PICK UP YOUR CROSS AND CARRY IT: What does it mean?
Luke 14:27 ESV Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
In the days of our Lord when a person was condemned to be crucified, a part of the sentence was that he should carry the cross on which he was to die to his place of execution. We find that our Lord carried his own cross through the most populous part of the city until he fainted from fatigue and exhaustion.
To carry or bear the cross to the place of execution was an incredible added burden which was also disgraceful, extremely emotional, and an addition to the punishment which had already been inflicted through the trial and beatings.
To carry one’s own cross was an act of admission of guilt and a submission to the authority and laws of the one executing judgment. We speak a lot about the sins put on Christ when He hung on the cross. However, when our Lord carried His cross, it was His admission that He was guilty of the sins of the whole world as He chose to carry the weight of guilt for every human being that was ever born on our planet throughout history.
In the Gospels when the mandate “to carry the cross” is used we know that it is a figurative expression, showing that we must endure whatever burden, emotional trial, or whatever is disgraceful, in following our Lord Jesus Christ.
Part of our duty as Disciples is to let the people of the world think or speak of us as they may and us doing what is required within the Scriptures even if it produces shame, disgrace, or pain.
Luke 14:27 ESV Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
In the days of our Lord when a person was condemned to be crucified, a part of the sentence was that he should carry the cross on which he was to die to his place of execution. We find that our Lord carried his own cross through the most populous part of the city until he fainted from fatigue and exhaustion.
To carry or bear the cross to the place of execution was an incredible added burden which was also disgraceful, extremely emotional, and an addition to the punishment which had already been inflicted through the trial and beatings.
To carry one’s own cross was an act of admission of guilt and a submission to the authority and laws of the one executing judgment. We speak a lot about the sins put on Christ when He hung on the cross. However, when our Lord carried His cross, it was His admission that He was guilty of the sins of the whole world as He chose to carry the weight of guilt for every human being that was ever born on our planet throughout history.
In the Gospels when the mandate “to carry the cross” is used we know that it is a figurative expression, showing that we must endure whatever burden, emotional trial, or whatever is disgraceful, in following our Lord Jesus Christ.
Part of our duty as Disciples is to let the people of the world think or speak of us as they may and us doing what is required within the Scriptures even if it produces shame, disgrace, or pain.
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