The Cross as a Mission and Purpose

June 25

Read: Mark 8:27-9:1

The Cross as a Mission and Purpose

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me…” - Jesus

What if the cross is so much more than simply “suffering” and “ridicule”? What if the cross represents something larger, more all-encompassing for Jesus than simply the facets of pain and death? The cross was not simply a moment of suffering in the life of Jesus (although it was indeed a distinct and profound instance of it for sure! but rather something that represented the very mission and purpose of Jesus coming to earth. This is the role of “the cross” for Jesus.

We see this played out in the scriptures: “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:17,18) We can see here that the cross resents the entirety of Jesus’ mission and message for Paul. No doubt it is a central point of the story, but we know that Paul spoke about all of the elements of Jesus’ life - including his resurrection - and yet he is willing to speak about this as “the cross”. Or take for instance here; "Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.” ( Phil. 3:17,18) Here we see to walk in opposition to Christ is to walk in opposition to “the cross of Christ”. This theme is played out over and over again. The cross is a defining factor of the life of Jesus and it represents his MISSION and PURPOSE as much as it represents the acts of suffering and death that would come from it.

It is fascinating that Jesus would use this wording right now, at this point, in the narrative of Mark. No doubt we probably read it looking backwards through the crucifixion - but these hearers would have been listening BEFORE Jesus had died on the cross! What were they thinking? It would seem like “taking up ones cross” was as much a “denial of self” as it was a “suffering and hardship”. (cf. v.35) The language of Jesus is a language of laying down ones life to save it… it is a message of purpose and meaning… challenging a person to identify their ultimate allegiance in this world.

Why does this matter? Because we have probably been taught that “taking up ones cross” should be seen as a one dimensional call to be willing to “suffer” and “suck it up”. I don’t think Jesus is saying that exactly. What Jesus seems to be saying is much larger and more profound. Jesus is calling us to “take up” and “embrace” the larger mission and purpose that God the Father has called us to… the same way the Jesus is doing this. Jesus is embracing the mission and purpose that the Father has entrusted to him. He just finished telling his disciple what he was headed to do. Jesus is calling us to be willing to take upon ourselves the work the Father gives to us. The Father is not giving us the work of dying on a cross for our sins or the ins of the world… we could not do that! Jesus is embracing HIS mission and purpose, and is calling us to do the same - to surrender to what the Father has called us to!

This is include both joy and sorrow, hard times and easy times, rejoicing and mourning… this is what it looks like to carry the cross… we carry it through each and every season of lie. We do not seek to “save our lives” by pursuing only what is easy and safe… but we embrace what God has for us in the good and the bad. This is crucial, otherwise we run the risk of becoming Christians who are good at “suffering” but have no purpose! No one endures suffering without purpose. The opposite has been proven true though: people have endured GREAT suffering and survived to tell about it when they have had a clear picture of their purpose and meaning in life. (Think of survival stories from people being lost at sea, to overcoming being a POW, to the concentration camps of the world.) Comfort is a fleeting goal / virtue but purpose, meaning, and mission are rock-solid. They will carry a person through… they will “save ones life”. Jesus declares, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.” (v.35) Jesus is not asking you to do what only he can … he is not asking you to die on a cross… that was HIS job. What Jesus IS calling you to do is to find your meaning and purpose in HIM, and to be willing to pick up / carry / be defined by that meaning and purpose… this is your “cross”.

We know this in a way. People will say all the time, “it is MY cross to bear”. This is a way to acknowledge that it is a part of their unique and specific journey and purpose in life. We will have to navigate suffering and hardship in life… but this is not the sum total of the Christian journey. The Christian journey is more rightly defined by the mission and purpose God calls us to- which supersedes both comfort and heartache. This is what Jesus is calling us to “pick up”. Are you ready? Are you willing? Are you afraid? The Lord will provide. He will strengthen. He will guide. The Christian journey is so much more than just “sucking it up”, “sticking it our”, “hanging in there”, and “suffering till the end”! There is abundant life in the mission and purpose the Father gives to us as his children. You have been mad to worship him. You have been made to carry out good deeds he has planned for you. You have been made to represent him in this world as a “royal priesthood” and a “holy nation”. You have been made “ambassadors”. There are so many more pictures within the scriptures, but these are all things that stretch beyond suffering and lead to purpose and mission. May we carry our crosses proudly! Love you guys. - JDP