TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

Have you ever read a book, other than the Bible, or a magazine article that lead to a breakthrough moment? Well, I have. I used to think that "carrying one's cross" was enduring some some unpleasant situation like dealing with a boss that you did not like or dealing with a chronic illness. My thinking changed when I read an article in the March/April 1998 issue of Moody magazine, “Freedom in Surrender”, by William D. Watkins. In the article Watkins writes what message the Roman Empire gave to the on-lookers at a crucifixion.

“Crucifixion was not a sentence handed our primarily for retribution: that purpose was secondary. The main reason for crucifying a person was deterrence. The Roman Empire tolerated a great deal of diversity of belief and practice, but it refused to put up with activities it deemed subversive. The state’s authority had to be upheld at all costs.

So rebels against the state were forced to submit publicly to the state’s final authority in order that others would think twice before opposing Rome. And what better way to do this than display the rebel’s submission through death by crucifixion - one of the most humiliating and excruciating forms of capital punishment?

Indeed, the rebel’s visible submission to Roman rule began even on the way to the execution site. Victims were forced to wear tablets around their necks stating the reason for their conviction. The condemned was also made to carry the crossbeam through public areas until he reached the execution site, which was also in public view. Once the condemned was hung on the cross, the conviction notice was nailed above his head so everyone could plainly see the fatal consequence of rebelling against Rome.

In other words, to people in Jesus’ day, cross-bearing and crucifixion meant submitting to the authority one had rebelled against. When Jesus used this imagery, the authority He had in mind was not Rome but heaven, not the Emperor but the Father, not Caesar but Jesus Christ himself. ….”

It was impressed upon me how important it was for the Roman government that the public had to know to whom the victim was submitting. Does the public know to whom we as believers are submitting?

Let’s look at Mark 8:34 -37 with these ideas of Watkins in mind.
Mark 8:34And 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. 35For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37For what can a man give in return for his soul? ESV

Mark 8:34-37Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for? MSG

Denying yourself means ceasing to rebel against God, letting Him be in charge, or as the Message says letting God be in the driver’s seat. Denying ourselves allows us to discover our true selves, the unique ones that God wants us to be.

Tell me what you think.