CHRIST AND OUR CROSSES

Dr. Richard J. Henderson September 14, 2003

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Psalm 19
Mark 8:27-38

Introduction

I include part of our scripture today in the category of "Words I Wish Jesus Had Never Said." I don't say that in a cutesy kind of way; I really mean I wish Jesus had never spoken these words. I wish they weren't in the gospel.

Thomas Jefferson once put together his own bible where he cut out all the things in the Bible he didn't agree with, or like. I would love to do that myself. It would be interesting to see how much would be left in our Bibles if we did just that. We would all keep the Parable of the Prodigal Son for sure.

But if we are going to be faithful, we can't edit Jesus words and only keep what we like.

Before we get to those difficult words of Jesus, let's take a look at their context because it's important.

I

This scripture reading from Mark is the turning point in Jesus' ministry. Here Jesus begins to tell his disciples for the first time about his coming arrest, suffering and death, and about his resurrection. Up until now Jesus has been primarily teaching, preaching, and healing people. He has talked to enormous crowds, telling them about the kingdom of God. He has healed people in the most tragic situations. He has demonstrated his wisdom and provided his care.

Now there is a distinct shift. Jesus begins to show who he is. As people start to recognize him as the Messiah, he shows how he is different from what they expect the Messiah to be. In their own human way they were hoping for a Messiah who would lead their land to a time of success - both economically and militarily. Sort of like the ultimate president who did verything right.

But their expectation was very oriented to the world. "Help us in the here and now." It was a short-term Messiah they had in mind - and a local one. God had much bigger plans for the entire world, for all time.

In talking about himself Jesus begins to tell his disciples about how he must be suffer, die, and rise from the dead. At this point in his ministry - at this turning point in his life - Jesus begins to let his followers in on what is going to happen. He is very clear about it all. Maybe he is too clear.

II

When Peter hears Jesus' words about suffering, he is offended. He is so upset at Jesus that he takes him aside and begins to scold him. "This can't be. We aren't going to allow you to suffer."

Jesus has just asked Peter who he thinks Jesus is, and Peter has answered correctly, "You are the Messiah." Now Peter is saying, since you are the Messiah, you can't suffer and face shame! That doesn't make sense. Suffering certainly doesn't fit with Peter (and the disciples') idea of who the Messiah is.

Imagine yourself in Peter's shoes (actually, Peter's sandals!). You have gradually come to the point where you understand who Jesus is - the Messiah - and right away he begins to talk about how he will be arrested, suffer, and die.

The shock is too much. This is the very opposite of what the Messiah is about! These things don't happen to the Messiah.

Peter's reaction must have been a combination of anger, disappointment, fear, and a desire to protect Jesus from danger. Part of Peter's reaction had to be wanting to keep Jesus safe.

III

Jesus reacts to Peter's scolding by scolding him. As Peter is upset with Jesus for saying these things, Jesus is upset at Peter for denying what he knows he must face. He is finding it difficult enough to deal with this pain; now someone close to him is trying to talk him out of it. We know from Jesus' time in the Garden of Gethsemane - where he prayed for God to remove this cup from him, and where he sweat like drops of blood - that this decision was horribly difficult for him.

Are there times in our lives when our best friends and closest supporters want us to deny what we must do? Can those who are closest to us subvert something important for us to do? Maybe they do it, too, because they want us to be comfortable and safe.

IV

Then come the terrible words of Jesus. "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

Deny yourself. Jesus doesn't say, "Deny something that you really like," as if Jesus were asking for a perpetual Lenten sacrifice. He says, "Deny yourself." Say "no" to yourself. Stop rampant egotism.

Get outside of yourself and be aware of the world around you. Move beyond your natural concern for self and be aware of others. Also, Jesus isn't saying, "Hate yourself," or "put yourself down." He isn't saying think of yourself as a nobody. Because we have to be somebody, we have to feel we have something to give, before we can offer ourselves to other people.

Deny your self.

V

This is hard enough for most of us, but then Jesus says, "Take up your cross and follow me." Jesus is literally saying, "carry the crosspiece of the instrument of your death." It's like saying, "carry the gun for your firing squad", "carry the strap for your electric chair", or "carry the noose for your hanging". It's the same kind of image. I don't know about you, but those words give me the chills.

And Jesus isn't talking about this as something awful that is imposed on you, he talking about something you take on willingly. It's voluntary. So this isn't a cross you have to bear because of what has happened in your life, this is a cross you voluntarily take up.

It's like a burden you are willing to carry, risks you are willing to take, and the discomfort and unpleasantness that you are willing to take on.

VI

The early Christians knew exactly what "take up your cross" meant. For many it was literal. They faced persecution; they were very aware of the dangers of their faith. Some would have to decide whether to deny their faith or face lions, which would tear them to shreds. Many had to decide whether to be unfaithful or be arrested. Some had to choose between believing in Jesus or remaining part of their family. "That man is distorting our faith, if you continue to go with him, we will treat you as if you were never born. Do you understand me?" They understood. The early Christians faced horribly difficult choices if they were to be true to Jesus.

VII

What do Jesus' words mean for you and me? What does it mean to take up your cross in the twenty-first century, in America? We won't be fed to lions, and probably not disowned by our families. Could we be arrested for our faith? Martin Luther King was, for standing up for Christian justice, freedom, and equality.

Maybe to take up our cross means to get rid of some evil that we harbor in our lives - excising something that makes us less than God created us to be. If time is what is really valuable to us, maybe taking up our cross is giving our time to someone or some people who really could use our help and our talents.

If money is what's valuable, maybe taking up your cross means beginning to tithe.

Conclusion

For each one of us, our cross will mean something different. I can't tell you today what taking up your cross should mean for you. Because we value different things, we have different skills and abilities, we live different lives, each of us will have to decide for ourselves what it means for us to take up our cross. It means to get outside of yourself, to risk something, to take on something you aren't comfortable with, and, because of that, move closer to God.

This is a very hard saying of Jesus. I would be a lot more comfortable if he had never said it.

Amen.

©Richard J. Henderson 2003