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Foreshadowing of the Cross
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furnace fire the disciple was to learn its blessing. Long afterward he
wrote, “Rejoice in so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you
may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.”
1 Peter
4:13
, RSV.
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Jesus now explained to His disciples that His own life of self-
abnegation was an example of what theirs should be: “If any man
will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,
and follow Me.” The cross, associated with the power of Rome,
was the most cruel and humiliating form of death. Criminals were
required to bear the cross to the place of execution. Often as it was
laid on their shoulders, they resisted with desperate violence, until
they were overpowered. To the disciples Jesus’ words, though dimly
comprehended, pointed to their submission to death for the sake of
Christ.
No more complete self-surrender could the Saviour’s words have
pictured. But all this He had accepted for them. He left the heavenly
courts for a life of reproach and insult, and a death of shame. He who
was rich in heaven’s priceless treasure, became poor, that through
His poverty we might be rich. We are to follow in the path He trod.
Love for souls means crucifixion of self. He who is a child of
God should look on himself as a link in the chain let down to save
the world, one with Christ, going forth with Him to seek and save the
lost. The Christian has consecrated himself to God, and in character
he is to reveal Christ to the world.
“Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall
lose his life for My sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.”
Selfishness is death. The heart, failing to send its lifeblood to the
hand and the head, would quickly lose its power. So is the love of
Christ diffused through every part of His mystical body. We are
members one of another, and the soul that refuses to impart will
perish. “What is a man profited,” said Jesus, “if he shall gain the
whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in
exchange for his soul?”
Christ pointed the disciples to His coming in glory with the hosts
of heaven. Then He said, “He shall reward every man according
to his works.” And for their encouragement He promised, “Verily I
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say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of
death, till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom.”