Tag: take up cross
Ashamed of Christ?
Scripture reading for February 26th: Mark 8:10-38, Psalms 42:1-11, Proverbs 10:17
“He (Jesus) then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.” (Mark 8:31-32) Peter was not at all happy with Jesus when He told the disciples of the coming events that would culminate with His death. Peter began to scold Jesus and tell Him not to talk like that. Jesus then rebuked Peter with a stern command, “Get behind me Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (Mark 8:33)
Jesus used this exchange to appeal to His disciples and the crowd that followed Him. If anyone wanted to follow Him, they must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow as well! Anyone wanting to save their life would lose it and anyone losing their life, would save it. Jesus knew the tendency of our flesh to want to preserve life as we know it. We all want to be in control and think that by our own efforts can have the best life. But we can’t have the world and it’s adulterous ways and Christ too! The way of the cross and death somehow leads to gain and life.
Jesus asked a question of the crowd and His disciples: “What good is is for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37) Our true life is eternal life and to enjoy that we must have our soul redeemed. We must lose our “life” here to gain “eternal life”. Jesus gave His listeners the answer, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.” In Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection, we have our only hope of redeeming our soul. We must die to our flesh and boldly stake our claim on Jesus and His words! He is coming again soon!
Lose it all and save your life!
Scripture reading for March 31st: Luke 9:7-27
As Jesus was alone with His disciples, He asked them who they though He was. Peter spoke up, “The Christ of God.” (Luke 9:20) This confession brought a warning from Jesus about His coming suffering, crucifixion and resurrection. Being the Christ of God would lead to some difficult experiences and it would also not be easy for His followers! They would have to make a conscious commitment and really know who He was.
Jesus had some very difficult instructions for those that would follow Him as disciples. Some of His instructions made them ponder who He really was and their conclusion determined if they were willing to follow Him. “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23-26)
First, His followers must learn to deny themselves and their way of thinking. The world puts ‘self’ first, but Jesus and His followers put God and His will first. This choice is taken, even when it leads to a daily cross! Jesus was daily denying His ‘self’ in order to follow His Father’s instructions. For Him to enjoy resurrection, He must be willing to lose His life. His followers must willingly do the same, by giving up seeking to gain the world and instead going for God’s approval. This choice would eventually involve martyrdom for each of these disciples except John! (and Judas)
Jesus’ crucifixion would involve shame and great fear of being identified with Him. Jesus told them of their need for faith in Him to continue after the crucifixion and resurrection. The end result would be eternal recognition when Jesus returned! The willingness to lose life would bring great gain!
As we read these words of Jesus, we also ponder what it means to lose our life to gain it. What does taking up our cross daily look like? Are we ever ashamed to be associated with Jesus?
Not Peace, but a Sword!
Scripture reading for January 13th: Matthew 10:24-42, Psalms 9:11-20, Proverbs 3:3-6
Jesus Christ is the “Prince of Peace” according to Isaiah 9:6! Jesus lived a life of peace but preached a message that sometimes stirred up violent rejection and spiritual warfare. In our reading today, Jesus was preparing His disciples for ministry in the world and the warfare that would result from spiritual conflict with the devil and those in league with him.
“”Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law–a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” (Matthew 10:34-36) Jesus offers us peace with God through the forgiveness of our sins. In order to obtain this promise, we must repent or turn away from sin (breaking of God’s law) and turn toward God through Jesus Christ. This all comes by faith through God’s grace and mercy freely given to those who believe. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Why does this message sometimes cause violence or division between people and even close family members? The message of the cross is offensive to the human ego and religion’s rules. We all want to work for our salvation or do something to earn it. Religion is based on man’s efforts to do enough to appease God. Even the Jews had drifted into a works-oriented religion instead of “by grace through faith”. Jesus wisely taught His disciples about the conflict that would happen between the flesh and the Spirit. When we turn to Jesus and begin to move in the Spirit, some will be convicted or resent this conviction and react in violence.
The disciples must not react, but keep on loving God and following Him. “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37-38) God’s will is first and our love for God is demonstrated by taking up a cross! This cross represents death to our own desires and even the need for acceptance by our own family. Where is your heart today? Are you worthy of the Lord?