Matthew 10:24-39
Introduction
There are certain biblical phrases that have entered common speech. You have heard the phrase “reap the whirlwind” meaning you will face the consequences for your actions. That comes from Hosea 8:7. There is “by the skin of your teeth” which comes from Job 19:20. There is “the writing is on the wall” which comes from Daniel 5:5-6. We should not be surprised as the Bible has shaped our language and that legacy remains even if not as many people recognize the biblical connections.
You have perhaps heard the phrase “my cross to bear.” By this we mean some sort of obligation that is not pleasant. So for example, I am known for telling a large amount of dad jokes with varying quality. It could be said that my family enduring my jokes is their cross to bear. They might not enjoy it but because they are my family, they really have little choice but to deal with it. You might find something similar in your life, something that you are stuck with and has become your cross to bear. We understand this modern usage. But it too has biblical roots.
Matthew has Jesus say something similar twice in his Gospel. In Matthew 10, Jesus says “whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” In Matthew 16, Jesus says “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” If this is shared twice in one Gospel, it is probably important. Plus the kind of language Jesus is using here is pretty strong. It does not sound like it is something of secondary importance.
It is important that we understand the meaning of taking up the cross, especially as it us often been misinterpreted by Christians. In addition, the world in which we live is one that does not promote the kind of activity that Jesus is speaking about. So what we are going to do is to look at what carrying the cross does not mean and then look at what carrying the cross does mean.
What the Cross Does Not Mean
Part of the problem is this popular idea of our cross just about enduring something unpleasant. This is sometimes brought back to a connection with being a Christian but not the way Jesus meant. Let me expand.
We all have preferences and even convictions. There are things that are very important to us personally. This is completely normal and there is nothing wrong with it. But it may be that we feel that we have the right to never encounter anything that goes against those preferences and convictions. So for example, suppose you really believe swearing is wrong. You live this out by choosing not to swear. But then people around you swear, even though you wish they really would not. It may legitimately make you uncomfortable. But that is not a cross that Jesus is calling you to bear. It is just life. Life is about relationships and negotiating our various and sometimes contrary preferences. As we will see, Jesus means something else by a cross.
But before we go there, there is one other thing that is not a cross. Sometimes we do things that are unwise and then suffer the natural consequences of that. We know what the expectations are and yet we choose to do the opposite. There are consequences. If you get in trouble with your supervisor for falling asleep at work after staying up all night playing video games, that is not bearing a cross. That is just getting what you deserve for what you chose to do. Christians can tend to spiritualize things and see any discomfort as persecution. “They are giving me a hard time because I’m a Christian!” No, actually they are giving you a hard time because you did something stupid. The best thing we can do is listen to the correction, own our fault, and do better next time.
What the Cross Does Mean
It is easy to poke holes in claims that Christians are carrying their cross every time something uncomfortable happens but obviously Jesus meant something by that phrase. What did he mean?
We need to begin with the origin of the image. When Jesus talks about carrying the cross, his listeners did not have to use much imagination to picture it. Most likely they had all seen someone literally carrying their cross. Crucifixion was a common method for the Romans to execute people that they wanted to make an example of. This was not capital punishment like currently practiced in some states in the United States with it being a fairly private affair. The whole point of crucifixion was for it to be public so that it could be deterrent to others. The actual crucifixion was public but so was the lead up to the crucifixion. The condemned person would be forced to carry the cross or at least the beam of the cross to the crucifixion site. It would be like someone sentenced to the electric chair having to physically carry the chair from their cell to the building where the execution would take place. Jesus’ audience knew all too well what carrying the cross looked like.
But why use this image? It certainly is not great for marketing Christianity as a pleasant religion. Plus, as a Christian you might not compare the joy you have in worship to a condemned prisoner on their way to execution. We need to go deeper.
What was the experience of person carrying their cross, aside from the physical pain and fear of death? For one thing, they had a predetermined path. There was no wandering around or getting distracted. You knew where you had to go and the task was clear. Even if you were physically unable to continue, as ultimately happened to Jesus, someone would be pulled in to help carry the cross but the journey would continue.
Obviously, the person carrying the cross would want to be anywhere but there but their personal preferences were not taken into account. They could feel anyway they wanted but their actions were completely in submission to those who had authority over them.
What Does the Cross Mean For Us?
That’s fine for historical context, but why did Jesus tell us this? That’s a great question. Crucifixion might not be a part of our experience today what Jesus was saying is just as relevant.
The heart of the carry the cross image is the idea that it is not about our wants and desires. It is about not being in control and not striving for our own benefit. That is what a person carrying a cross two thousand years ago would experience and what we need to lean into today.
This is difficult because everything about society tells us that it is about us. We deserve this and we are entitled to that. We must seek control over our life and we must put ourselves first.
But Jesus says that those worthy of being his disciples must take up their cross and follow them. This is not about self-punishment but about setting aside our own comfort to follow Christ as Jesus set aside everything to be obedient to the Father.
For some, this sounds terrible. What kind of life is it to put aside our own priorities? That sounds like being a slave to religion! But the truth is that this is Jesus is setting us free from the bondage of selfish ambition. To be honest, spending every moment trying to gain more and more for ourselves is exhausting and and life-draining. What was the direction that Jesus gave us? Love God and love our neighbours. Yes, it is loving neighbours as ourselves but true life comes in putting God and others first.
What is the second ethical principle of the CAF Ethos? It is Serve Canada Before Self: “CAF personnel prioritize service to the country, the military and their teammates ahead of themselves as a personal commitment to mission success. As military professionals, we place service before self to maximize team effectiveness.” The CAF will not work if we put self first. Neither will humanity. Plenty of people are trying. Even though it may feel counter-intuitive, carrying our cross is actually the only way to true joy.
Conclusion
I understand that this is a difficult teaching. Few of us would promote Christianity by telling people it is like being a condemned criminal heading for execution.
Nor do I want to give off the idea that following Jesus is a joyless chore and that it is a sin for us to ever do anything for ourselves. Christianity does not teach self-hate. Christianity does teach putting God and others before ourselves. Learning to escape the trap of putting ourselves first will ultimately be a benefit to us. There is real joy in serving God and caring for others. After Jesus gave a similar teaching in Matthew 16, he said: “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” This is not just martyrdom but the revelation that as we crucify the self, we actually will discover true joy. I would like to leave you with one thought. What is one thing that you can do this week that puts the needs of others before your own personal need? Take that step and begin your journey of carrying your cross and thus embrace genuine discipleship.
