This year has gone by so very quickly and so we find ourselves already heading into April, which means Easter is upon us. Easter is a polarising event in the calendar. There are those who do not believe in Jesus only view it as a pleasant long weekend where they get to over-indulge in eating chocolate eggs and sweets buns while enjoying the company of family. There are those who's religious affiliations meant they truly couldn’t care less, but enjoy the long weekend none-the-less.
Then there are those of us who believe that Jesus (Yeshua) is the Son of God (Yahweh) and that he died and rose again - which is the foundation of our future hope of salvation and eternal life with a restored relationship with God.
For me personally, it is a precious time as it was at Easter that I gave my life to the Lord when I was young. It is a reminder of what the cost is not only for Jesus to pay my blood debt due to my sinful nature, but also the fact that I (and you) too must carry my own cross during my daily walk.
(artwork by SCHISM)
In Luke 9:21-22 Jesus was talking to his disciples about HIS coming death and resurrection - “Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” - this is the very foundation of our faith.
Then Jesus turned to the people around HIM. In Luke 9:23-25 he adds “Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?”
These verses are commonly quoted, usually on their own and out of their original context of what Jesus was trying to convey to the crowd around HIM. Jesus was trying to inform them that believing in HIM is one thing, but if we are to follow HIM then that is going to cost us, just as it will cost HIM to provide salvation to humanity.
There are a few things that we need to pay attention to in these verses. Things that we need to assess whether or not we are actually following in Jesus’ footsteps or not. These are:
A) Take Up Your Cross - Daily: We cannot replicate what Jesus did on the cross because we aren’t the Messiah - that is not what these verses means for us to do. Rather taking up your cross daily means that everyday we need to live out our salvation (not because works is what has saved us - that is not true - only God’s grace and mercy have provided salvation for us). Paul talks about this in Philippians 2:12. This means that we need to go out into the world and act like we are saved, to live the gospel, and to know that God’s grace and mercy are with us as we live with illness/diseases and lifelong struggles. That is taking up your cross. Everyday we need to get up out of bed and say “Ok God, I’m not doing great today, but whatever I can do - I’m doing it for you”. In that way we are reflecting the sacrificial love, and the struggle of the Cross in our own lives. By doing so we also show witness of God’s grace in our own lives as he blesses us with the strength to go on.
B) Give Up Your Life: We have our own dreams and desires about what we want to achieve in life. We often set about doing our own thing, and we don’t necessarily consider whether or not what we are pursuing is actually from God or not (even if it is a good thing). In order for us to fully live the life that God has for us we need to be obedient and follow what he lays out before us - and often this requires us to lay aside the lifestyle that we want to live, or to set aside the promotions and types of jobs we want to have, or to leave behind the houses that we have always wanted. If we are truly willing to give up all those things and follow God’s pale for our lives then in our eternity we shall have the full blessing of everlasting life.
C) Don’t Lose Yourself In Gaining Things: It is interesting that Jesus links these two concepts together. If we are prepared to give up our lives for HIM then we gain life from HIM. Yet, what does it gain us if we spend our entire lives searching for and obtaining all the things that we have dreamed about - and then lose our soul, and our eternity with God? Nothing…absolutely nothing. The momentary pleasures of this world are nothing when compared to the everlasting glory, peace, joy and life we will experience with God for eternity. The things of this life are worth nothing in eternity. So all the fame, all the wealth, all the property, all the jewellery, all the power and positions, all the prosperity, even all the amazing family times of awesome vacations - none of it will save your soul. In fact, seeking those things to the exclusion of God in your life will cost you your soul.
So, this Easter, as you celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour - Jesus the Messiah - perhaps meditate on where you are at with HIM. meditate on what you are doing with your life and are those things for the Kingdom of God or are they for you?
I pray that the peace of Jesus Christ be upon you and yours at this time. May you ever seek HIS will for your life, and may you ever be fruitful and impactful for the Kingdom of God.