TAKE UP THE CROSS - April 12, 2022 by Max Lucado
Four soldiers. One criminal. One cross. Simon, a farmer, stands among the crowd and can’t see the man’s face, only a head wreathed with thorny branches. Jesus stops in front of Simon and heaves for air. The beam rubbing against an already raw back.
“His name is Jesus,” someone speaks. “Move on!” commands the executioner. But Jesus can’t, and the beam begins to sway. Simon instinctively extends his strong hands and catches the cross. “You! Take the cross.” Simon dares to object. “I don’t care,” the soldier says, “take up the cross!”
Simon did literally what God calls us to do figuratively—take up the cross and follow Jesus. Luke 9:23 says, “If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me.”
From Mike: The meaning of "take up your cross" is interpreted in different ways. Some say Jesus’ point is that we must be so committed to denying yourself that you are willing to die for Christ. Others believe it implies that whatever difficulties we may be experiencing that we must follow Jesus. Whatever you may believe the interpretation is the key point is each day we must follow Christ!