Picking Up Our Cross

As Jesus bid farewell to His disciples that final Passover night, He said, “After this I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world is coming, and has nothing in Me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here” (John 14:30,31).

Jesus left that night to pick up His Cross to die for sinners.  He did it “that the world may know I love the Father.” What was the Father’s will? “The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” He had a saving work to finish, which couldn’t be completed until He had died for our sins and risen again. Over 16 times in the Gospel of John alone, Jesus said, “The Father sent Me… I did not come from Heaven to do my own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.”

Jesus’ cross requires a response. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to follow Me, let him deny himself, and pick up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). To “pick up our cross” is a metaphor for being unashamed of our salvation in Christ, and our daily willingness to bear His reproach.  It is our public testimony “that the world may know…”

Many claim to “believe” in Jesus, but they carry no cross.  Around unbelievers, they talk and laugh at things Jesus wept over and died for.  Carrying the cross preaches a transformed life: “I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live, yet, not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in this body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).    

If Jesus lives in us, we will live like Jesus. What does your life say?

(Devotional by Lisa Cataford)