A repost from August 2009.
This is from David Hansen’s book the Art of Pastoring. It’s one of my favorite books. If you are a vocational pastor, it is a must read, and even if you aren’t, like me, you’ll enjoy it.
“Jesus’ life has a general narrative direction. We call this general direction the Way of the Cross. Jesus understood from the beginning that his was a life of sacrifice. His life flowed toward the cross at all times. He never climbed any first century ladders of success. The devil showed him plenty. The people begged him to climb them. Jesus rejected ladders and consistently chose the downward road of sacrifice.”