The Way of the Cross
34 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. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
21st October 2024: Horsham, West Sussex
For those of us who think of ourselves as followers of Jesus, there’s some really important stuff here. It’s worth noting that Christ’s words appear in virtually identical form in Matthews Gospel (Matthew 16: 24-26).
You may remember that when discussing the greatest of commandments, Jesus affirms that the first is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind (Mark 12:30).
Without meaning to get too technical, there’s a Greek word psychēn. This word is variously translated into English as ‘life’ or ‘soul’. It sort of means the whole self. Heart, soul, strength and mind. The eternal self.
This is the word which is used several times in this passage.
You will lose your psychēn, says Jesus unless you give it to Christ, for the sake of the gospel. But if you give it to Him, you will gain it for eternity. This is the heart of the Gospel. Offer your life, your soul, your heart and your mind to Christ and you will receive salvation – eternal life.
The second part of this scripture (v36) seems to be out of step with our culture . Like us, the disciples lived in a materialistic world. They, like us, were expected to surround themselves valuable stuff. That would give them high status in their community. In material terms, ‘gaining the whole world‘ or at least as much of it as we can get, is exactly what society expects us to do.
Jesus has taught already that people around you are always going to be impressed by personal wealth and possessions, but before God, such things are meaningless.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 9:19-24)
Nowhere does Scripture suggest that following Jesus will lead to riches or an easy ride. Nowhere does Scripture suggest that following Jesus will be easy. On the contrary, he says standing up for Him is likely to be a tough path (John 15:18-19), and generations of saints testify that this is the case. But that’s the path you are to follow.
Never forget that even today, around the world, followers of Jesus are suffering pain and hardship every day. In too many cases, they face even torture and death as the price for following Jesus.
The disciples lived in a challenging culture, and in terms of your faith, so do you. Following Jesus has always meant being different. Deny yourself, stand out from the cultural norm – be different. Don’t lose your life by constantly pursuing material wealth and high status. Rather pick up each day whatever cross he has given you to carry. Give yourself wholly to Him. Fix your eyes on Christ (Hebrews 12:1-2). Follow confidently wherever Christ takes you. Listen to his words and put them into practice. Allow Christ to shape your identity and the way that you live your life. Heart, soul, mind and strength. Your whole being. Your psychēn.
This is what it means to follow Jesus. This is the Way of the Cross.