To follow Jesus we must carry a cross. Luke 9:23 says, "23And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Carrying a cross means we follow Jesus to the point of suffering. Cross carrying does not come naturally. We have to choose to allow suffering to be our teacher. Often the story about Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane is portrayed as an injunction to stay awake to pray. You might recall Jesus asked three of the disciples to stay up with Him to pray and instead they all fall asleep. Remember, the disciples repeatedly rejected the idea of a suffering Messiah. At the end of the garden episode Luke 22:45 says, "He came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow." The sorrow was a realization of the suffering ahead. Sleep was a denial mechanism. The garden incident seems to be more about accepting suffering and praying so that our hearts will be filled up with the power and presence and purpose of God. We must prepare ourselves so that when suffering comes we don’t sleep or run or grow bitter or blame or do what we normally do to avoid it. Cross carrying takes discipline. Cross carrying isn't cool. Carrying a cross is not the church growth technique of choice. When Jesus started inviting disciples to carry a cross the crowds thinned.
In our desire to be relevant let us always remember our goal is to equip disciples to carry a cross in obedience and faithfulness to Jesus Christ. Filling up a venue with people is fine, but greater is building a band of believers who are sold out for Jesus Christ and willing to carry their cross. “God make the Forum a venue where worship and fellowship and authenticity move us toward a life of faithful discipleship. Let us not accept a lesser version of Christianity where comfort rules. May our worship be expressed in hearts willing to follow you to a garden or to a cross. Amen”
6 comments:
[ When Jesus started inviting disciples to carry a cross the crowds thinned.]
Very true statement...
Are we really much different now from the way they were back then?
Anonymous,
Thank you. I agree. One of the challenges for the church today will be to contextualize the gospel and make disciples...both biblical mandates.
Why do you think the crowds thinned out and is it for the same reason they might thin out at this day and time?
A,
I cannot speak for each person. However, the gospels give us clues that can also parallel today. From Matthew 13:18-23, “Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Jesus often addressed specific "cares of this world." You might remember Him speaking about "Hating mother and father" in order to follow Him. He of course was not suggesting we literally hate our parents, but in terms of priority we choose Him over family if/when such a choice should occur.
In my experience and observing own struggles it would seem the same issues apply today.
For those that thinned out when the call to discipleship went out what did they miss out on by walking away from being a disicple?
A,
That is a very thoughtful question. Probably the best answer I can give is I am not sure of all the ramifications. The Bible gives evidence that we do miss out on a certain degree of fellowship/intimacy with God, heavenly rewards, and fruit in this life. I have been thinking lately about the benefits of perseverance that seems to walk in tandem with discipleship. When we give up in a relationship, faithfulness to God, etc., we miss the benefit of experiencing what God could do through our endurance. For instance, a married couple endures many hard times and after forty years of marriage can see the faithful hand of God giving them strength through the difficulties. There is a precious harvest that is experienced as a couple looks back and can observe how God helped them. Other couples, all things being equal, give up somewhere along the line and don’t experience the joy that endurance can bring. In the same way, disciples can miss out on the satisfaction of a life well lived and enduring.
Post a Comment