I received a question last week that I didn’t answer immediately. I had to ponder it a while. I had to ponder it because it actually was a great question, especially for the season of Lent which began this past Wednesday.
The question was, “When He says pick up your cross and follow me, is that referring to laying down things of this world and utilizing our gifts to serve Him?”
I initially assumed that the asker was referring to the time Jesus encountered the “rich young ruler” in Mark 10:
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
Mark 10: 20 – 21
but, I remembered that Luke’s Gospel was an encounter with all the disciples, and that it carried a broader idea than Mark’s encounter:
22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9: 22 – 23
I initially wanted to answer, “Yes,” to the question, but that would have been the easy answer, but I’m not so sure it is the correct answer. As I’ve pondered the question over the past week, I think the correct answer lies in grasping the concept of suffering…a concept not too many of us want to think much about. We like our easy life (and let’s confess, most of us have it pretty easy in these United States of America), and we want to keep it that way.
Actually, there are a lot of preachers of the prosperity gospel who tell us if we’re not having a great easy life, it’s because we don’t have enough faith. But, that subject is for another blog post. I’m rather certain that if any believers in or purveyors of the prosperity gospel read this that they will vehemently disagree with me. Oh, well!
For Jesus, the call to his disciples to “take up the cross” was a call to enter with Him into His suffering. He’s fairly clear on that matter. He says that, “The Son of Man must suffer many things…”
So? Let’s talk about suffering! Such a fun topic, right? Who wants to suffer? Suffering is so un-American, right? This is the land of opportunity and so many of us have done so well “suffering for Jesus.”
I mean, really, if anyone should be suffering, surely it would be those called by God to serve in ministry, right? Ha! I was 28 years in vocational ministry and I never missed a meal. All my bills were paid and I put up a nice little nest egg for retirement. Actually, I was doing pretty well at the end of my vocational ministry journey…pulling in six figures and all that. Yeah, I often wondered if I was worth what I was making (those who were paying me were probably thinking the same thing), and I often thought, “I can’t believe they pay me this much to do what I do.” Yup! I’d call that suffering for Jesus!
Please don’t take this as a knock on those who are serving in vocational ministry (and doing well doing so). It is not intended to be that. I know very well what Paul told Timothy:
17 The elders who lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
1 Timothy 5: 17 – 18 (NASB)
But, I also know what Paul told the church at Corinth:
15 I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.
2 Cor. 12: 15 (NLT)
Taking both of those passages in their context, one would have to say John Wesley had it right: “Gain all you can…save all you can…give all you can.” (For the full context of Wesley, click here).
I don’t mean to make this blog about money, either earning or giving. I’m just tying to answer a question that is not an easy question to answer. So, let me try to answer the question: I believe that the idea of “taking up our cross daily” is about entering the suffering of Jesus. It is about joining Jesus in His death so that we might also join Him in His life…eternal life.
Three things I would note about suffering:
First, suffering is to be expected. Jesus was pretty clear on that matter. Remember what He told His disciples in John’s gospel?
33 These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
John 16: 33 (NASB)
Second, suffering builds character. In this, Paul (Romans 5: 3-5), James (James 1: 2-4) and Peter (1 Peter 1: 6-7) are all in agreement. Our suffering is not in vain! Just as there was a purpose behind the suffering of Jesus, there is purpose behind our suffering.
Third, suffering is only temporary. One of the best quotes I ever heard was “Jesus could face the cross because He saw beyond it.” Jesus looked at the cross with the resurrection is sight. The Apostle Paul was able to see the resurrection as well. I love his counsel to the Corinthian church:
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4: 16 – 18 (NIV)
It is hard for us to see past the cross, especially during the season of Lent. Remember, though, we can’t get to Easter without going through the cross.
No, we in western culture have had the benefit of a couple of centuries of Christian influence that has prevented us from enduring too much suffering on Jesus’ behalf. Perhaps that time is coming to an end and the suffering Jesus warned His first century disciples about may soon be upon us. Who knows?
I know that if it is, we should embrace it, learn what it is that Jesus wants us to learn, serve Him faithfully through it and come out the other side of it spiritually renewed bringing glory and honor to Him and building the Kingdom through it all. We should “take up the cross” and follow Him.
I’m not sure that answered the guy’s question, but at least the question prompted me to think. Maybe I have a little more thinking to do.
Until next time, keep looking up…
Not the Perfect Pastor 