I am in my fifth decade of being a Christ follower. In those 50 plus years I have heard scores and scores of preachers and Bible teachers talk about the meaning Jesus had in mind when he in three of the gospels in the Bible (Matthew 10:38, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23, 14:27)  was quoted as saying something about his followers bearing a cross.

It is true that each of us who will follow Christ has a cross to bear. What is in question is not “if” Jesus’ disciples are to bear a cross but “what” is that cross? The answers I have heard range from migraine headaches, to mean mothers-in-law, to some physical impairment. I believe the majority view is that the cross Christ had in mind for believers to bear is some burden, something that makes life somewhat more difficult. While this explanation is quite popular it is absolutely untrue!

In the Bible the word “cross” when used as a noun has but one meaning, death! There is not one mention of “cross” in the Bible that has any other meaning. The Roman cross had only one use, the crucifixion of the worst lot of criminals. So, a legitimate question might be, “Royce, are you saying Christ wants his followers to die?” That is precisely what I am saying. God used the Apostle Paul to give meaning to the relationship of the cross to the believer.

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)

Christ does not allow for divided loyalties in his people. He calls us to die for him, every day.

The death of self will, the death of self worth, and the death of self-righteousness are some of the results of taking up one’s cross. Only by our understanding  and appropriation of the cross of Christ can we become the disciples Jesus desires.

The idea is conveyed in many contexts in the Bible. For example in Romans 12:1 and following is the picture of a believer placing his own body of the alter as a sacrifice. Then in Romans 6 there is the beautiful teaching about baptism that pictures a follower of Jesus joining him in death. The one who is immersed is saying “I am dying to my old life of living my life my way and I am being raised to live life God’s way”.

The “old man” does not go down easily. It would be simple if the “old man” we symbolically put to death in the waters of baptism would stay dead. But, we each know from experience he does not stay dead very long. So, the Apostle says,

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11)

Since we still live in bodies of flesh the old man is not really dead, we must “consider” him dead, or as some translations put it, “reckon” him dead. We must purposefully live as if the old person is dead. And, if we would be true disciples, we must do the exercise every day of our lives on earth. Again, we can learn from Paul.

I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! (1 Corinthians 15:31)

This is what Jesus had in mind when he said these words.

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

One of our greatest mistakes as followers of Jesus is that we give much attention to our “doing” and precious little to our “dying“. My hope is that each of us will understand that until we get our “dying” right our “doing” means little. In a very real sense, only those who die for Jesus can really live for him.

The following guest post is from the heart and hand of Edward Fudge, author, teacher, scholar, and mentor to thousands including yours truly. You can enjoy and be blessed by his wisdom by subscribing to his gracEmail which will arrive in your inbox every few days. I hope you enjoy and are blessed by this Easter message as I was.

Royce Ogle

______________________________________________________________________

When the apostle summarized things “of first importance,” he used verbs and not nouns to identify what is primary to Christian faith. The Messiah died . . . was buried . . . was raised . . . appeared–just as the holy texts had long anticipated (1 Cor 15:1-8). And as surely as these events lie at the core of Christian faith and life and teaching, the resurrection of Jesus Christ gives meaning to this sequence of events. If Jesus had not been raised, his death might elicit sorrow but it would not accomplish our redemption. That he was buried means he really died. If he lived again after dying, some new order of life must even now have begun. It is not surprising that the testimony of many witnesses who saw him alive–under many conditions, states of mind, and varieties of circumstances–should become the grounds for marking history henceforth according to its temporal relationship to the earthly life of this single man.

The logic is clear. Jesus is dead, his friends see him buried, but before the weekend passes, his tomb is found to be vacant. Then, quite to their surprise, people all over the place start running into Jesus, who assures them that he is alive and that they are not seeing a ghost. The resurrection of Jesus is not a sentimental spiritual counterpart of butterflies, bunny rabbits and Spring flowers. It is not an imaginary self-fulfillment of some long-held but suppressed desire, not a fictional literary device symbolizing a psychological new beginning. It is a historical event that occurred within this created universe and opened a portal to dimensions of life and reality we cannot begin to imagine. Jesus did not come back from death, as if he stuck his foot in the water and drew it out again. He passed through death with all its danger and darkness–passed through it and out the other side, to new life of a kind never experienced before.

The first generation of apostles and evangelists did not go out proclaiming a new religion, a special church, a different law, or even heaven and hell, and how to gain one and miss the other. No, they related the story of Jesus of Nazareth–whom men murdered but God raised, whom men rejected but God exalted, whose resurrection certified Jesus as Messiah, authenticated him as Savior and identified him as future judge. Throughout the early Christian writings contained in our Bible, Jesus’ resurrection stands out as the touchstone, the wellspring, the compass, from which and through which everything significant flows or is accomplished or is understood. It illuminates God’s intent for his people and for all creation, and it illustrates his power that will bring all that about. As we gather this Easter, let us unashamedly greet each other by affirming “Christ is risen!” and let us respond, “He is risen indeed!” And let us rejoice mightily and give hearty thanks to God.

The Bible can be difficult to understand. This fact is illustrated well by numberless theories, sects, denominations, doctrines, and denunciations all based on the words of Scripture. I have been studying the Bible for many years and am still learning. 

One reason many people who interpret the Scriptures end up with such odd conclusions is that the truth of the Word of God is off-limits to many who read it. 

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. “ 1 Corinthians 2:14 

Again and again the Bible contrasts believers with unbelievers using words like “spiritual” and “natural”. The “natural” man is just as he came into the world. His understanding is limited to only what the human brain can receive and discern. By contrast, the “spiritual” man is able to comprehend Spiritual truth as well as what the “natural” man can learn. 

The passage above states the case clearly. The “natural” person “does not accept” and is “not able to understand…” Another passage comes to mind that teaches us the same truth. 

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot” Romans 8:7 

Here again the truth is very clear. The “natural” person “does not submit” to God and His law and “cannot” submit. 

What is at the heart of so much foolishness in the name of Christianity is that people the Bible says cannot understand or accept the things of God are engaged in trying to do what God says they can’t do. Unsaved, unspiritual, men and women are busy making statements and writing books and articles about subject matter that is only understood by those who have been born from above, “spiritual” men and women. The Holy Spirit is the exclusive teacher of spiritual truth. 

So, Jesus says to a crowd, 

“…Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day…” John 6:54 

A discussion followed and most of the people hearing his words failed to understand, and many of those who had been following him around left him after that day. Jesus diagnosed the problem with these words.

“It is the Spirit who gives life;the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But, there are some of you who do not believe.” John 6:63-64a 

For the exact same reason (unbelief), many people today expect that when they drink wine or grape juice and eat bread or a cracker on Sunday morning that somehow they are eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Jesus. I agree with brother Al Maxey who said in an article on New Wineskins earlier this month that it is very unlikely Jesus had in mind our practice of communion when he spoke those words long ago. 

People only receive Jesus by faith and God is on record justifying those who believe and trust him. Did you notice what Jesus said in the text above? “…The flesh is no help at all”. You can take it to the bank, what you and I do, the sum total of our religious activity, including every rite or ritual, is “no help at all” in receiving what God offers in the person and work of Jesus Christ. 

This raises important questions. Which side are you on? Are you “spiritual” or are you “natural”? If you have been born from above you have the ability to understand God’s spiritual truth and to submit to it. If you are still only “natural” you must do a u-turn and become willing to submit to God’s Son Jesus who is Truth. He said these words. 

Truly, truly, I say to you,whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” John 6:47-51 

He did give himself as a sacrifice for ungodly people like all of us. Trust him alone. He is eternal life.