Walking with Jesus through Lent: Take Up Your Cross and Follow

Jesus challenges the hopelessly myopic focus of our human nature with the things that are on God’s heart. What could He be referring to? I think Jesus is arguing for a much bigger vision than power and control and glory in an earthly kingdom. He’s got a plan that encompasses salvation for the world. He’s moving toward the open arms of God at creation itself. He’s moving the earth from decay to recreation. The love and compassion that He displayed at every turn in His ministry is not just dessert; it’s the main course!

And so Jesus calls His disciples not to the path of glory, but to the path of the cross. He says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (vs. 34). He means this quite literally in one sense. The early Christians experienced a great deal of martyrdom. But through the credibility of a witness that would even confess Jesus unto death grew a Church empowered by the Holy Spirit. Without a doubt, the good news spread more quickly because of persecution.

Nothing that I do as an American Christian compares to the blood of the martyrs who died believing in Jesus (some of them quite recently). But I do believe this passage has something to teach me too, as a Christian who is privileged to live in a land of freedom. It has something to teach me in particular, bewitched as I can be by power, glory, convenience, and self.

This passage teaches me that being a Christian is not about guarding my own private kingdom. It’s not about power and glory. It sure as heck is not about an indignant culture war. It’s not about demanding my “due.” It’s also not about suffering for its own sake. The kind of suffering Jesus is describing here is not the cartoonish picture of self-flagellation for its own sake. Rather, it is suffering that emerges naturally as one goes about serving God and neighbor.

So what is living as a Christian all about? It’s about laying down my life (now I’m speaking figuratively, but maybe one day not) for God and others. It’s about serving others in love. It’s daring to die to the old and trusting God to raise me anew.

This passage is so very compelling. It’s the cross, not the glittery throne. It’s challenging and difficult and unnerving. But it’s beautiful too.

I find myself wondering: if the demonstrable shape of our Christian life was not a throne, but a cross, would more people be drawn to the beauty of Christ? Would more turn to Him in faith? Surely it is not a coincidence that mass conversions often happen during times of persecution. We are hungry for that which is so real that it would shine even in the midst of suffering.

What do you think? Is the cross the cure for what ails American Christianity? Do you find the call to take up the cross compelling–or do you recoil like Peter did? Or both? Why do think you react as you do? Have you ever met a Christian who–in the best possible sense–took up their cross to follow Jesus (in service to God and others)? I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

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