Christ’s Ambassador

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Lk9:23

Many believers easily classify their yet unmet desires as the cross they have been called to bear. For instance, disability, poverty, sickness, violent spouse, errant children, accidents and class are considered to be crosses of some kind. While this piece is not trying to prove them wrong, I wish to state that, Biblically speaking, Cross means more than unmet desires or unfortunate occurrences. Then what might be the correct view of the cross Jesus invited his followers to bear?

Another Look At The Cross of Jesus

Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith was born into the very humble family of Joseph the Carpenter. He was rejected and persecuted by the very people he came to save. Isaiah gave a sneak preview of his inherent disabilities in Isaiah 53:2,3. “He had no beauty or  majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Yet these were not described as his cross but as necessary environment and terrain of faith designed to show him the necessity of the cross. He was not compelled but he had to pick it up willingly as a sign of submission and love. The Cross is further described as:

Tool of Redemption

On the Cross at Calvary, the son of God paid the ransom for the redemption of man. As his followers, we are also called to voluntarily take up Christ’s burdens for the world in which we leave. The redemption of the world should be our passionate desire and our entire lives must be used to witness to the death and resurrection of Jesus. At work, home, field of play and in the neighborhood we are called to preach the gospel in words attitude and action, in season (when it is safe and easy) and out of season (when it is hazardous). As Paul describes it, we are called to make up what is lacking in the sufferings of Jesus for the church. We do this when all our activities are geared towards salvation of souls.

Prove of Love

The whole law became love in the mouth of Jesus who, in walking his talk, also proved his love for God and the world by submitting his life as a ransom sacrifice for salvation of the world. Apostle John was inspired to give the call when he wrote:  “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 Jn 3: 16 – 18.

Notable Examples

Ruth willingly picked up the cross of taking care of old Naomi, the mother of  her deceased husband even when life with Naomi was not promising. Boaz willingly married Ruth and gave the poor widow a good life again after the closest next of kin rejected the cross. Mordecai brought up Esther, an orphan, as his own child. Moses gave up the princely life in the palace and took up the cross to identify with the sufferings of the Hebrews. The apostles could not help preaching about what they had seen and heard despite the persecutions, and they died for their faith. Yes, the cross is not a jolly ride but a pain you volunteer to go through for the sake of love. The good thing here is that God is not unjust to forget your labor of love. (Heb 6:10)

Pick Up that Cross

• Is God laying some burdens in your heart?
• What are the talents God has endowed you with?
• Do you think your background is unconnected to your call?
• How might you allow God to make use of the mistakes you have made in the past?
• When a need arises in the society, church, at work or in the life of a neighbor, do you just pray for God to send help or you say “Here am I send me”?
• Where is your cross? Pick it up.