What does it look like when we ‘take up our cross’ in the same manner that Jesus did? As we enter the Last Week (Holy Week) may we ponder what this may mean to how we live in, and amongst, our fellow sojourners.
What does it look like when we ‘take up our cross’ in the same manner that Jesus did? As we enter the Last Week (Holy Week) may we ponder what this may mean to how we live in, and amongst, our fellow sojourners.
Don Schiewer, Jr. 
I have been thinking about the concept of “Take up your cross” this week as I prepare my station for the “Encounter the Cross” event. I have never thought of it this way. Thank you for this insight. I will be pondering this and will probably watch it again (this time without Abigail singing “Father Abraham” every time you mention Abraham’s name. It’s very distracting.)
I need a recording of Abigail singing so I can sample it into all of my videos when I mention Abraham!
Don:
What do you make of the political nature of this statement and of discipleship in relation to the cross and resurrection in accompaniment with what you said about the priesthood – and I don’t mean political as in republican and democrat, but political as dealing with the social, economic, and political implications of this movement in the face of the structures of the day. I had not entered the priesthood role into this idea before and I think it could possibly make an important correlation for what it means. I would say that behind this is entering into the restored community of Israel (through the completion of the Exodus, the judgment of the Temple, the forgiveness of sins of Jeremiah 31, Daniel 9, ect) and the priesthood (especially in light of the Sadducee priesthood Jesus experienced) could add a deepening dynamic to this. I also realize that everything I just wrote might not make any sense, but if you have any thoughts on that, please share.
Also – in light of that discussion – reading about taking up the cross in the context of the following chapters of Matthew (16-20) is pretty revealing about the implications of discipleship and the identity that ensues.
My soul was humming along to your words my friend. I read a an interesting quote:” A beautiful thing was said about Jesus that the reason why he got along with lowly thieves and prostitutes because he didn’t believe he was better than them.” As much as this quote shakes some of my perception of Christ, it helped me see through myself and through others to realize we are all in this together. That somehow since I was in the same Divine mind who created me also created a desperate sister delving in prostitution or a lonely brother sitting in jail, or..or..or…
Not only are we called to coalesce into a grateful community, we ( as you profoundly taught) must be willing to stand on their behalf. Your words of priesthood offer true resurrection of our humility to look beyond our perception of sin and stand in love for those children of God persecuted outside the crowded currents of mainstream normalcy.
29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord,[a] have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” (Matt 20:29-31)
Thank you Don – you’re a gift.
Lk 9:23-24 (This is half to sort through what im thinking and half to comment lol) Listening to this i couldn’t help but think of it as an essential addition to the common meaning. The common meaning (as i think of it) is one denies self or feels he has been denied something. So rather than respond in the negative way he’d like to, he crucifies himself (lets go) and follows Christ. Of course this only carries the sense of self denial and not the cross, which as you pointed out is bearing another’s burden as Christ bore ours. Really your definition is for Lk 9:23 (deny yourself take up your cross daily and follow me) and the common meaning is for Lk 9:24 (Whoever wants to save their life will lose it). But the common meaning really isnt even good at losing self, because choosing forward motion over acting out is not big enough to cover the sense of the death of an entire individual. Rather i think Luke carries the sense of Phill 2:7 “He made Himself nothing…” The video isnt all there is to it in my opinion because it puts the community as a whole in focus and loses the individual. So the person them-self isn’t challenged when they aren’t affecting community directly. But the common understanding doesnt stand alone and doesn’t go far enough in itself. And for either to actually be lived out one needs Joy (Neh 8:10) and the Spirit of Christ (Jn15:5) both of which are often manifested through the hope of resurrection (Lk 9:24).
Always a pleasure to hear you speak on the word. Humility is rough for most Christians! We somehow feel we need to be the judge of each other and “them” the sinners. Thanks again for your insight and keep them coming 🙂
Kim