A Plethora of Pasta...

Good stuff last Sunday! We discussed the portion of Luke 9 in which we find Peter's great confession and some of Jesus' teaching on the cross- the cross of Christ, and the cross of the believer / follower. (Luke 9:18-26)

I especially enjoyed the discussion we had about who you say Jesus is. Remember the questions Jesus posed to the disciples- "Who do the crowds say I am?" and "Who do you say I am?". Those are the questions he asked then. But it is interesting to ask those same questions now. It is interesting to sit back and take note of how the rest of the world reacts to Jesus, and it is good for us to verbalize our own thoughts on the subject every once in a while. I consider it an honor to have the chance to hear people like all of you express your heart and speak of who Jesus is. I don't know how it is for you, but sometimes when I read scriptures like that I can just see Jesus looking straight into my eyes and asking me the question- "Who do YOU say I am?"

Immediately following Peter's confession in the passage, Jesus began to talk of all that he would have to endure, and he began to talk about the cross of the believer- the cross we all must take up daily. On Sunday, we did not really get to talk about that part of it- taking up our cross. I would like to offer a few thoughts here and, as always, comments and discussion are welcome!

First I have to say that while we have to we have been directed to take up our cross daily, (Luke 9: 23), whatever we have to endure that is associated with our "cross" is nothing compared to what Christ endured. Try as we might, we cannot grasp what Jesus has suffered. I would never dare to compare anything I experience to what he did. But having said that, there is a cross for the believer, and I think that it is characterized by a handful of properties.

1. Although different, the believers cross is directly related to the Cross of Christ.

The cross Jesus bore came complete with a full compliment of shame, guilt, pain, anguish, hardship... the list goes on and on. I already said that nothing that we bear compares to Jesus' sacrifice, but because our cross is related to his cross, it will come with its share of hardship and pain as well. We need not think that taking up our cross daily ends with morning devotionals. If we truly follow, at one time or another, there will be pain. I don't think I am telling you anything you don't already know.

2. The cross of the believer is more than external

We sometimes see our cross as those external things that come our way- sickness, accident, family turmoil, etc. Sometimes we say, "well, that's just the cross I have been given to bear." I won't argue that external things are part of it, but I think if we stop there, then we do not understand the full meaning of the cross. The full meaning of the cross has to include the internal as well. Luke 9 says we must deny ourselves.

1 John 3:16 says:

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

Romans 12:1-2 says

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The cross is not the cross unless it includes an intentional setting aside of the self.

3. The cross of the believer is based on this principle: "to lose your life is to save it."

We all have thoughts and feelings about our security. We look out for the future and try to make wise decisions now so that we will be "OK" later. Nothing wrong with that. But the best way to be spiritually secure is to stop thinking about ourselves. It is an interesting thing to consider approaching each day by saying, "as long as I genuinely give myself to others for the sake of Jesus, I don't have to worry about anything."

I don't know about you, but I am not as good about that as I would like.

4. The cross is repulsive and will never be attractive to the world.

Let's face it. On the surface, from a strictly human view, this whole "deny self" thing sounds pretty bad. It is not something that will ever look attractive to the world. It is only through divine assistance that we come to any understanding of this cross. We can only accept this with God's help. On my own, I would size up this whole "Jesus" thing, and walk away. Which is exactly what many people have done- both then and now. Praise God that He has given me enough understanding to make the cross attractive to me.

There is a beauty to the cross, but I cannot see it with my own eyes. It is only because God breathes life into me each day that I can catch a glimpse of the glory of the cross, and make the decision, every day, to take it up, and walk.

Just Keep Swimming...

Jon