Given on Sunday, March 30, 2008

Each Sunday has a Psalm assigned to it. This Sunday it is Psalm 16. In this Psalm there is a powerful verse, verse 11 and it says "You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy."
But this brings up a question. What is the path that we are to follow? This is nearly the same question that Thomas asked of Jesus in John 14. Jesus gathered the Disciples together to teach them the things they needed to know so that they could minister in his name. In his teaching, Jesus said, "You know the way where I am going." (John 14:4). Thomas responds, "Lord we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way." The response that Jesus gives is an oft quoted passage. "I am the way, the truth, and the life."
In other words, the way Jesus lived, the way Jesus acted, the way Jesus showed compassion ..... these are the things Christians should do in the name of Jesus. This is what it means to walk on the path He reveals.
But knowing this, brings up another question. When we hear what Jesus says in Mark 8:34, we wonder what it means. "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." This passage has been misunderstood through the years.
We have taken this phrase to mean that the problems and physical sufferings we face in our lives are the crosses that Christ calls us to bear. This is not really what Christ is saying here. Listen to the way the New Internation Bible translates this passage. "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your own pleasures and shoulder your cross and follow me closely."
This passage is really an answer to Thomas' question about knowing the way Christ wants us to walk in. This passage isn't about physical pain or personal problems. It is about Christ asking you to do things for him and your willingness to follow through for him.
I recently read this description of what Jesus might be saying in His words of Mark 8. "People say, 'I have arthritis, but that's my cross to bear.' 'I have a lazy relative, but that's my cross to bear.' But when you bear Christ's cross, you are saying something different. You are saying that you are willing to serve God, you are willing to serve others, you are willing tro put aside self-centered concerns and focus your attention on God's Kingdom and God's will."
It is not about arthritis. It's not about lazy relatives. It's about listening to the voice of Christ and doing His work and will, even when it doesn't fit into your plans.
We may need a new vocabulary to describe the physical and personal things that confront us ....... and not call them crosses. The best description might be that these things are "thorns in our flesh". Things God puts in our lives to keep us humble. Things that keep our pride in check. Things that remind us that God is Almighty and we are His creations.
Bearing Christ's cross really means something different than thorns in the flesh. It means saying yes to serving God. Yes to serving others. Yes to putting self aside. Yes to doing His will even when you really would rather not. And all because of your sincere relationship with Christ the Lord. Bearing Christ's cross ....... it's about walking the extra mile when He needs you.
"If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your own pleasures and shoulder your cross and follow me closely." Prayer - Lord, revitalize our walk with You. Amen