TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

March 30        Taking Up Your Cross        Matthew 16:23-25

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina…“But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”  (Matthew 16:23-25)

This is a special time in Christendom!  The full expression of God’s love for humanity was demonstrated by His only Son, carrying out His mission for the salvation of all mankind.  Jesus told his disciples that, “if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me!”  Many of us interpret “cross” as some burden we must carry in our lives: a strained relationship, a thankless job, a physical illness. With self-pitying pride, we say, “That’s my cross I have to carry.” Such an interpretation is not what Jesus meant when He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” When Jesus carried His cross up Golgotha’s hill to be crucified, no one was thinking of the cross as symbolic of a burden to carry. To a person in the first-century, the cross meant one thing and one thing only: death by the most painful and humiliating means human beings could develop.  Over two thousand years later, Christians view the cross as a cherished symbol of atonement, forgiveness, grace, and love. But in Jesus’ day, the cross represented nothing but torturous and horrible death. Because the Romans forced convicted criminals to carry their own crosses to the place of crucifixion, bearing a cross meant carrying their own execution device while facing ridicule along the way to death. 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?” (Luke 9:24-25).  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 truly 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 and tribulations. Jesus assured us that trials will come to His followers (John 16:33). Discipleship demands sacrifice, and Jesus never hid that cost.  So, the call comes to us: “TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND COME WITH ME!” Will we continue to make excuses for our lack of commitment?  Will we continue to walk in a “lukewarm” manner?  Jesus was committed to fulfilling His great mission and His absolute calling from the Father!  Remember, HE loved us enough to sacrifice Jesus, for our sins, and HE loved us enough to provide the means to have a true and growing relationship with Him, and I will add, for eternity!  Are you ready to surrender all?  Are you willing to accept this gift of Grace?  Commitment requires surrender and commitment requires devotion and commitment requires your all!  Regardless of my human frailties, I am committed to being a faithful disciple, in all that my Savior requires!  HOW ABOUT YOU?  Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE! (Source: Got Questions Ministries 2020)