Take Up My Cross?

We are approaching one of the most important celebrations of our year. Followers of Christ from all around the world will celebrate Jesus’s perfect life, death, resurrection, and ascension. The celebration of Easter is a sobering reminder of God’s deep love for humanity and the ultimate sacrifice he made so that we could have forgiveness from sin and eternal life.

This Easter, as we consider Christ’s sacrifice, forgiveness, and our eternal reward, I encourage you to reflect on Jesus’s words in Matthew 16:24-25: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Do we really believe our need to take up our cross and follow Jesus? Do we take these words literally? Are we willing to lay down our personal desires, aspirations, and our very life on this earth to follow Jesus? 

Our human nature tells us life is better when it’s about us. But the God of all creation declares life is best when we surrender it to him, die to ourselves, and find new life in Christ.

Pastor Mark often summarizes the gospel in four short points: “God is holy, I am not, Jesus saves, and Christ is my life.” This final point does not say “I am my life.” Only with Christ as our life can we take up our cross daily and follow him.

This Easter season, as we celebrate the magnificent work of Christ, let us not forget the new life he calls us to live in him.