A New Strategy (March 16)
[Phil Stout]
2 Comments
"Strategy" may not be the best word, but I think it is important to realize that Jesus' how is part of His what. What He came to do cannot be separated from how He chose to do it. It is all summed up in the cross.
This cross - this how - is also our job description. He said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34 ).
These are difficult words. They're difficult to comprehend. (What does it mean to take up my cross?) They're also difficult to live. We feel as though we're about to lose something instead of anticipating our own liberation from self.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said,
"The Son of God bore our flesh, and for that reason he bore the cross; he bore all our sins and through his bearing achieved reconciliation. So too are disciples called to be bearers. Being a Christian consists in bearing. As the bearing of Christ preserved communion with the Father, so the bearing of his disciples is communion with Christ. Human beings can also cast off the burden loaded upon them, but this does not free them from the burden at all; rather, they now carry a much heavier, unbearable burden. They bear the self-chosen yoke of themselves. Jesus calls all who are laden with many kinds of suffering and burdens to cast off their yoke and take upon themselves his yoke, which is easy, and his burden is light (Matthew 11:30). His yoke and his burden are the cross. To walk under this cross is not misery and despair but refreshment and rest for the soul. It is the greatest joy."
Mark 8:34 looks different in the light of Matthew 11:30. Both are good news!
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Reader Comments (2)
Phil,
Your comments about "How" Jesus chose to do things is tied together with "What" He did help me understand Mark 8:34. Denying myself and taking up an implement of torture for myself has always been difficult to imagine, much less make it a part of my everyday thinking. When hearing the phrase "take up your cross", I usually get the image of Jesus carrying the cross through the crowds to Golgotha. That's not something I yearn to do. But by thinking about Jesus saving us by teaching, serving food, washing feet, and healing physical, mental, and emotional hurts, shows me that I can follow Jesus best by doing those things. Caring for others and allowing myself to be cared for, and serving with others are the times I that most often bring me into the presence of God.
Denying myself is also easier when I think about doing all those things as Jesus' hands, mouth, and feet. Caring for and about others brings on burdens that seem incredibly heavy - they can break my heart. But bearing them for and with Christ, I feel lifted up in ways I couldn't imagine. The lift of the Spirit is much greater than the weight of the burdens. Is this why his yoke is easy and his burden is light? I makes me want to continue and share Jesus with everyone.
Several events over the past year or two have shown me the overwhelming flood of love that comes from God through His followers. This feels like the good measure, packed down and overflowing. I can't help but want to share this with others because the excess above what I think I need is greater than anything I could ever use; it can't be hoarded. Maybe that's also part of denying myself and getting lost in God's love.
It used to be when I heard, "Pick up your cross" I understood it to mean lift your burdens. After last Sunday's sermon I understand it to mean allowing your old self to die so that you can walk with Christ. The old view was slightly more comfortable. It was one thing to carry your burdens to Golgatha and leave them at the foot of His cross for Him to bear. It is much more frightening to think that I too must be crucified, at least figuratively, and be on my own cross next to Jesus and the two thieves.
Pride, fear and other worldly emotions sometimes make it difficult to follow Him. It is also extremely difficult for me to deny myself and surrender control. I definitely have the fear that I will lose something instead of gaining liberation. Using my own past as an example, I should know better. One of the reasons that I fought against being a Christian for so long was the fear of the things that I would have to give up. After I was born again I no longer wanted some of those things that I had feared losing. They were no longer important.
Oh, how I long to be able to let go of myself, to deny myself, as I should.
Harry