Lent: Day 5 Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me
The Wood Between the Worlds (By Brian Zahnd)
Chapter 5: The Road of Discipleship
Growing up, my favorite Bible verse was Mark 8:34…
“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.’”
Prior to saying this to his disciples, Peter had an all-star moment when he declared that Jesus is the Messiah. It’s a big moment for Peter, but we find out quickly that Peter’s thoughts about who the Messiah is, and what he will do, is not in line with what the Messiah actually came to do.
For Jesus’ disciples, the Messiah was going to come and save Israel from Roman occupation, and reclaim Jerusalem for God. The disciples probably expected that at some point Jesus would gather a large crowd and lead a revolt on Jerusalem.
Immediately after Peter’s “good confession” Mark writes, “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again” (Mk. 8:31).
Peter rebuked Jesus. What is this talk of suffering, being rejected, and dying? Now is not the time to project weakness. This is not how you win. This not how you gain power and control.
Jesus replied to Peter (while also looking at the other disciples)…
“‘Get behind me, Satan!’ he said. ‘You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’” (Mk. 8:33)
When Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness, Satan tempted him to take a shortcut to power. He wanted Jesus to be arrogant about being the Son of God, saying…“If you are the Son of God… turn these stones into bread…throw yourself down from this high point and see if your Father doesn’t rescue you.” (Mt. 4)
Lastly, Satan says, “If you bow down before me, I will give you all the kingdoms of the world” (Mt. 4:8-9).
Satan knew just as well as Jesus, that the only way to exaltation is through humility and sacrifice.
The way to life is the way of the cross.
Instead of calling the shots for himself, Jesus trusted in his Abba all the way. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Mt. 26:39)
When Jesus invites us to take up our cross and follow him, he is asking us to trust him even if following him leads us to a cross. For Jesus’ disciples, and many Christians over the last two thousand years, the cross wasn’t just a metaphor for being inconvenienced or being uncomfortable. Sadly, that is what it has come to mean for American Christians.
Regarding American Christians in particular, Zahnd writes… “The loss of memory regarding martyrs is a particular form of Protestant poverty. But this is what happens when a theology of glory eclipses a theology of the cross” (Zahnd, p. 48).
We would rather know the names and stories of Christians in scripture and throughout church history who were victorious against the odds, instead hearing about all of the martyrs who gladly suffered with and for Jesus.
One such martyr that Zahnd writes about in this chapter is Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who is probably the most well known martyr over the last hundred years. Dietrich was an influential German Pastor during WWII who refused to pledge allegiance to Hitler and the Nazi’s, and he lost his life because of it. Thankfully, Bonhoeffer wrote sermons, letters, and books that continue to challenge us today. The most well-known of Bonhoeffer’s books is titled, “The Cost of Discipleship.”
Bonhoeffer writes…
“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When it comes, it is not an accident, but a necessity. It is not the sort of suffering which is inseparable from this mortal life, but the suffering which is an essential part of the specifically Christian life. It is not suffering per se but suffering and rejection for the sake of Christ…But this notion has ceased to be intelligible to a Christianity which can no longer see any difference between ordinary human life and a life committed to Christ.” (Bonhoeffer, shared by Zahnd, p. 48)
Bonhoeffer warns against cheap grace, which is “Grace without discipleship, grace without the cross.” (Bonhoeffer shared by Zahnd, p. 49)
For many Christians this looks like believing in Jesus primarily for afterlife benefits, while avoiding anything that might resemble a cross - be it persecution, ridicule, threats, humility, and vulnerability.
Jesus rebuked Peter for trying to tempt him to bypass the cross on the way to glory.
Years later, Peter would pen these words…
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (1 Peter 4:12-14)
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said…
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Mt. 5:11-12)
Rejoice and be glad.
Amen.