Cross Purposes

 May 20, 2022

“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” —Mark 8:34 

Bruce Downes the Catholic Guy spoke this morning on this verse. He related some challenges that have come his way recently, and said, “I often want to lay the cross down.” Like most of us, he doesn’t relish the trials that come his way in life, but he added these words: “When we lay down the cross we’re carrying, we get nailed to it. As long as we are carrying it, we aren’t nailed to it.” 

The burdens and challenges of life are often hard to bear. We wish, and sometimes pray that God would ease up a bit, that we would be allowed to lay down our cross. But Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” The cross he has given us to carry he shoulders along with us. We never carry it alone. It is when we try to lay down and discard the challenges of life that we somehow in the mystery of life get nailed to them. 

I can avoid working out and get nailed to weakness and ill health. I can refuse to forgive and get nailed to bitterness. I can scorn self-discipline and get nailed to dissolution and frivolity. I can abandon frugality and get nailed to debt. It is only by picking up the cross of Jesus, only by walking the Way of the cross, that we find life. At least, that’s what Jesus said in the very next verse of today’s text: 

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” —Mark 8:35 

Take up Jesus’ challenge and pick up the Cross. It’s the only way to freedom and life.