I love the Bible, but I can’t stomach Christian media. The music, movies, comedy, events, websites…basically, I have an aversion to everything “Christian” besides Christians. So, I’m confident it will not surprise you that I don’t read Christian books. Instead, I’m a self-help bibliophile. If I had to spend an hour stuck in an elevator with a resurrected Billy Graham or with Tony Robbins, I’m going with Tony, 100%.

I mention this to you, dear reader, not to bash the tasteless, shameless, and pathetic Christian media industry (oops!), but rather to provide context for why this humble writer would have the huevos to write a personal development piece about success around the brutal death of the Author and Finisher of Our Faith (that’s Jesus). Easy, it’s because my mind is always set somewhere along the intersection of Philippians 4:13 and the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Now that my disclaimer is out of the way, and seeing that you are miraculously still reading, let’s talk about Jesus…then we’ll talk about you and your success.

The Bible is clear that Jesus was, and is, fully man. This is why He referred to Himself as “Son of Man” more than any other description. This is an important revelation for us today because it means Jesus modeled a real way of living as a man.

Many prefer to view Him as being some kind of mythical figure that we simply observe and worship from a distance, while continuing to live dull, powerless lives. But Jesus is the perfect flesh-and-blood prototype. His earthly life provided a pattern for us to think, believe, and live just as He did.

Below are 9 powerful secrets hidden in the story of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Secret #1: Know your identity

Jesus discovered His identity as it was revealed to Him through the scriptures by His Father (God). Out of this relationship, we see the supernatural breaking into the physical realm–like when Jesus was baptized and a voice from Heaven claimed Him in front of everyone, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Imagine how much confidence was beaming into Christ when that happened.

For a man to carry out his mission in life, he must first know who he is (and who his Daddy is). Your journey to success (in anything you do) will be a battleground. It is futile to march into war with a shaky identity. To grow yourself, you’ve got to know yourself.

Secret #2: Accept your mission

Jesus was crystal clear about His calling. He was sent by God to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world. What are you called to? It doesn’t have to be grandiose, but it’s probably more than what you’ve settled for.

If you take a moment and are uncomfortably honest with yourself, what job were you put on this earth to do? If you don’t know, start asking God. Seek and ye shall find. Knock and the door will be opened for you.

When you know and value your mission, a magical thing happens–your priorities shift. Your thoughts and actions begin to align with your goal. You will wake up each day with a conviction of purpose and (sometimes) an energy that helps you gain momentum.

Secret #3: Receive authorization

Jesus submitted to the authority of God the Father when He said, “Not my will, but yours be done.” He also submitted Himself to the governing authority in each setting. He was willingly arrested. He was willing to go be tried and convicted. He was willing to obey the soldiers as they whipped and beat Him, and as they spit on Him, mocked Him, and nailed Him to the cross. 

Authority was so important to Jesus, that He corrected Pontius Pilate when Pilate asked Him “Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?” Jesus responded, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above.” This statement acknowledged Pilate’s authority and simultaneously highlighted the involvement of a higher authority figure the matter. 

Godly authority provides covering, direction, and authorization. We don’t send ourselves on a mission. We are authorized and sent. If a federal agent showed up at your door without a warrant, by law, they may not enter. However, If they do possess a warrant, they have legal authorization to enter–regardless of how you feel about it. 

It’s important to be spiritually in tune with what you are authorized to do, and what you are not authorized to do. if God isn’t backing the motives or timing of your mission, you’ll figure it out. 

This may feel confusing to some, but consider how many champion athletes exist without a coach. None. You must be in alignment with the proper authority for your mission to be a success. 

Secret #4: Embrace suffering

The evening that Christ was betrayed and arrested, probably less than 18 hours from his death, Jesus was sorrowful and deeply distressed. At the time, there was no more torturous or horrible way to die than crucifixion. It was a practice so painful, it was typically reserved for only the most wicked of criminals. No word could describe the level of agony a crucified person felt, so they invented the word “excruciating”, which means “from the cross”.

To put in perspective how distressed Jesus was, His disciple, Luke wrote that He was sweating blood. This was likely not an exaggeration, as there is a real medical condition called Hematidrosis, where a person is under such extreme anguish that their blood vessels rupture, and blood begins to pour out of sweat glands. 

So, was Jesus excited about His upcoming appointment on the cross–the most torturous form of execution known to man? I think it’s safe to say that He was not.

However, Jesus accepted His suffering. Isaiah 50:7 describes His determined mindset, “Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.”

Flint is a very hard rock. This is the attitude that the Son of Man exemplified for us despite His suffering–as tough, inflexible, and unwavering as a stone. 

Secret #5: Ask for help

In addition to Isaiah 50:7 describing Jesus’ mindset, it also describes Him receiving the Father’s help as He enters into suffering. It says, “Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced.”

I heard it said recently that God never plants a vision in our hearts that is small enough to do by ourselves and within our resources. He thinks bigger than we do. We need help from Him, and we need help from others. 

There are no lone wolves in the kingdom, and there are no lone wolves in successful ventures. We become our own bottlenecks without help. Get over yourself.  

Secret #6: Keep your eye on the prize

This is a big one. Hebrews 12 says that Jesus went to the cross “for the joy set before Him.” He overcame the suffering of the moment because the future was already real to Him. He was already tapping into the joy of victory. His spirit was already testifying that sin and death were defeated. He could see in His mind the generations upon generations of individuals being freed from bondage to sin and reconciled to God through His one act of sacrifice. 

You can fully expect adversity as you pursue your calling. It’s part of what will forge you into the person required for the job. When the resistance comes, what will be the joy set before you? What picture will be in your mind’s eye as you suffer? What sensations of victory will you fill your spirit as you belly flop into a mud pit? 

Secret #7: Retreat is not an option

It seems that when victory is nearest, the temptation to escape discomfort becomes the most enticing. As Jesus hung on the cross—only heartbeats away from the death that would change the world for all of time, the religious leaders mocked Him with a challenge, “He saved others. He is not able to save Himself. He is King of Israel! Let Him descend now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.

Imagine how tempting that would have been–to show them some humility, and escape excruciating agony at the same time. Now consider the cost of His retreat. It would have cost everything, for Him, and us. 

As you navigate the minefields in your journey, consider the cost of giving up. What is the cost to you, your family, or the community that your contribution would impact? 

Secret #8: Lead with Love

I’m one of those Christians who doesn’t particularly like most people, but I am growing daily in my love for them. Regardless, it is difficult to comprehend the level of abuse Jesus took for the very ones who were yelling “crucify him.”

“This is My commandment,” Jesus said in John 15, “that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Love was His primary motive as He gave His life for us. It was also the primary of motive of the Father who sent His beloved Son to die for us. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son…”

For you and I, expressing love to our fellow man won’t likely come down to actually dying a physical death for them. But there may be aspects of our expression, expectations, or hearts that need to take a good ol’ dirtnap.

In every relationship, good or bad; whether a neighbor, business colleague, or spouse, the action of loving that person may have a cost attached to it, but do it anyway.

The book of Proverbs says “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.”

Secret #9: Death and ressurection

Solomon said, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate it.” That said, I am not going to explain the greatest success secret found in the crucifixion. You seem like the type of guy who will benefit from discovering it for yourself. Spend time over the next days and weeks meditating on these three scriptures. There is gold to be mined that will change your life forever.

• Romans 6:1-14
• Galatians 2:20
• Colossians 1:26-27

Summary

In closing, here is a single passage to challenge and encourage you on your journey.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

—Hebrews 12:1-3