Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
Mark 8:34-35
We had a viewing of the Passion of the Christ this evening at our building. I have seen this once before and it was no different the second time.
During the scene where Jesus was carrying his cross, the above verse popped into my head (for obvious reasons). As I reflected on it, it made more sense than it ever has. It’s not really too profound of a thought, but at the same time it truly is.
We are called to take up our cross, and follow Jesus…follow Jesus to death. Follow Him towards the hill where he hung and died. I think I have made “taking up my cross” something VERY much smaller than that. I will carry a cross that means giving up a few comforts. I will carry a cross that means trying to “be good.” I will carry a cross that means going to church on Sundays. Basically, I will carry a cross that means so much less than what Jesus called me to. He calls me to forsake myself. Give up my life. Perhaps literally. Am i willing? Perhaps this means I make decisions in my life based on following Him rather than what makes the most sense to the world. Perhaps I make decisions and allow this calling to direct the seemingly small decisions and very big decisions.
I wonder, as I look back to my life, what examples are there of me forsaking myself to follow Jesus? Perhaps there are more examples of forsaking Jesus to follow myself…