Friday October 14, 2011

Read: Luke 9:22-27

 

When I think of putting on a cross, or taking up a cross, I often think of jewellery - perhaps a gold plated cross on a gold plated box chain. Rarely if ever do I think of taking up the cross as Jesus meant it to be.

 

To understand the idiom of taking up one’s cross we need only remember that graffiti, crude graffiti, have been discovered in ruins of Roman provinces. It was vulgar and disgusting and was not the discussion or talking point of polite society. Ordinary folk avoided the concept and the thought of crucifixion.

 

As Jesus taught the disciples about His death, He may have seen someone being led to the site of crucifixion in the distance. Having said that He was about to be killed He hints at His own death by commanding that His followers must follow Him and take up their cross! Becoming a follower of Jesus is synonymous with dying, with giving up one’s life and handing it over to Jesus in full.

 

We need to be clear. Taking up the one’s cross was not like going to court where you would be able to have your say and perhaps, if you mount enough evidence, get let off! There was no reprieve from the cross. When you took it up you were a dead man walking. The only future you had was death!

 

Jesus lays down three concepts and truths in one verse! Look again at vs 23 and see if you can find three things you are meant to be doing! We have to deny ourselves. Take up our cross and we must follow Jesus. Unfortunately in our super spiritual western world, we have spiritualised this command and turned into a call to flimsy discipleship - exactly what Bonheoffer  called cheap grace.

 

To take up one’s cross means to be ready to die. It means a certain death. If you are ready to die, will you not give willingly and readily to those in need? To deny oneself is to put one’s needs and desires at the bottom of the list, not the top. While it could mean spending a bit more time praying and other such spiritual activities, it will equally mean giving food to the poor, giving clothes off our back to the needy and maybe even a room for the homeless! It may mean walking beside the lepers of our society or not having that luxury item so that the children in the hospital can have a few nice Christmas presents. It may mean forsaking family time over Christmas day to cook a lunch for the down and outs. Following Jesus is more than just trying to pray and read our Bibles regularly. Following Jesus means walking the road that He walked. He came to serve and not to be served. Check out Mark 10:45. He gave of himself. He spent Himself for others. He had compassion on the crowds and met their needs.  He loved others with His very life.

 

Make no mistake about it. If we are going to be serious about our faith and if we are to do justice to Scripture in our lives then we have to rethink our application of Scripture. Let’s make Jesus our model of application and let’s imitate Him as much as we can!

 

With your cell group think of a way that you can take up your cross, deny yourself and follow Jesus this Christmas. Start planning now.

Prayer Points:

> Pray that God would continue to draw students to Himself on campuses throughout Australia.