Need Help With That?

Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. "Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:23-27ESSV)

Jesus, in this passage, is telling us that not only He will suffer but his disciples, we, will suffer as well. This suffering will occur so that the abundance and glory of the Kingdom of God will manifest before us. We all know the image of "taking up our cross" comes from the notion of Christ's crucifixion. I try to remember in my suffering that Jesus had help carrying His cross. Although He was omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, Christ needed help here on earth. That help was the in the form of a man, Simon of Cyrene. If Christ had help, shouldn't we get help? Yes, we should, and we can. Christ is our helper in carrying our cross in this world.

Paul's Suffering

Paul is famous for how he carried his cross. Paul suffered, having been beaten, whipped, shipwrecked, and beheaded, so he always honored Christ and never denied the gospel. In 2 Corinthians 11:21-29 ESV, Paul wrote, "I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? Paul suffered much, ultimately giving his life for the gospel. Luke continues to recount Paul carrying his cross for Christ in the Book of Acts. Luke writes of the physical and verbal abuse suffered by Paul for Christ.

How Come We Carry Our Cross

When we willingly suffer for Christ, we display the outward fruit of our salvation through faith and repentance. Placing Christ first is what I call the Christ-centered life. We turn our focus from ourselves to Christ even though we know, in today's society, we may be ridiculed or persecuted. We are prepared to suffer. Living for Christ elevates our relationship with Him. Why would it not? He becomes our focus. We strive to walk with Him on His path. The more we do, the more we become a reflection of Him to others.

I saw an article where a pastor's son was charged with protesting because he was reading the gospel outside a library where a children's drag queen show was taking place. This son was the son of a pastor who spent 51 days in prison for preaching and gathering during COVID. There were also other protesters present who were not Christians, and the police did not charge them with any crimes. Persecution like this happened in Canada, but similar things are happening here. People are still carrying their cross for Christ.

We are not a Messiah

We are doomed to failure if we turn inward and seek salvation through ourselves. We cannot save ourselves; all we would do is try to extend our lives by any means. Jesus, however, made it known that his disciples must be willing to lay down their lives for Him, to refuse to deny his Lordship, to refuse to deny the gospel. These things are occurring in other parts of the world exist. Many Christians in other parts of the world are being martyred in the name of Christ. Jesus laid down his life for you; would you, as a believer, lay down your life for him?

In Luke 9:24, Jesus tells us what Paul knew and believed. When we lose our life for Christ, we gain our everlasting life with Christ. When we deny Christ and are ashamed of Him, we turn our backs on Him. However, when we carry our cross and refuse to deny Christ, He will not be ashamed of us; He will make us His own. We do not receive eternal life because laying down our life for Christ is seen as a merit worthy of heaven. On the contrary, our willingness is a sign of our faith that unites us to Him and is the basis of our salvation through which we receive eternal life.

Do You Love Me?

In Luke 22:54-62 Peter denied Christ three times. If we look at Christ after the resurrection in John 21:15-17, Jesus asks Peter three times if Peter loves Him. Each time Peter answers yes and grieves. Jesus asked Peter to feed his sheep. These three questions reminded Peter that he denied Christ thrice. Christianity is about dying. Christ restores our relationship with God so we can live our short lives on earth in Christ's name. In doing so, our reward is eternal life worshipping God. Let's live so that when we stand before the Lord, something we all will do, Christ does not have to ask if we love Him. Let us only hear, welcome my child, my good and faithful servant. Praise God!