Taking Up Christ's Cross

“They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.” Thus John 19:17 records a dark moment in the history of man almost two thousand years ago.

Just a few years ago millions of people were able to watch that scene again when the movie, “The Passion of Christ” was released. And people were - and still are - affected in many ways from watching that graphic portrayal.

In Matthew 10:38 Jesus says, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 16:24 says, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.’”

You see, there’s more to just watching a movie or talking about Jesus carrying His cross to Golgotha and being nailed there for the sins of the world. That isn’t going to do me any good unless I am willing to take up the cross and carry it daily.

Jesus didn’t ask me to be nailed to a cross. He didn’t ask me to die for Him, although it could come to that and has for many who have died for their faith in Christ. We know that Christians in all ages have been persecuted in many ways. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:12 that “all who desire to live godly will suffer persecution.” And in Revelation 2:10, Jesus said, “be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

But, most of all, Jesus asks me to LIVE for Him. And sometimes that becomes more of a challenge than standing in front of someone holding a gun to my head and asking if I believe in Jesus. Consider again the words of Paul in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” We are to be crucified with Jesus but not in the physical way.

Jesus doesn’t ask me to walk the Vis Dolorosa but rather the everyday paths my life leads me to walk. And because He carried that cross and gave Himself up to be crucified, He is able to help me in that walk. Ephesians 4:1 says that we are to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, …” And Jesus calls clearly by His sacrifice on the cross. He calls for us to take up our cross daily and follow Him.

Are you walking with Him? Have you taken up the cross? Daily?

See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.

Love, Tony