Everyone knows the Scripture that says that we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow Jesus. It is found in Matthew 16:24 and Mark 8:34 The traditional application of this verse is all the sacrifice and pain that the Christian life entails. While this is true, we might be missing the point of Jesus' statement.
Let us look at the context of this Scripture:
Matthew 16:13-24
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."
...
Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Messiah.
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!"
But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but of the things of men."
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
As you can see, Jesus mentioned picking up our crosses immediately after Peter's confession of His Messiahship and His rebuke of Peter's attempt to prevent His crucifixion.
You see, the Jews at that time expected the Messiah to be a powerful conquerer and king. The idea that the Messiah would be arrested, tortured horribly and crucified was unthinkable, because it was the worst of all imaginable deaths. The apostle Paul mentions that a crucified Messiah was a 'stumbling block' or a 'scandal' to them (1 Corinthians 1:23).
So it is not surprising that Simon Peter reacted the way he did, when we understand the Jewish mindset of that day. Peter was trying to save the Man whom he had just confessed to be Messiah. However, he was very,very wrong.
Jesus is, in effect, saying, "Guys, I am going to the cross, whether you like it or not. If you want to follow Me, you must accept the cross too. Don't expect a Messiah who is all conquering and reigning only. No - I am the Crucified Messiah.
"Peter, don't try to stop Me from meeting My destiny. My way is the way of the cross. There is no other."
In other words, Jesus' emphasis is not so much on OUR picking up of our crosses, even though that is important. His main thrust is that HE must go through the gross (I mean cross), not around it.
And that, my friends, is the only way that we are to follow. Amen.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we thank You that You cared enough to endure the cross, that we might live. So we pray that we will be able to do the same for Your sake and for the gospel's. Father, give us the strength to endure the cross just as You granted our Lord Jesus the same on that dark night in Gethsamane. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.
