The cross was well known during Jesus time. Guilty criminals of the worse kind were subject to the cross. The worse kind of criminal, and those that wanted to over throw the government were placed on a cross as a deterant for anyone else that might consider behaving the same way. The cross was not considered as something that was honorable. Frequently criminals had to drag the cross - the instrument of their death with them. They knew their death as a public spectacle was near... and that everyone was going to be able to watch and see.
Now, we view the cross as a thing of beauty. For most, it is a charm that we wear on a necklace or it adorns our clothing or our car. It is a symbol that we attend a church, or believe in God... but is that where it ends?
The cross represents a few things. First and most importantly it is the way God bridged the gap between God and man. It is the ultimate sacrifice, the shedding of blood to cover the sins of man, because without the shedding of blood there is no removal of sin (Heb 9:2). Since this work is done, complete, and final there is no need for a new sacrifice. So, when Jesus says pick up your cross and follow me, what is he talking about?
To understand this, we need to understand who Jesus is. First, Jesus is God. He existed from the beginning.
In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made (John 1:1-3)
This means that Jesus was there when the words "let us make man in our image" (Gen 1:26) were uttered. Jesus witnessed the rift that separated mam from God. He knew firsthand the impact that sin had in the relationship between God and man.
Jesus was there when the high priest had to enter the most holy part of the temple every year to offer a sacrifice so that the sins of the people might be forgiven.
He saw countless rams and bulls killed and the blood spill. He saw the blood sprinkled and for all this, the gulf still existed between God and man.
Jesus was there when Solomon built the temple and the holiness of God entered in, but the sinful nature of man could not bear to be in the same place as a holy God.
He understood that resolution would never come through the sacrifice and offerings of men. That is why he said a body has been prepared for me (Heb 10:4-6). He understood that sin entered the world by one man, Adam (Heb 5:13-15) and the only way to reconcile man back to God was to offer himself as the perfect sacrifice.
Picking up the cross meant Jesus had to put others above his own comfort. He left his throne in heaven where creatures of unimaginable beauty covered their faces and flew back and forth proclaiming his holiness.
He came down cloaked in the frailty of humanity to be a minister of reconciliation. The example that Jesus set picking up his cross teaches us that there are more important things than status, comfort, or pleasure. It all pales in comparison to reconciling others so they too can experience true relationship with God (Phil2:5-8).
What lengths are you willing to go to pick up your cross to share what you believe with others?
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