He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it…” Mark 8
This and its equivalents in the other Gospels have been a steady part of my spiritual diet for over 30 years. It is the Gospel reading for the 2nd Sunday of Lent. It will certainly show up again, or something like it, as we journey to Good Friday.
Take up your cross and follow me.
A first century Jew would certainly understand it better than me. The only crosses 21st century Christians see are the ornate ones you might find in a sanctuary procession, or those that adorn the necks of rock stars. Nothing real sinister about those.
Clarence Jordan, the author of “The Cotton Patch Gospels,” equated the cross with a noose hanging in a tree. Again, another image that most of us don’t understand. Most of us are far removed from the violence of the civil rights movement, and we don’t understand lynch mob mentality.
As Father Tim suggested at St. Andrew’s this morning-what we understand is a comfortable Christianity. We want the crown and the glory of the faith, but don’t want the sacrifice, nor the scandal of the cross. We want the joy of the Resurrection without the agony of Good Friday. The problem is, if we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, we don’t get one without the other.
Dallas Willard, in “The Divine Conspiracy,” writes that this 1st century concept makes no sense to those of us who live in Christian comfort because much of what Christians hear about “taking up the cross” does not get specific or practical. I would paraphrase his prescription for this disconnect we live to be introducing the Church again to spiritual disciplines and practices.
How do you take up your cross daily and practically? By considering the ancient practices of fasting, prayer and self-denial. By committing ourselves to service for others and giving of our resourcces and time.
Here are some resources for consideration as you ponder the meaning of “taking up your cross”: