How many of us own a cross? Maybe it’s a painting, or jewelry, or a cross on the wall, or maybe, and you don’t have to show us, it’s a tattoo. Would you raise your hand if you own a cross. If we could time travel and bring the disciples out of the reading and into this auditorium and we each told them about the crosses we own they would think we were the craziest people on the planet. This morning we’re going to talk about the history of the cross, how shocking the words of Jesus must have been, and see what all of this has to do with us.
The cross and crucifixion became a popular method of execution about 500 years before Jesus was born and was used by the Persians, Macedonians, Romans, and others. It was generally regarded as the most shameful, disgraceful, and painful way to die and in Rome the victims were often stripped before being crucified and weren’t allowed to be buried afterwards. The word excruciating comes from the word crucify; as the only word that sufficiently described how terrible it was. When I think about crucifixion we typically think of Jesus and maybe the two men crucified with him but in reality countless people, definitely thousands and possibly tens of thousands of people were killed this way. Just 70 years before Jesus was born a man by the name of Crassus was in a fight against Spartacus and his troops. And when Crassus won the battle he had 6,000 of his enemies crucified along the side of a major highway stretching nearly 200 kilometers. That would like driving from here to Edson with crosses lining the highway entire way. When Jesus was around 11 years old the Romans did the same thing crucifying 2,000 rebels and putting them along the side of the highway.
The cross was something terrible, signifying the worst kind of shame and death, and everyone was familiar with it. There was no such thing as a beautiful or wonderful cross. People would never have put a cross up on their wall or worn one as jewelry. It would be like us giving someone a beautiful painting of a guillotine or giving your grandmother a golden pendant of an electric chair. The cross was all about death. So when Jesus tells his disciples to take up their cross that is the image that would have come to mind. Jesus was telling them they needed to be willing to suffer and die if they wanted to follow him.
Our reading says “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things . . . and that he must be killed”. So he is already talking about suffering and death AND THEN he says “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”. I don’t know about you but the sinful nature in me goes crazy at the idea of denying myself. We do not live in a culture of denying ourselves. When is the last time you saw a commercial where they said “Here’s our product but don’t buy it. You don’t need it. You already have enough.” We live in a culture of indulgence that tells us we need that product and we need it now: which is why we have internet shopping and drive through coffee shops, and banking, and drugstores. In my home town there’s even a drive through liquor store! Talk about indulgence stepping into the realm of addiction where it can start to hurt us. We don’t like to deny ourselves and we especially don’t want to deny ourselves it causes suffering.
How would we respond if we were asked to suffer or die for Jesus today? I think right now in North America a lot of Christians would say no; that’s not what I signed up for. I want to follow the Jesus who promises to bless me financially. I want to follow the Jesus who promises to comfort me and protect me. I don’t want to give anything up, change my life, suffer, or die. And the more we listen to our old sinful selves the more we turn away from Jesus and His words of life to us. Instead of denying ourselves we deny God; saying I don’t want to stand out, or be left out. I don’t want to be too Christian or churchy. If we were really honest I think some of us would say I love you God but I don’t want the cross. The ultimate example of someone denying themselves and taking up their cross is Jesus. If we look to the garden of Gethsemane there’s Jesus saying Father if there is any other way let this cup pass from me. But not as I will but Your will be done. (Mt26). And shortly after he says those words he makes his way to the cross and dies there. And because of his perfect life and death and resurrection the cross is transformed.
It’s still a symbol of death but even more it’s a sign of victory. That you and I are forgiven and have the sure hope of eternal life because Jesus lived and died and lives again. So when our service began this morning it was under the cross, and when someone is baptized they are sealed with the cross. It’s why Paul wrote; “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death; in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (R6:3-4). Paul understood baptism as the ultimate act of self denial, where the old sinful self is crucified with Christ, and we are raised to a new life. A life where our sin is forgiven and nothing can separate us from God’s love. And so even though Paul death constantly, being arrested, beaten, flogged, and shipwrecked he was able to say “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Php 1:21). Paul was prepared to suffer and die because he had complete confidence in Jesus as his Savior. That there was no one else on the planet he would rather follow.
Great leaders have a way of inspiring greatness among their followers. Alexander the Great was leading thousands of men in pursuit of an enemy and in 11 days they traveled over 400 miles. But during this pursuit they ran out of water and supplies and were on the brink of dehydration. At one point they came across a family who offered Alexander some water pouring it into a helmet. Alexander held the water in his hands and then looked around at the thousands of troops who were equally as thirsty, and returned the water without taking a drink. His troops were so encouraged by their leader who suffered with them that defying thirst and death they marched off with a renewed energy.
You and I have a leader who rises above all the others, a true champion, who doesn’t ask us to do anything he hasn’t already done himself. Jesus is the one who leads the way; demonstrating this incredible new life for us, going to the cross before us, and dying for us even while we were still sinners and enemies of the cross (Pp 3:18) Hebrews 12:2 says “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”. Jesus loves us enough to step into creation, be rejected by the people he came to save, and not only carry his cross but be crucified on it. Not only has our old sinful self been crucified with Christ but we have been raised to new life with him. Paul writes “If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection” (R6:5).
The cross reminds us of Jesus’ death but it also reminds us of the victory he won there and the new life we have in him. Forgiveness and life are yours today because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus went to the cross for us, and now calls us to carry our crosses, as he leads us in victory in this life and the next. I don’t know if you and I will be called upon to die for Jesus; I do know that we have been called to live for him. (1The 2:12) May we do that with love and hope and joy. Amen.
