We’re all familiar with the term ‘pick up your cross’ yet it seems to me that people take that to mean baptismal death, having no idea what death to self means. Most people fragment the dialog of Jesus and toss bits and pieces about to fall into different fragments of scripture to form certain dogmas. And well they are bits and pieces that make up the whole. But first one must know what the complete message is. ‘The Cross and Self-Denial’
Matthew 16:24-28 NRSV
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Mark 8:34-38
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Luke 9:23-27
Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
Effectually He was saying that IF ANY are willing to be crucified with Him those are considered His followers/disciples. He is the gate but the inscription above the gate says “No cross, no entry” And it was in a conversation to the crowds rather than disciples only so we can know that to was for everyone.
Then He gave 3 reasons that would serve their self-interest to entice their obedience.
Firstly He says that whosoever were to give up their pleasant natural life would receive the paradox of the spiritual life of the renewed soul. Whoever will make their aim in life to preserve their worldly pleasures will lose the higher calling of oneness with Christ in this life. The higher calling is for those who press on, not falling back to a darkened mindset. Hebrews 12:1-2, Ephesians 4:17-18
The profit: 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave, a place in the Potter’s field. From a slave to a Friend. The soul is too dear a price to pay for the world. Richer by far is the contented heart within the field of work that the Lord has placed you at the moment in the journey within His abode. Virtues are stimulated in the Hope set before them. Heroes ride on Hope in their dreams while focused on His Presence during the day.
His rewards are with Him at His return. For the suffering that fertilizes the heart’s growth. For enduring the cross and despising the shame wherefore He is not ashamed of those who are not ashamed of Him or His words in this adulterous and sinful generation.
Like Mr. Rodgers said to the neighbours , look for the helpers in the world, the cheerful helpful ones, rather than the vain prattlers of virtuous clouds that refresheth not.
Peace
