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 "If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross and follow me." (Matt. 16:24)
Becoming
a Christian, and living the life of a Christian, are often
summed up in such "package" statements; but this has
long been a favorite of mine. Jesus made the statement after
telling his disciples that He must die. Peter objected, saying,
"Be it far from thee, lord;" but Jesus said such talk
was Satanic — "for thou savourest not the things that be
of God, but those that be of men."
"Then
said Jesus — " leaving His own course, and yet
predicating the hope of others upon his example — "If
anyone wills to come after me —." The three essentials of
this journey are: (1) farewell (to self); (2) carry our baggage
(the cross); and (3) the continuous process of travel (follow
me). (Godet) Each portion of the whole fills its own special
purpose: complete denial of "self" so that we may live
for Christ; and the "patient continuance in well
doing," (Rom. 2:7) the "long haul" where so many
are tempted to change the course rather than follow Christ
faithfully. These things we understand, if only superficially,
and accept as essentials in the Christian life. But what of our
"cross"?
Despite
the close association with Christ's literal death, such a cross
is not enjoined upon us. Ours must be a "living
sacrifice" (Rom.12:1). And yet it is "sacrifice"
-- the willing acceptance of burden "for Christ's
sake" that might be, and sometimes is, as big as life
itself. Paul wrote, "I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth
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in me: —" (Gal. 2:20).
Sickness,
toothaches, and business reversals do not constitute the
"cross." Christ bore His cross willingly, deliberately;
not as one bearing pain with gritted teeth. We are sometimes
near-sacrilegious in claiming as our "cross" something
we bring upon ourselves by bombastic arrogance.
Christ
bore His cross for the good of others, not to satisfy some
martyr complex. The Middle-Age ascetics who lived in caves,
starved themselves, or crawled on bleeding knees up some
"holy" mountain "had their reward" —
self-pity and praise of similarly deluded people. But our
"cross" must be carried so that others may hear, obey,
and live. How desperately we need the spirit of the small boy
who carried a cripple on his back. "He ain't heavy, he's my
brother!"
Christ died, and we must live for people who do not deserve it.
This is a good thing to remember when our efforts are repulsed,
scorned, rejected. Here is the "cross." Long hours of
prayer and preparation are presented to shallow-minded ingrates.
Earnest pleadings are cast aside as "fanatic" or
"Anti-ravings." Those we love most deny us. Do we
"revile again" or do we "bear our cross"? It
may deepen your appreciation for the first cross if you will
remember, the next time you are truly penitent and ask God to
forgive your sinful ways, that Christ died for such worms
as you and me.
CAN
I TRULY DENY SELF, FOLLOW NY LORD, WITHOUT A CROSS UPON MY
SHOULDER?
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