July 24: Insight Post by Bret Burzio
Friday Insight Post
by J. Bret Burzio, Sr.
One of our Bible reading verses this week is a remarkable call to action designed to encourage an immediate response. Mark 8:34 (NLT) says, “Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, ‘If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me.’” It’s important to understand the context of the times in which Jesus was asking the gathered crowd to “take up your cross.” The crowd in Jesus’ day understood with immediate clarity that a cross didn’t just mean pain and suffering. It meant death. The Romans in Jesus’ day were known to have crucified thousands in as little as a day during times of revolt. The crowd understood the serious consequences of Jesus’ call for them to join Him. To pick up a cross meant death. I know that’s hard to think about in these comfortable days we live.
It was only a short time after making this call that Jesus submitted Himself to God’s will in the ultimate way. He knew He would be taking up the cross and be sacrificed for our sins upon it. His act of submission was the single most profound expression of love and trust by anyone, ever. And He calls us to the same act of submission. But let’s keep our focus on the fact that Jesus’ submission to His Father’s will was one of perfect love. And there was also joy in the act for Jesus as we see in Hebrews 12:2 (NASB), “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross…”
Can we allow ourselves to think about submission as an act of love that results in joy? It’s what Jesus modeled for us while He walked with us as a man on this earth. It’s what Jesus modeled for us in His death on the cross. Jesus submitted to the will of His Father. And His Father is Love (1 John 4:8). Jesus submitted knowing His Father’s promises are true and produce everlasting joy (Isaiah 35:10). So, are we willing to heed Jesus’ call to action to give up our own ways, take up our cross, and to follow Him in the same way? As I look at Jesus’ example, I simply can’t think of anything better!
J. Bret Burzio, Sr.
Executive Administrator
New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
newhope.org