Month: March 2019

To follow Jesus involves the cross. I wrote a bit about this last week (though by no means did I exhaust the topic). In that discussion, I leaned toward understanding “taking up one’s cross” as pledging our allegiance to Christ. It is breaking ties with the systems of this world, specifically its power structures, and following Jesus and the ways of his kingdom.

As a result of this separation from the powers that be, conflict will ensue. The world will, in some sense, crucify you. In the Roman world, to take up your cross meant that you went against Rome. This is why you were being executed and why you would lose everything. Those condemned to death by crucifixion forfeited their estates and were even denied burial. So when Jesus is telling his disciples, and us, to take up our cross, he is saying that to go against the world could most likely result in suffering.

Once again, it must be mentioned that we don’t seek suffering. We seek Jesus! But we shouldn’t be surprised when suffering comes. In fact, Peter writes that we need to be prepared for it (1 Peter 4:1). Nor should we view suffering negatively. One of the great paradoxes of Scripture is that we gain life by giving ours away. True joy and suffering are linked together. This is not how we are accustomed to thinking.

What I want to mention briefly in this short post however, is not so much the suffering that comes from “taking a stand” for the gospel, such as losing a job or being ridiculed for believing in Jesus (I realize these are minor things compared to some parts of our world). What I want us to grasp is that part of our suffering, if not the majority of it, is for the sake of those around us.

God’s mission is one of rescue. And his followers, who have now been rescued themselves, are now a part of this mission. In fact, Paul writes to the church in Corinth, so we are ambassadors who represent Christ. God is negotiating with you through us. We beg you as Christ’s representatives, “Be reconciled to God!” (2 Cor. 5:20).

As Christ-followers who are his ambassadors on this earth, we live for His namesake as we make him known. And how do we make him known? Well, we obviously develop conversations about the gospel with those around us. But as Christ’s representatives, we do more than just share information. We serve. We listen. We give. We sacrifice. We love. And we do so to make Christ fully known. We model the cross of which Jesus gave of himself for our sakes (see 2 Cor. 5:21) Therefore, we also give of ourselves. And we do so to those around us

So what does this look like? Well, for some of us, this means spending time listening to a colleague whom no one else in your workplace seems to care about. It could also mean that you stick with your church though many are leaving due to a few struggles over who the next pastor should be. Though there are plenty more examples like these above, I hope you notice that these are not necessarily the “big things” we often think about when we think about sacrificing and serving others. And yet what if more people lived out the so-called “smaller” sacrifices in life?

So let’s “deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus.” For some this might mean you actually lose your life or job. For most of us however, this might just mean you lose your reputation as you begin caring for “those neighbors” in the neighborhood.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

When Jesus was talking to his disciples about who he was and what was going to take place during his final days in Jerusalem, Peter couldn’t understand it. “Die? Messiah? You are the victor! You’ve got this wrong.” But Jesus didn’t have it wrong. The cross awaited him. And not only did the cross await him, he told his disciples that if they were going to follow him, they would have to “deny themselves and take up their cross” as well (see Mark 8:27-38).

Following Jesus involves a cross. What this means is that our allegiance is to him and him alone. And as a result, suffering by the hands of this world will ensue. In fact, Jesus actually promised it (John 16:33). And Paul told Timothy he could count on it (2 Timothy 3:12). David Garland in his commentary on 1 Corinthians reminds us that “the Christian life is not a fast track to glory, but a slow arduous path that takes one through suffering.”

Now taking up your cross doesn’t mean you seek suffering and persecution. It means that as you follow Jesus, your life is bound up in sacrificial living for the sake of God’s mission in the world. Will this sometime involve pain and heartache? Yes! Might it be dangerous? Yes! Will you be mocked? Possibly! Will some see your commitment to Jesus a bit silly and prudish? Most likely. Will the pressure to give up come knocking at your door? Definitely! But keep going! Keep following!

The funny thing about all of this is that picking up our cross and denying ourselves is really the path to life. It’s the paradoxical nature of the Christian life. You want to be great? Become a servant. You want to be first? Get in the back of the line. You want to save your life? Then give it away for what good is it to gain the whole world and yet lose your soul (Luke 9:24-26).

I’ll have to admit, this is hard for me to comprehend. I’ve been so conditioned by our “avoid pain at all costs” world that to think of life being found by sacrificing it sounds a bit ludicrous. You might feel the same. If you do, then like me, you will do well to continue to meditate upon the economy of God.

To start, just read through the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. Blessed are the poor in spirt. Blessed are those who mourn. And of course, let’s not forget the last verses: Blessed are you when others revile you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matt. 5:11-12).

Now once again, I don’t believe that we as Christ followers go looking for persecution. We are to be peacemakers, not those that stir up senseless trouble. Nor do I believe that if you are not being persecuted that you are spiritually inferior. What I think is at the heart of taking up your cross is that we as Christ-Followers must do just that…follow Christ. This might mean that you do in fact face serious difficulty and persecution. But for many of us, this means that we give our lives for others in Christian service.

Jesus, while on the cross, was being mocked by the the rulers and soldiers saying to him, “If you are the king of the Jews, then save yourself!” Even one of the criminals crucified next to him said, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:35-39). But Jesus denied himself and took up his cross. His sacrifice brought life. And that is what it means for us to follow Jesus! Save ourselves? Yes! But we do so by giving our lives away in loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Following Jesus involves a cross!!

Photo by Ja’Corie Maxwell on Unsplash