A cross for me

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24

There is a difference between knowing that Christ was on a cross for me and knowing that on the same cross He asks me to die with Him. What does that mean?

Some people take this literally. Every Good Friday outside of Manila, a few well-meaning but misinformed individuals actually allow themselves to be crucified – for a few brief moments. Then the person goes to the river to wash, thinking the water that washes away the blood will also wash away his sins.

But they are misled. That is not what Christ meant. When Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him, and furthermore, to do it daily, it isn’t a “once and that’s it” sort of thing, but something we have to wrestle with every day. But the very image Jesus used – that of crucifixion – disturbed His disciples, even as it disturbs us today. Why? The cross was lethal. Once a man bore his cross, his future plans died, his hopes were dashed, and his future darkened. It was only a matter of time for the end to be played out.

A.W. Tozer wrote, “The man with a cross no longer controls his destiny; he lost control when he picked up his cross. That cross immediately became to him an all-absorbing interest, an overwhelming interference. No matter what he may desire to do, there is but one thing he can do; that is, move on toward the place of crucifixion.”

The Cross releases the resurrection power of Jesus in your life. The paradox is that putting your agenda on the cross is the only way to release you to be what He designed you to be. That freedom allows you to experience the power of Christ’s life in you. Only then can you say, “To die is gain!”