[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Mark 8:34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
There is a price to pay for following Christ. When a person comes to faith in Jesus one of the first encounters they may have in their walk of faith is the reality that following Christ is not free. It may reveal itself in a variety ways. Maybe, unbelieving family will ridicule. Maybe, unbelieving friends will not understand or cease communication. Maybe, the person has come to faith from another belief system that causes shunning or persecution. These are all very common and for many adult believers it is expected and endured with patience.
The price that seems to cause great struggles for Christians is when the relational cost comes from those who are of the faith. When a brother or sister fails, lies, betrays or hurts them without repentance it is unexpected and can leave deep wounds. When these kind of wounds come from within the believing community, it can be a knock-out blow to many of the faith. The context of Mark 8 confirms this to be true.
In this summary verse, the Savior speaks to the crowd and His disciples having endured on-going taunts and ridicule from the one group who should have accepted and believed in Him; the Jewish leaders of the day. Jesus knew relationships would challenge us. He himself was challenged by His family and His own disciples. Taking up the cross He spoke of meant a true denial of perceived and realized rights in relationships and authority.
With that in mind, here are seven things you can expect from Cross-centered living:
- It will be inequitable – Mama said, life’s not fair. It will not be fair, but it will be just in God’s economy. Jesus didn’t deserve the cross however, He chose it for you.
- It will be hurtful – The cross represents pain. Not just any pain, excruciating pain and humiliation. Jesus knew His destiny was this type of pain, and He knows that we will be hurt as well.
- It will require humility and long-suffering – Jesus knew that His very own would reject him. He knew that His own disciples and family would hide their face from Him. He endured the years of being misunderstood and ridiculed. He focused on His father and His mission then loved people in spite of who the really were all the way to Calvary.
- It will set you free – Jesus knew the end of the story was not the cross but resurrection. Taking the cross to follow Jesus has a goal. It will lead to freedom now to endure but also ultimate freedom of trusting God for the end result. He is setting you free through suffering. Remember, our suffering pales in comparison to what He did for us.
- It is the path to joy – Taking up a cross is the height of irony. The symbol of suffering and shame is also the path to earthly and eternal joy. Following Jesus and sharing in His suffering produces joy as Paul teaches the Philippians. The most enduring and joyful believers have most often suffered deeply.
- It is good for you – Taking the cross is for your good. It is bringing you closer to Jesus and is allowing you to see through His eyes. Jesus despised the shame of the cross and saw it as not only His calling and mission, but His path to pleasing the father. He did it for us and taking up your cross will be good for you.
- It is making you more like Jesus – Whatever “your cross” looks like, it has the singular purpose of sanctification. It is there for a reason, and discerning believers will ask God, not why, but what. What is it that God desires to do in me, through me, and for the Gospel in each circumstance? It is making you more like Jesus everyday should you pay attention to its work.
Taking up the cross is not natural, easy or desired in the flesh. However, for the believer who wishes to follow it becomes the path to the greatest joy one can know. What relationships or circumstances are leaving you with the choice to resist and run from the cross of Christ or heeding the words of your Savior in taking it up and following Him? What will you choose?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]