Taking Up Your Cross. Mark 8:34-38

I realize it's been a little while since I've posted anything on the site and honestly I've missed doing it. Summers in youth ministry are busy times and I hope when you see that there is no post on the site you'll pray for us.

I've posted this particular passage because of a few conversations I've had with people in the past couple of weeks. I'm realizing that there are a lot of people out there that don't really have a clue what it means to be a Christian. Trust me, I don't say that with arrogance and I'm not suggesting I have it all figured out. However, I have read the bible and you'd be amazed at the things people will say is Christianity that have absolutely nothing to do with the scripture. We must let scripture define what it means to know God, follow Jesus, and love people.

This passage is clear. If you want to know what it means to follow Jesus this is it...you die. You take up your cross, or your preferred mode of execution and lose your life. Why? Because that's what Jesus did. He did it because it was the only path to real life. The same is true for us. If you want a real life, you have to give up your life. It makes plenty of sense if you think about it. You can't have a terrible life and a great life. You have to give up one or the other because they cannot coexist with one another. Pick the good life, give up your life.

Mark 8:34-38
34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."