The Weight of Glory: What Does It Mean to Take Up the Cross?
In a world that markets “living your best life now,” the words of Jesus in Luke 9:23 strike a discordant note: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Taking up the cross is not a suggestion for the “super-spiritual”; it is the non-negotiable job description of every believer. The cross is not a decorative piece of jewelry, but a daily instrument of surrender. If we seek a comfortable life, we must look toward eternity; here, we are called to the “blessed burden” of the cross. The Cross of Shame The cross was, first and foremost, an instrument of public execution and profound shame. In Hebrews 12:2, we read that Jesus “endured the cross, despising the shame.” To despise the shame means to look down upon it as insignificant compared to the glory ahead. The cross has a particular shame attached to it, yet Jesus withstood it for the joy set before Him. When we suffer reproach, false accusations, or social d...
