Mark 8: 27-38 v 34 “Then, calling he crowd to join His disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. “
Jesus was walking and talking with his disciples. He asked them “Who do people say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah”. But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him. Jesus began to tell them how he would be killed, but three days later He would rise from the dead.” Peter took Him aside and began to reprimand Him for saying such things. Jesus said, “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” Then, calling he crowd to join His disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News you will save it. If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the son of man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Sometimes when you read a book you imagine yourself as one of the characters. Jesus, the son of man was predicting how he would be killed! Not a job I would want. Like Peter I would be trying to dissuade Him of this kind of talk. But could I be a disciple and leave my family and my work and follow Jesus around the country without knowing where or when I would eat, sleep or have any retirement plan? No that is not for me. I would be on the edges of the crowd, interested to see what He had to say, but then probably ashamed of having to be totally dedicated to Him” to give up my own way and follow Him” I would also be happy to be on the edges of the crowd when He returns in the glory of His Father with the holy angels! I am trying to hold on to my cross. A life on the edge of the crowd is better than a life without Jesus.
Prayer: Heavenly Father thank you for allowing us to see you in your Son. Help us to take up our cross and follow him. Amen.
CrossWalk 