mark 8:34-9:1 :: the cost of following Jesus

there are some points in Scripture where things are laid out plainly (i.e. the 10 commandments), and others where discernment must come into play with prayer and study in order to determine exactly what is being said or how a passage is to be interpreted (i.e. ezekiel’s vivions.) and occasionally, the disciples ahd to take Jesus aside and ask just what it was that He had just said to the people. they were just as clueless as the crowd sometimes, and they needed a moment of clarity.

but this is not one of those times. in this passage, Jesus clearly says what the requirements are for following Him. “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” okay, let’s look at this, shall we?

“If anyone would come after Me,” that means in folowing Him, and this applies to all who will follow. no execptions, no getting grandfathered in and avoiding consequences, or claiming birthright exemptions, or buying your way past anything…anyone and everyone must; ALL those who would follow

“…he must deny himself…” meaning you put yourself completely, totally, unreclaimably (i think i just made up a word there) out of the spectrum of possibilities for leadership. any proir claims for self-lordship are abolished and all evidences are burned of your own earthly desires in each and every area of your life.

“…and take up his cross…” this is the point of greatest debate in this passage. what is your cross? your own personall cross? obviously, Jesus didn’t mean for those of us 2000 years later to literally walk around all day, every day with a literal cross over our shoulder. but this taking up and bearing is literal. the ‘what’ we bear is Christ’s example. that is why we follow Him. Jesus lived His example for our lives, and we are to take up that mantle of service and selflessness and love and compassion and truth bearing and communication of the gospel and witnessing of the Kingdom Come and spreading of the Word of Truth among those who know it not. each day, every day, we put on Christ Jesus Himself and bear Him and His example of Grace and mercy and love before all men. all other allegiances tossed to the wind and the view to all we contact being clearly Jesus’ leading role in our life. that we are not our own people, but the people of the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

“…and follow me.” that is what is required, so that in losing ourselves, we are truly found in Him. our true identities laid bare to the world. the purchase price of your very soul being paid in full, trading it in for anything else is the very definition of obscenity and sorrow. what can we exchange for our soul? nothing qualifies as a fair trade. nothing you can seek after or grab on your own is worth the price of your eternal soul…but sadly enough, men will try to justify their disasterous decisions made in greed or lust or pride as being a worthwhile alternative.

the Kingdom of God is here now, the power of God -merely a phrase we use to name the inexplicably grand- is at work among His people even today. but many lay it aside to persue thier own tiny, selfish interests.

anyone following after Jesus must lay it all aside to take Him and His cross up, and do so daily. in taking up our cross, the old man must die so that Jesus’ role as Lord can be fully understood in our lives, and not just as a savior for our convenience. doing anything else, anything less, leaves us, and the world around us, wanting.