Take up the Cross

Have you ever wondered what it truly means to follow Jesus? It's not about climbing ladders of success or proving our worth through achievements. It's about walking a path so counterintuitive that it's often misunderstood even by the most devoted believers. This path is the Way of the Cross— a journey that feels like death but leads to the only true way to life.

In the heart of His ministry, Jesus modeled a life that turned the world’s values upside down. Born in a humble setting, living in poverty despite His divine nature, and serving rather than being served, He demonstrated that real power lies not in authority or control but in sacrificial love and service. This radical approach culminated in His death on the cross—a decision that could have seemed like ultimate defeat. Yet, it was through this very act of surrender that victory over sin and death was won.

The Way of the Cross challenges us to die to ourselves daily. But what does that mean? It means consistently removing anything that tries to take center stage in our lives other than Jesus and His love that defines us. It means not allowing our careers, relationships, successes, or even our failures to define us. Our true identity is found in being fully loved by Christ, and from this identity flows our worth and purpose and actions.

This lifestyle isn't a morbid fixation on death but a liberating walk into freedom. When Jesus invited us to take up our crosses and follow Him, He was inviting us to lay down the heavy burdens of proving our worth and fighting for our place in the world. He called us to a life where we can say, "I am already fully loved, fully accepted, and fully alive in Christ."

Consider how Jesus handled His power. He had the authority to command legions of angels, to turn stones into bread, to leap from great heights unscathed—all to prove His divinity. Yet, He chose a path of restraint and humility. In the wilderness and on the cross, He rejected the devil’s temptations to take the easy way out. He knew that asserting His power in these ways would align Him with the world’s methods—fighting fire with fire, and only perpetuating cycles of power and retaliation.

By refusing to use His power to dominate or escape suffering, Jesus broke the cycle. He didn’t just die; He exposed the murder of the powers for the lie that it was. He endured the cross for the joy set before Him, knowing that His resurrection would not only vindicate His identity but offer eternal life to all who believe in Him. This is the profound mystery of the gospel: that through death comes life, through surrender comes victory. And the Cross is still a stumbling block for those who do not believe... and sometimes... even for those who say they do believe.

So, what does this mean for us today? Walking the Way of the Cross means recognizing that the world’s paths to peace and success often lead to dead ends. True peace and success come from living out the love and humility of Jesus, from prioritizing relationships over conquests, service over power.

As we daily take up our crosses, we are reminded that we don’t have to earn our way to worthiness or defend our worthiness to others; we live out of the worthiness given to us by Christ. This freedom allows us to love others without fear, to serve without always needing reciprocation, and to face life’s challenges with courage, knowing that our identity is secure.

Embracing the Way of the Cross may feel like dying to ourselves, but it’s actually the only path to true life. It’s a journey of continual surrender, trusting that the One who called us to this path will sustain us, transform us, and ultimately lead us to resurrection joy.

Let us then journey together on this way, laying down the swords of our own agendas and taking up the cross, following Jesus who shows us that the way of sacrificial love is the most powerful way to live.