Taking Up Our Cross

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16: 24)

Christ came and paid the ultimate price so that we may have eternal life. He did this for us. Our daily crosses can’t compare to what Christ did for us. “In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace.” (Ephesians 1:7) But the cross he carried to his crucifixion isn’t the only cross he bore.

Throughout his ministry he bore the same crosses that we are called to carry. He dealt with temptation, he was betrayed by his closest friends, he felt abandoned by his father, he wept over the death of his friend Lazarus; rumors were spread about him and he was accused of blasphemy. He was constantly being sought out by the sick and the outcast.

We will all have crosses to carry in our lives. To take up the cross is to make a conscious decision to embrace it as one’s call to follow Jesus. We can look to Christ for the perfect example of how to carry our cross with grace. He prayed often. Instead falling into despair, he cried out to his Father asking “why have you forsaken me?”  He mourned the death of his friend and comforted others in their grief. He turned the other cheek; he didn’t return the hate that he received.  He touched the leper, spoke words of love to the adulterous woman. He had great compassion for others and gave of himself constantly. When we are overwhelmed with life, we can call on Him to provide us the strength we need to continue being Christ to others and follow him.