A Journey to the Cross: Walking Toward Jesus this Easter
Then he said to them all, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
We have all had our share of burdens and struggles. And for some of us, these hardships we have had to carry for a very long time. In fact, in some instances, we might have considered them our cross to bear.
Have you ever heard the expression, “This illness (fill in the blank), is my cross to carry.” “This wayward child or estranged family relationship, is my cross to bear.” “This addiction (mine or that of a family member) is my cross to carry”?
While these are very hard things (and the list could go on), the cross that Jesus spoke of was NOT the burdens or struggles we carry. Jesus spoke of something so much deeper…bigger. Jesus spoke of a way of life that called for His followers to deny themselves every day.
What Did Jesus Mean?
Earlier Jesus had a conversation with the disciples about who people thought he was. Some said John the Baptist, some said Elijah. Then He asked them who they thought he was. Peter answered, “the Messiah.” His disciples recognized him as the Christ. Luke 9:18-20
After this proclamation, Jesus then went on to tell them that He will suffer greatly, be rejected by the religious leaders, crucified and rise on the third day. Luke 9:21-22
While Peter was the spokesperson here, it is an individual assertion to accept Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. This begins our journey…our walk as one of His disciples. In our journey we will be rejected, we will suffer, we must deny our self. We must become willing to die to self. This is what Jesus meant.
Culturally a cross represented execution by crucifixion. It meant death. In New Testament times, a criminal would be hung up to die (by asphyxiation) when staked to the cross by their hands and feet. It was considered a terrible and painful way to die.
So when we pick up our cross to follow Jesus, we must die to the things of the world. When the world says live for yourself, you deserve happiness; Jesus and the cross teach us to be self-less, to walk in obedience to His will for that brings true peace and joy. When we have been wronged, the world says you have a right to be angry and hold onto unforgiveness; Jesus and the cross teach us to love our enemies, to serve them, forgive them. Matthew 5:44 Luke 6:35 When the world says to work harder, buy more things, Jesus and the cross teach us to work as if we are working for the Lord and come to Him for rest. Colossians 3:23 Matthew 11:28
How can we live this way?
The cross makes it possible.
Jesus carrying our sins to the cross makes it possible. He dying and then rising on the third day is sufficient. And let’s not forget about the helper He promised us, the Holy Spirit. John 16:7. Loving our enemies, serving the poor, sharing our faith, and proclaiming the good news of Jesus even in persecution and rejection, is possible. In fact, it is what we are called to do as disciples. We can follow Jesus in this capacity because He is with us. He is our strength and helper to live courageously and boldly.
Your Journey to the cross this Easter
Scripture Reflection:
Matthew 10:38-39
1 Corinthians 15:12-32
Ephesians 4:24
Reflection Questions:
- What does losing your life for the sake of Christ mean to you? And then finding your life in Christ, how might your life begin to change?
- In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul speaks about the significance of the resurrection…that if Jesus had not been raised from the dead, his preaching is useless, his faith is dead, and he would be dead in his sins. Because of what Jesus did, Paul can face death every day. How does understanding this same truth over your life, lead you to the live a more crucified life for Jesus? What kind of, if any, freedom does this bring to your life?
- In carrying your cross for Jesus, how is the Holy Spirit prompting you to let go of old desires or old ways of thinking? What has to happen daily for you to put on your “new self”?
