January 4

Our Captain

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. — Heb 2:10-11 BSB

The word translated here as “Author” or “Captain” might also be understood as “File-leader.” Peter used it in this sense when he said, “You killed the Prince (File-leader) of life.” Our Lord is seen rising from the grave in Joseph’s garden, where His enemies had placed Him, and as He steps forth, He becomes the first in a long procession of those who, one by one, ascend from the grave to stand with Him, following Him through all the ages.

In the front of this great procession, we see the glorious company of the Apostles, followed by the goodly fellowship of prophets and the noble army of martyrs. There are figures like Polycarp, Ignatius, Chrysostom, Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Wesley, and Spurgeon. Our ancestors are there, our parents are there, and we ourselves are in the line. Our children will follow. We follow Christ, our Captain, through Gethsemane to Calvary, through death to life, from the grave to the heights of ascension.

When Isaiah foresaw Christ’s coming, he said that God had given Him as a Leader and Commander to the people (Isa 55:4). Jesus holds this position not only because of His divine glory as the Son of God, but because He earned it through His obedience as a man. Never has God’s will been carried out as perfectly as it was by Jesus, and we are called to obey and follow Him. He was made perfect through suffering, and we will be perfected through suffering too. Just as He is now crowned with glory and honor, so will we be.

The only way Christ could lead us into His glory was through suffering and death. In the same way, if we want to bring help and blessing to others, we must also be prepared to suffer. We must learn to say no to our own desires and plans. The way of the Cross is the only path to the throne. We can only reach our highest calling by constantly denying the self-life. This will involve pain and suffering, but it is the only way to follow our Captain.

Prayer

Teach us, O Lord, not only to bear but to love Your Cross. As we carry it, may we find that it carries us. Amen.