Take Up the Cross

Read Mark 8:31-9:1
³¹ And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³² And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³ But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." ³⁴ And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. ³⁶ For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ³⁷ For what can a man give in return for his soul? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." ¹ And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."

Mark records Jesus’ words, which very plainly tell us that the call to follow him is a radical call to discipleship. Despite the way many choose to package the Christian faith, it is not about, “your best life now.” It is in fact the opposite. We are called to submit to God’s will, even when that is difficult or painful. We are called to accept whatever burdens or troubles come with being a follower and imitator of Christ. We are not called to a safe and secure life which avoids all discomforts. But while we carry our crosses, we rest in the confident hope of his cross. We know that despite what we may lose or endure in this life, we have gained life in Christ.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (Philippians 2:8)