What's unusual about this statement? .................................... Time's up! Give up?
Jesus said this to his disciples BEFORE cavalry; before he died on the cross! He told his followers to "take up his cross" right after saying this:
Matthew 16:21 "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day."
Jesus, being God; being omniscient, knew all about his own fate! He knew why he was here. It was all about dying. It was all about the "cross". The Latin cross was a simple wooden upright extending somewhat above it's transom. This is the cross we think of because that's Rome's historical cross. Why does an instrument of destruction have such reverence? (A modern equivalence would be the electric chair!) Why is the cross venerated so much?
The answer. That's where all the sins of mankind (ever) converged on the back of one frail man who paid the penalty for all:
Romans 5:6 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
2 Corinthians 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
The last two passages is what the cross means. There Jesus died "for the ungodly". "Christ died for us". Since everyone has sinned, that's everyone. Jesus died for ALL on the cross. Furthermore, an innocent man; one who had never sinned, God "made him to be sin for us"! The sin of all time was gathered right there and disposed of. Sin died on the back of Jesus as he died on that cross. The cross is the symbol of our redemption. Nothing should be more important to anyone than what happened right there; and Jesus knew in advance wat he was to do and told many about it before it happened. He didn't plan his own death. He knew just knew what he had to do!
God plans ahead! Back at the creation before mankind disobeyed, he "planted" two trees:
Genesis 2:9 "And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil."
The "tree of life also was in the midst of the garden". We know from Luke that "tree" was symbolic of Jesus:
Acts 5:30 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree."
Although I was amazed that Jesus spoke of dying on the cross before his death, he knew of it at the creation! The prophets knew that Jesus was born to die and all the faithful Jews knew that too!
There are "Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith". Number 12 reads: "The belief in the arrival of the Messiah and the messianic era."
Based on prophecy and the Old Testament Jews do believe in the coming of Christ. They just don't believe it's happened yet! Why? Because they misunderstand the entire concept of the Trinity! Just as they persecuted Jesus in his time for claiming to "BE GOD", they still see Christians as heretical for believing in Jesus, because in their minds "Jesus was a liar!" To convert a person who is of a strong Jewish faith is a miracle. No wonder the angels sing when one person is saved!
The cross as a medium for death was not used until the advent of the Roman Empire yet the prophets wrote of it before the Roman Empire even existed! How could a nomadic Bedouin have the fortitude to suggest that Jesus would die on a cross when that manner of death was yet to exist? By "divine inspiration" is the correct answer!
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (from Matthew 6:24).
How do we, as mere men, "take up his cross", especially the one they yet knew nothing? What were they supposed to do? Today it's relatively clear. To them it was a puzzle, but if they were truly disciples they had an inkling. They were to convert others. They were to tell others about Jesus! Why would Jesus tell them to "take up the cross" as he was about to do? He knew that like him, his devoted followers would be persecuted!
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (from Matthew 6:24).
How do we, as mere men, "take up his cross", especially the one they yet knew nothing? What were they supposed to do? Today it's relatively clear. To them it was a puzzle, but if they were truly disciples they had an inkling. They were to convert others. They were to tell others about Jesus! Why would Jesus tell them to "take up the cross" as he was about to do? He knew that like him, his devoted followers would be persecuted!
John 15:19 "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me."
Yes, if you're a Christian, the "world" will hate you. Just as they persecuted Jesus, true Christians will taste hate as well. Each time our governement or secular humanists attack us, our faith, our actions or our motives, I think of "taking up his cross". If we're not feeling the hate that Jesus felt, are we vocal enough in our ministry? Yes, we all have a ministry. It's to tell others about Jesus so that they too can be saved!
Jesus was telling his followers "You must be committed. It won't be easy. Others will hurt you for believing in me!" The paramount persecution will be by the end-of-time (Apocalyoptic) government. Christians who fail to follow the new god, "The Anti-Christ" will be beheaded! During the French Revolution the Jacobans gave Christians, including the clergy, two choices: renounce your faith or be beheaded. Many of the faithful lost their heads, but most renounced their faith! "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak"!
"Take up your cross"! Feel some heat! Some friends will even turn their backs on you, but if you love them, tell them about Jesus. The same goes for relatives. One atheist said (in paraphrase) "If Christians truly believed what they say they believe, they wouldn't be able to sleep nights because the friends they love are going to hell!" So true! We must be more committed. We must "take up His cross"!
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