ELDER LADY CARMEN GREENE

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?
Mark 8:34-37 (ESV)

Have you ever heard someone say, “That is just the cross I have to bear”? This phrase mean that there is some sort of burden or difficult situation that someone is dealing with. There is a ring of truth to this statement, as we can see from Mark 8:34-37. However, this Scripture teaches us that taking up our cross is not a burden, but a gift because of the joy that comes from following Jesus.

Following Jesus involves a life of sacrifice and obedience. In order to obey Jesus, we must lay aside our desires. We must lay aside what the world tells us to do or what will make us happy; and listen to Jesus’s commands instead. Sacrificing ourselves in this way is difficult, but it is worth it. When we give up everything for Jesus and folllow Him, we receive eternal life. The life that Jesus gives us also impacts our present, as we are able to live with hope, peace and joy because of the salvation we have received through Christ.

We remember how Jesus sacrificed His life for us on the cross. He suffered so that we do not have to experience the punishment for our sin. But even though Jesus died on the cross, He rose from the dead three days later and was crowned with glory (Hebrews 2:9). The gospel shows us that glory is on the other side of the cross. Therefore, as believers, we can take up our crosses for Christ, knowing that our life of obedience and sacrifice will finish in eternity with our great Savior. The life of discipleship to Christ that involves sacrifice is worth the cost because of the life we gain in and through Christ. So let us joyfully take up our crosses, making sacrifices for Jesus in light of His great sacrifice on our behalf.

Reflection: Why is taking up your cross for Jesus worth it? How does the truth of the life Jesus gives you encourage your obedience to Him?

Prayer: Lord, please, help us to be willing to take up our cross and carry it. We know and believe that there is grace for us, through Christ, in this act of obedience. Amen!