Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Matthew 16:24-25 NIV
I have tried to understand this from the perspective of the people who first heard it. When Jesus said this to his disciples, what did they think he was saying about taking up their cross?
Today I read something that has helped me a little bit. It was the Roman way to force the criminal to carry the instrument of their own death to their place of execution. One place I read that the condemned likely carried the crossbeam rather than the whole cross which could weigh 300 pounds or more. The crossbeam was a more manageable 45 - 50 pounds. The upright posts may have already been in place of final execution. The condemned "carried" the crossbeam that may have been tied or nailed to them.
Based on this information, I have some thoughts.
1) We are to take up our cross - not be forced to carry our lot but rather volunteer to carry the load given to us.
2) Jesus was unable to carry his crucifixion cross all the way and had to have help - so we can get help and accept help from Jesus Christ.
3)We are condemned criminals - We would not have a cross to carry if we weren't condemned criminals. Thank God for Jesus that we when we accept His sacrifice, we are no longer condemned but free to carry the cross of self-sacrifice for others.
4) We are asked to carry the cross - take it with us from one place to another. To carry the cross of self-sacrifice to help others.
5) Jesus offers us the method of our execution - He is the tool that we are able to use to rid ourselves of the things that tie us to our sinful nature. Jesus is our way of executing our sinful nature.
6) I can carry Jesus with me to the place where I execute my sinful nature anywhere and anytime it shows up.
7) The crossbeam can represent my relationship with other people while the upright post represents my relationship with God. I should carry the crossbeam, or my relationship with others, with me daily as an act of self-sacrifice for others.
I'm certain there is more to what the disciples got from the command to carry their crosses. The Bible is so layered. But this is a start to understanding another level - not just self-sacrifice or tolerating persecution. I'll try my best to voluntarily pick up my cross and to carry it.
I have tried to understand this from the perspective of the people who first heard it. When Jesus said this to his disciples, what did they think he was saying about taking up their cross?
Today I read something that has helped me a little bit. It was the Roman way to force the criminal to carry the instrument of their own death to their place of execution. One place I read that the condemned likely carried the crossbeam rather than the whole cross which could weigh 300 pounds or more. The crossbeam was a more manageable 45 - 50 pounds. The upright posts may have already been in place of final execution. The condemned "carried" the crossbeam that may have been tied or nailed to them.
Based on this information, I have some thoughts.
1) We are to take up our cross - not be forced to carry our lot but rather volunteer to carry the load given to us.
2) Jesus was unable to carry his crucifixion cross all the way and had to have help - so we can get help and accept help from Jesus Christ.
3)We are condemned criminals - We would not have a cross to carry if we weren't condemned criminals. Thank God for Jesus that we when we accept His sacrifice, we are no longer condemned but free to carry the cross of self-sacrifice for others.
4) We are asked to carry the cross - take it with us from one place to another. To carry the cross of self-sacrifice to help others.
5) Jesus offers us the method of our execution - He is the tool that we are able to use to rid ourselves of the things that tie us to our sinful nature. Jesus is our way of executing our sinful nature.
6) I can carry Jesus with me to the place where I execute my sinful nature anywhere and anytime it shows up.
7) The crossbeam can represent my relationship with other people while the upright post represents my relationship with God. I should carry the crossbeam, or my relationship with others, with me daily as an act of self-sacrifice for others.
I'm certain there is more to what the disciples got from the command to carry their crosses. The Bible is so layered. But this is a start to understanding another level - not just self-sacrifice or tolerating persecution. I'll try my best to voluntarily pick up my cross and to carry it.