The Cost of the Cross

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. Jim Elliot

We continue this Holy or Passion Week to talk about Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus was condemned to die a horrific death on the cross. His fate was sealed when the crowds shouted, “Crucify Him.” Perhaps there were some in that same crowd who had shouted, “Hosanna in the Highest” a few days earlier. Now they were ready to see Jesus, an innocent man, die. Jesus knew this was His destiny. He knew every detail. He knew that He would carry that heavy cross on which He was to be crucified on Golgotha (John 19:16-18). Just as Jesus carried and died on the (literal) cross that brought us life, He also asks us to take up our cross and follow Him. Jesus commands his disciples in Mark 8:34-37, 

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  For what can a man give in return for his soul? 

Lose to Gain

Ø  Come after me. Jesus is asking us to pursue Him. To run hard after Him. To find Him so that we can get lost in Him, as it were, so we can know who He is. God has provided ways to know Him - through His creation, His Word, and through spending time with Him.

Ø  Deny himself. Our flesh stands in the way of our knowing Christ as we should. When we pander to our own selfish desires, ambitions, ego, and any other hindrance, we put ourselves at the centre instead of Jesus. When we deny ourselves and crucify the flesh. We lose our lives for the sake of Christ. Herein lies the great paradox - we lose to gain. We lose that which belongs to the flesh to gain that which has eternal value. Here on earth (peace, joy, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and so much more) and ultimately, eternal life spent with Jesus.

Ø  Take up his cross. When we take up our cross, the cross of Christ becomes the standard against which we measure the way we look at the world. Christ’s standard goes against the mainstream, where the idea of suffering and living our lives for our Saviour, Jesus Christ, goes against popular culture.

Ø  Follow me. There is a price to be paid when we follow Jesus. It may mean that we have to give up our dreams, material possessions, relationships, status or a comfortable lifestyle. But it will be worth it all because Jesus promises us much more than this world can ever offer.

Jesus says, "I want you to follow me so fully, so intensely, so enduringly that all other attachments in your life look weak by comparison" Timothy Keller

Reflection

Will you take time to think about the things you need to give up so you can gain Christ? Write them down and give them to Jesus so that you can receive from Him that which has eternal value.

Prayer

 Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for taking up Your cross and dying for me on Calvary. Thank You for the great gain, the salvation that I have received because of Your sacrifice. Lord, You see the things that I am holding on to that I need to let go of. Help me to give up these things so that I can receive what You have for me here on earth and the eternal life with You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.