8. Пленник и освободитель

If someone were in captivity, and there he endured every kind of torment from the captive tormentor, and expected nothing from him except bitter death, and some kind and strong man came to him and said to him: “Here I am freeing you from this bitter work and all the misfortune, and I will bring you to your fatherland, just follow me,” - oh, with what great joy would that poor captive want to go and follow that merciful liberator! Christ, the Son of God, the All-Powerful and Most Good, came to us captives from heaven, sent from His Heavenly Father, and says to us: “I was sent to you from My Heavenly Father to free you and bring you to Him in His heavenly kingdom.” “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). If you want to come to eternal bliss and inherit the kingdom of heaven, follow Me, and I will lead you there. “If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). Let us, Christian, follow Christ, our Savior, Who came to us and mercifully visited us, and calls us to His heavenly kingdom, and will lead us to this most blessed peace and eternal joy, “where there is a dwelling place for all who rejoice.” Jesus is the true and faithful Leader, and without Him no one will enter the kingdom of God. Let us entrust ourselves to His leadership, and inseparably follow Him, and He will lead us to a place of eternal rest. Those chosen will follow Christ not with their feet, but with their hearts and faith, love, humility, patience and meekness. Let us also love this path of Christ and follow Him. This path is low, humble and despised by many, but it alone leads to the high Fatherland, heaven (See Matthew 7:14). There is no other path to eternal life except the path of the cross: “and whoever does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me,” says the Lord (Matthew 10:38). If anyone is unworthy of Christ, then who will be worthy, perhaps His opponent? No matter how you think, man, and wherever you turn your thoughts, you need to bear your cross and follow Christ, that is, follow His humility, love, patience and meekness, that is, no matter what sorrowful things happen to you, endure without grumbling, for the sake of what Christ, your Savior, endured so much. Endure everything without grumbling, whatever God’s holy right hand sends you, drink the cup that Heavenly Father gives you, and you will be a true member of the spiritual Body of Christ, and so you will follow your Head, Christ. And just as you suffer with Him, so you will be glorified with Him, as the member is with its head, as the Scripture says: “We suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Rom 8:17). And again: “Whoever serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there will my servant also be” (John 12:26). “Trust in the Lord, be of good courage, and let your heart be strong, and trust in the Lord” (Ps. 26:14). You might be interested in: