"In Holman Hunt's picture, "The Shadow of the Cross," Jesus is
represented at thirteen, standing in the carpenter's shop at the
close of the day. He stretches out His arms and the setting sun casts
His shadow in the form of a cross on the opposite wall. The artist's
thought is that across the soul of the gentle youth thus early fell
indeed the shadow of the cross. No doubt the thought is true.
Especially here, however, as Jesus entered His public ministry, did
not this shadow fall upon Him.
This baptism by John was but the emblem of the other baptism. This
was only with water, and was but symbolical. He had another baptism
to be baptized with the baptism of sorrow, of death, and of curse,
when He "redeemed us from the curse of the law by being made a curse
for us." Here we see Him entering the edge of His sore baptism from
which He finally comes on the morning of His resurrection. We ought
never to forget, as we enjoy the blessings of redemption, what it
cost our Lord to procure them for us. He endured His nameless baptism
of sorrow, pain and death, that we might receive the blessings of
peace and joy. He tasted death for us that we might have deathless
life."

It has become the trend in some Christian circles not to preach
anything uncomfortable about God. This does great injustice to the
pain and suffering Christ had to endure for our salvation. We should
never forget that Christ died to appease the wrath of God directed to
us, because of our sin. Anything less robs God of his glory and
holiness and diminishes the glory of the cross and His resurrection.

Jesus lived under the `Shadow of the Cross' all his life and the
cross was the only way a holy God could reconcile himself to a sinful
world.