“34 Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword.
35 For I have come to set a man against his father,and a daughter against her mother,and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,
36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, 38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
40 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous, 42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple — truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward” Matthew 10:34-42.
The idea of taking up a cross is often used by Christians today as a metaphor to describe bearing with life’s regular burdens: a long wait in traffic, a difficult boss, a cold. However, for the first-century Jews, the image of taking up a cross evoked horror and shame.
Crucifixion was the cruelest form of execution used by the Roman government. It was intended not only to punish rebels by inflicting as much physical pain as possible but also to maximize humiliation, sending a signal to other potential rebels not to revolt against Rome. The criminal’s public shaming began when he took up his crossbeam and carried it through the city streets amid the mockery of the crowds.
Therefore when Jesus says the true disciple must “take up his cross” (10:38), he is not merely calling for acceptance of life’s little inconveniences and hardships. He is calling His disciples — you and me — to be willing to give up everything, even our lives if necessary, to follow Him. So be willing to make daily sacrifices — great sacrifices — to follow Christ.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“And Jesus said to all, “If anyone would come after Me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me” Luke 9:23.
“And calling the crowd to Him with His disciples, Jesus said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me” Mark 8:34.
“Then Jesus told His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after Me, let them deny themself and take up their cross and follow Me’” Matthew 16:24.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed” John 3:16-20.
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