Crosses

                 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. (Luke 9:23-24)

            Someone has pointed out the very real point here that when Jesus referred to taking up our crosses daily and following Him, He wasn’t referring to the drudgery of dragging around a heavy object. He was talking about carrying the means by which others were going to punish and execute you in the most painful way they could think of doing it. It was also the focus of the mockery and scorn of others who would delight to shame you for your “crime.”

                In part, I think this includes our carrying in our behaviors, evidence by which we could be conviced. I don’t suggest this in a “See, I’m Christian, watch me, marvel at me…” sense. Keeping in tune with my preference for invisibility, I’m talking about doing what we would do if no one could see us, even if everyone can.

                The other idea that Jesus presents here is one we have probably noticed, but rarely think of in terms of our own lives. We’ve seen others become rich, famous, or powerful, then crash and burn. We’ve seen people involve themselves with things they think will give them a life worth living and find themselves trapped in a living hell. So often, we get all wound up in something, then discover it’s not what we hoped. It’s only when we dedicate our lives to something that is true, valuable, and not confined to our lives or ourselves that it proves worthy. And that description perfectly fits Jesus.