Cross carrying

             Someone said some great wisdom to me lately. They said Jesus told us to follow, not worship. I'm sure, relatively sure, that wouldn't be the first time I had heard that, or something like that. But it surely penetrated in a new way.

            Reminds me of this: "Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it."

            As much as I want to be Mary at the feet of Christ, denying the work of the house or of the world, I can't be because I must pick up my cross and follow.

            Follow into the depths of the valley.

            Follow into the pains and sufferings of the wooden cross.

            Follow into the prisons with John the Baptist.

            Follow into the night of Gethsemane.

            Follow. Just follow. Not a single day of worship can I find.

            Jesus told us all that we have and all that we are will cost us, and I'm sure each person reading this will remember some cost. But through it all, God has set us free. Sure we have to follow, and sure we have work to do, but our chains are gone.

            Therefore, “Take up your cross and follow Me” means being willing to die in order to follow Jesus. This is called “dying to self.” It’s a call to absolute surrender. After each time Jesus commanded cross bearing, He said, “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?”  Although the call is tough, the reward is matchless.     

            Wherever Jesus went, He drew crowds. Although these multitudes often followed Him as Messiah, their view of who the Messiah really was—and what He would do—was distorted. They thought the Christ would usher in the restored kingdom. They believed He would free them from the oppressive rule of their Roman occupiers. Even Christ’s own inner circle of disciples thought the kingdom was coming soon. When Jesus began teaching that He was going to die at the hands of the Jewish leaders and their Gentile overlords, His popularity sank. Many of the shocked followers rejected Him. Truly, they were not able to put to death their own ideas, plans, and desires, and exchange them for His.`

            Following Jesus is easy when life runs smoothly; our true commitment to Him is revealed during trials. Jesus assured us that trials will come to His followers. Discipleship demands sacrifice, and Jesus never hid that cost.

            In Luke 9: 57-62, three people seemed willing to follow Jesus. When Jesus questioned them further, their commitment was half-hearted at best. They failed to count the cost of following Him. None was willing to take up his cross and crucify upon it his own interests.

            Therefore, Jesus appeared to dissuade them. How different from the typical Gospel presentation! How many people would respond to an altar call that went, “Come follow Jesus, and you may face the loss of friends, family, reputation, career, and possibly even your life”? The number of false converts would likely decrease! Such a call is what Jesus meant when He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”

            If you wonder if you are ready to take up your cross, consider these questions:

            Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing some of your closest friends?

            Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means alienation from your family?

            Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means the loss of your reputation?

            Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your job?

          Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your life?