March 4, 2012 · Mark 8:34

Take Up Your Cross

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

“We live in a sinful generation — but you are freed from sin — and — Holy Spirit regeneration. Are you ashamed of Christ when his name is mentioned publicly? … They didn't know. You keep it quiet when he's mocked? Do you, like, silently accede to a culture's rejection of Jesus and embracing sin? Are you ashamed of his words in the Scriptures? Just want to say: Jesus is not a pushover. He is a forgiver. That is the amazing thing. And if you do misstep, he's quick to forgive when you ask him. He taught forgiveness. It's actually one of the most important teachings in the Scriptures, actually. One of the most powerful things. One of the things that sets us apart from so many other teachings — that we have to turn the other cheek. But at the same time, at some point, he is going to be the boss. Everyone will acknowledge it. And he commanded you to take up your cross. So if you're ashamed of him when he comes back in glory, for all the people who have these stories of suffering horribly — we have to say sorry, or say, "I bore these pains for thee." One of the few things in this life that I couldn't stand would be to shame my father — to bring shame to my mother. I can't imagine doing that.”