Hebraic Musing – Jesus told us to “Take Up His Cross Daily.” Why?
As
Jesus was predicting His own death and resurrection he told His followers “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23 NKJV.
Jesus made four clear points in that well-known instruction.
First, He is addressing those who want
to come
after Him, to follow Him, and who will therefore lead a
crucified life. That was His call to ALL
Christians, and it includes recognition that persecution is coming, resulting
in a form of crucifixion (and a resurrection). Is there a relationship between those two key
words?
“Persecution” - the act of harassing, oppressing, or killing people
because of their difference from society. Persecution is cruel and unfair treatment of a
person or group, especially because of their religious or political beliefs, or
their race.
“Crucifixion” – a. the crucifying of Christ; b. extreme and painful punishment,
affliction, or suffering.
The Second point describes consequences of
following Christ. One must deny himself. Jesus is asking us to die to ourselves. He is Lord, and we no longer belong to
ourselves. What does “making Jesus our
Lord” mean?
In
Phil.3:10-11 Paul said he suffered “that I may know Him and the power of His
resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” And Paul recognizes his crucifixion in
Gal.2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live,
but Christ lives in me; …”
Jesus
had more to say about denying oneself in Luke 9:25-26. “For what profit
is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of
him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His
Father's, and of the holy angels.”
The
Third point Jesus makes is to tell
us to “take
up His cross daily.” Paul recognizes that the crucified
Christ lives in him. “But God forbid that
I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world
has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Gal. 6:14 Key
point – Jesus tells His followers to do this daily! Have a daily funeral dying to oneself; AND a daily
resurrection as you live for him each day; a pattern right from the Old
Testament’s daily offerings
commanded in Numbers 28:1-8 and repeated in Exod. 29:38 “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first
year, day by day
continually. One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other
lamb you shall offer at twilight….”
The
Fourth point is Jesus’ finale. He wants us to “Follow
Me.” What might that
mean? A - Jesus had to carry His cross
all the way through the city and out to the gate. Can we carry His cross all day and everywhere?
Jesus
did not expect following Him to be easy for us, but He did promise a reward. Paul
reflected on his reward “that I may know
Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the
resurrection from the dead.” Phil.3:10
Points
to ponder
Is His cross
too heavy for you?
What might
happen if umpteen times a day we were to ask ourselves WWJD?
“Daily”
appears 59 times in the Bible (NKJV).
Might that be significant?
How often should we offer ourselves to our Lord?
Does putting
on Jesus once a week qualify one as a follower of Jesus?
What does
America and the world look like from Jesus view on the cross?
♫ Just a
closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus,
is my plea, Daily walking close to Thee,
… ♫
Yosef a.k.a.
Joe Brusherd February
9, 2021
Author: “Hebraic
Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)” Weekly “Hebraic Musings” insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/
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