Carry the Cross

In Luke 14:27, Jesus says that bearing a cross is a key component to discipleship. In this discourse, delivered to a random group of people who followed him – termed “great crowds” – Jesus gave 3 features of discipleship: prioritizing Christ over all other relationships (14:26), carrying a cross (14:27), and renouncing all that one has (14:33). I have heard this passage expounded as call to a fuller commitment to Jesus (called discipleship) that differs from entry –level Christianity. If one becomes a Christian one may (or may not) opt for the discipleship commitment. However, a casual reading of this passage shows that Jesus makes no distinction between following him and being a disciple. And this message is not given to a group of people debating the issue of a deeper commitment. These are random people who were accompanying Jesus: some seeking another free meal, some intrigued about his teaching, and some merely out of curiosity. “A crowd draws a crowd,” as the saying goes.

 I think we would be wrong to imagine that this great crowd consisted of people who were hungry to hear what Jesus had to say; those who wanted to know more about him and wanted to follow him more closely. In fact, the message he gives them seems to indicate this. He almost discourages people from following. Using masterful hyperbole, he places before them the fact that no other relationship, regardless how good and wholesome and pure it is, can take priority over him. No love can be greater and no allegiance can be stronger.

The point I want to make concerns the issue of cross bearing. We have trivialized the idea by using the phrase to refer to rather minor inconveniences that we must tolerate on a regular basis. But the initial readers knew what this meant. Those who carried a cross were not those who were suffering under a temporary inconvenience. They were on the way to crucifixion, one of the most sadistic forms of execution ever devised. And it was a one-way trip. Those who carried the cross to the place of crucifixion usually met with the scorn and jeering from a crowd that more often than not, heartily approved of the whole affair. Followers of Christ are called to carry a cross – to endure the scorn and hostility that comes with allegiance to Christ and his gospel.

We have conveniently avoided the call to bear this cross. We embrace the Bible’s call to “deny ungodliness and worldly lusts (Titus 2:12 KJV) and rightly so. It is too easy to tolerate the sinful habits and values of the world around us. The sin that remains within each of us gravitates toward it with very little encouragement. But our attempts at separation often aim to protect us from the harsh realities of cross-bearing.  The scene on that Good Friday is all too familiar. On the one hand, we see our Lord Jesus embracing the cross, “bearing shame and scoffing rude.” On the other, we see 11 disciples scattering to avoid capture and identification with this Savior. For us, it is easier to run and avoid bearing a cross. Better yet, don’t even get into a situation that might require one to take up a cross.

Cross bearing is not pleasant. It is not intended to be. But, as followers of Christ, we are called to this. As Jesus told the large crowd in Luke 14, the can be no rivals (v. 26) and no refusals (v.27).