, but about trusting in God’s power to make all things new, allowing us to move forward with courage and hope. [10:11]
Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: Is there a past failure or label you still carry? What would it look like to forgive yourself and believe in the new identity Christ has given you today?
Day 3: Encountering the Risen Jesus Personally
Jesus meets us where we are, calling us by name and transforming our grief into joy, just as He did for Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb. The resurrection is not just a historical event, but a personal encounter—Jesus knows us intimately and desires to connect with us in our deepest moments of sorrow and confusion, turning them into hope and purpose. When we recognize His voice and presence, our lives are changed, and we are invited to share the good news with others. [14:18]
John 20:11-16 (ESV)
"But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.' Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?' Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary.' She turned and said to him in Aramaic, 'Rabboni!' (which means Teacher)."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to hear Jesus call your name and turn your grief or confusion into joy? How can you open your heart to encounter Him personally today?
Day 4: Faith Grows When Jesus Meets Us in Our Doubt
Jesus does not shame us for our doubts but comes to us at our level, inviting us to believe and experience peace, just as He did with Thomas. Our faith journey is unique, and Jesus honors our honest questions, meeting us in our uncertainty and helping us grow in trust. Blessed are those who believe without seeing, but even when we struggle, Jesus is patient and gracious, drawing us closer to Himself and deepening our faith. [25:58]
John 20:24-29 (ESV)
"Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.' Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"
Reflection: Where are you struggling with doubt or needing reassurance in your faith? How can you invite Jesus to meet you in that place and help you take a step of trust today?
Day 5: The Power to Forgive Through the Holy Spirit
Through the Holy Spirit, we are given the power to forgive others, just as Christ forgave us, and this act of forgiveness is the threshold to true transformation and resurrection life. Forgiveness is not always easy, but it is the key to liberation and peace, allowing us to break free from the chains of bitterness and step into the fullness of God’s calling. As we exercise this power, we participate in the ministry of Jesus, bringing healing and restoration to ourselves and those around us. [27:08]
John 20:21-23 (ESV)
"Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.'"
Reflection: Who is someone you need to forgive, or what situation do you need to release to God? Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to take a step toward forgiveness today.
Quotes
But who wants to make the play? And I said, I do, coach. And he says, oh, yeah, but we got to throw the ball. So the coaches hadn't forgotten. And I said, throw it to me. I'll catch it. And the coaches were nervous. He threw the ball. And I did start to tense up a little bit. And at the last minute, I caught that ball. And he came back and he gave me a pat on the shoulder. And he says, I love it when a person has the courage to step up and say they're going to do it. And they come through and do it. My beloved, there is a path to resurrection, to changing the path of things. To having peace, to having peace, to catch the ball, to believing in yourself and having the faith to forgive and forget and put it in the past. To moving forward, transforming and resurrecting a part of your life. [00:12:24] (66 seconds)
What Jesus is saying is, my whole ministry is to take the soul of humanity, to take all of the mistakes, all of the problems, all of the shortcomings, all of the disturbances, all of the grief, and to purify it and turn it into the choicest of wine. And so here we are with Mary. And what is Jesus doing? When he refers to people close to him in a generic sense, he's approaching them from his separate divine position. [00:20:52] (52 seconds)
But then when he addresses them in a personal sense, when he calls her Mary, this is now indicating that Jesus... is now getting closer to them because he is engaging them on a personal level. And it's reminding us that the ministry of Jesus is not just about you being transformed, but the process by which God engages us that we might be transformed. And that is a process of not only us entering into his inner sanctum, but by the inner sanctum actually being in us. [00:21:44] (45 seconds)
And he says, and I'm going to have to put my hand in the wound in his side before I believe. So what does Jesus do? About a week later, he shows up. And he comes to Thomas and says, go ahead, buddy. All right. And what does Thomas do? He puts his hand and he says, my Lord, my God. And what does Jesus say? He says, you believe because you have seen blessed are those who believe and have not seen. [00:24:18] (37 seconds)
You see, we're all in a different state. And he says, blessed are those who didn't see and believe. Like Mary and John. But he doesn't chastise Thomas for it. He doesn't say, you should have been like them. He doesn't say, shame on you for not believing. I mean, he didn't have to come. But what he did is he said, I heard what you said. So you know what? I'm going to come to where you are. I'm going to give you an opportunity to believe at your level. And what does that do? It raises the faith of Thomas. [00:25:38] (40 seconds)
And so we see a peace that comes when God comes into our inner sanctum and we come into his. And we also see a belief that comes when God comes to where we are in our level of faith development. But then something really remarkable happens. And it really happens before Thomas, but it's the part that I want to give a little highlight to. It says that Jesus Jesus breathes upon them this Holy Spirit. And when He breathes upon them, He gives them the power to forgive sins. Now, understand, the primary criticism the Pharisees and the Sadducees had of Jesus is that He said He had the power to forgive sins. And they knew that only God had that power, which meant that He was calling Himself God when He said He had the power to forgive sins. And now Jesus is imparting this power to His disciples. [00:26:18] (88 seconds)
So when we are in human form, our power comes from God. So when we say we have the power to forgive sins, what we're really saying is that God has given us the authority to exercise his power in our life. So it's not really our power per se, but because of the partnership, because of the friendship, and I love what Jesus says. He says, I'm going to God, my father, and tell your brothers I'm going to their father. So in a few words, Jesus wraps it all up. He says, guess what? We're all on the same level now. [00:28:46] (45 seconds)
I'm a son of God. You're my brother. And we're all in the same family. And God is the father of all of us. So the same Jesus that did miracles, the same Jesus that healed is the same Jesus that's in Kevin and in Betty and in David and in Tim and in Ed and in Mary Lou. And I'm going to miss somebody. So I'm going to stop. Amen. But what it's saying is that this is what the resurrection is about. It is about the Holy Spirit coming into us so that we have the power to transform our lives and the life around us in the same way Jesus did. And the number one way we do that is in forgiveness. [00:29:30] (42 seconds)
But you'll be able to hit those balls. You'll be able to catch those balls because you will have peace and relax first. Believe. Second, faith. But the third thing is you will forgive. The forgiveness is what liberates you. The forgiveness is the threshold of transformation for you. It is when we forgive that we really get empowered and released. [00:31:02] (38 seconds)
So when we listen to God, when we believe God, and then we exercise what God tells us to do, which at some point will always be a threshold of forgiveness, that is when our ministry truly begins. When we have an opportunity to become who we really are. My prayer is that you would exercise that power of forgiveness in your Christian walk so that you and your life can likewise experience the power of resurrection. Amen. [00:31:41] (41 seconds)
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