April 2024

Dear Church,

What is it about carrying the cross?

And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’ Luke 9:23

Arthur Blessitt, an American evangelist, made a wooden cross for himself and carried it on his back, walking for more than 42,000 miles by foot across 324 different countries preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. His efforts won many souls to Christ. This is an example of someone physically carrying a cross, but what does Jesus mean by taking up our cross daily. 

In Jesus’ time, the people who were convicted by the Roman courts and were given the death sentence were forced to carry the cross before the soldiers crucified them. Here, Jesus is challenging His disciples who choose to follow Him to pass the death sentence on himself and crucify his worldly desires on the cross. The word ‘deny’ means ‘forgetting about oneself’. Jesus spoke continually about self-denial, keeping God and His people before them.

At the end of Pauls’ ministry Paul warns Timothy that in the last days men will be lovers of self and not be willing to deny themselves. We do not have to carry the cross for miles like Blessitt. However, we believers must deny all cravings of flesh and follow the footsteps of Jesus. We too must endure the cross just like Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Christianity is not about wearing the cross around our necks or hanging the cross in our cars or at home. It is not necessary to show our identity in Christ by wearing or hanging for others’ view. It should be evident from the way we live out for Christ. That will make the real mark.
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God Bless,
Amutha