What was the cross?
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” – Mark 8:34
This passage has been used to illustrate that we must suffer and carry a heavy load for God but I find this interpretation to be very inconsistent with the rest of scripture.
Why do I say that? Because to me the cross represents a complete shift and a key change in history and how an individual can relate to God!
This passage goes to the very heart of His Grace! I CANT DO ANYTHING – deny myself – admit that I need Him – admit that I feel shame, condemnation and I am totally inadequate to have a relationship with God on my own!
Take up my cross – the instrument of death and shame that radically changed forever how a sinful and shame based creature like myself could relate to God! The cross is now the Ultimate symbol of Love and The Love based relationship called Grace!
Follow Him! Not Law, or effort or pretty Sunday clothes and appearances – FOLLOW HIM! Follow Him to Love the unlovable and unlovely! Follow Him to no more condemnation and shame! Follow Him to Be who you were created to be!
This passage isn’t a call to struggle but a pleading to share in the Love Feast that comes from The Love based Relationship with God Almighty that Only Jesus Christ can bring you into!
Bob, I was taught that the Bible is the perfect word of God but it obviously isn’t because you need to twist the translation to suit your interpretation. Once again confusion. A lot of it sounds like a Zen koan. Rod
Rod – thank you for sharing!
You shall know the Truth and The Truth shall set you Free!
If what you believe is Truth isn’t setting you free there is a need to re-examine what you call truth.
Love ya,
Bob
Thanks Bob, I hadn’t thought of it that way. Rod
Bob can you help me understand God’s treatment of Job which doesn’t fit my definition of love. Rod
Hello Rod,
You know what was an amazing discovery to me is that I read one time that at some point in history only 2 actual manuscripts of what we call the Bible existed on earth! Kind of mind blowing to me that they would survive at all but then I think that God being All powerful allows each and every second and moment – nothing by chance or accident. If we look at life that way the story of Job blessing of Job! We now hear about Job and even have idioms of Job in our daily language – in fact Job has become one of the central characters of the OT – why? Because as he sat on the dung heap that used to be his life – he stood firm in his notion of Who God is and His Faith in God’s goodness!
Yes God allowed some bad things to happen to Job – but I have had so many times in my life when Job’s story ministered to me – I hope and pray that I am able to bless people a few thousand years after I turn to dust! The life I believe God calls us to is Not a life of love of things or money or other crap that the world says matters – it is a life that Loves others like Jesus Loved them and is willing to risk or go through whatever they are given the opportunity to go through in order to shine that Love Light – The Love from Above!
Just my way of seeing it Rod – hope that helps!
Thanks Bob, I like your humble sincerity. I don’t understand why so few people seem to understand what Jesus was saying, and this becomes a stumbling block to more people being saved. You’re the first person I have found who is prepared to debate what the bible is really saying. Rod
Rod, Thank you so very much!
I am so very encouraged and humbled by what you say. I appreciate your sharing and honest questions.
Thank you so very much for Being!