Jesus calls us to pick up our cross and follow him.
First, he calls. He speaks first because we are unable to be the first. Jesus calls us into God's holy presence, not because of something we did - for we are sinners in need of grace and salvation apart from ourselves - but because God did the unthinkable in the Incarnation. Jesus calls us because he first fulfilled the calling that we could not.
Jesus calls us to pick up our cross. The same type of cross that Jesus carried on his back. Jesus who was crushed for our transgressions and plagued with our infirmities. The very cross of pain and brutality. The cross that lead to the crucifixion, dying on a tree and being condemned for it. Jesus died on that cross. Jesus did it for the very community that could not. Jesus became the propitiation for our sin. Jesus....
Jesus calls us to follow him. My God, I am too afraid. I am afraid of the cross that leads to death. I am afraid of the sin within me that keeps me from completely and wholeheartedly trusting. I am afraid of the nails. I am afraid of the whip and the crown. I am afraid...and I know you were too.
You feared separation. You feared damnation. But you never, ever doubted that God was more powerful than what you feared. God, who was more powerful than death. More powerful than fear. More powerful than any other principality or power. And on the third day, all glory and honor were yours, for Jesus rose.
Jesus calls us to pick up our cross because the cross is light for Jesus carries it for us. Jesus calls us to follow him unto death, that we might be baptized and born again. Then Jesus calls us to a life of sacrificial love because that is why Jesus died. But our love will grow and expand the kingdom. And when Jesus comes back, oh how glorious it will be.
So pick up your cross. Follow. Jesus loves, cares, and calls us to be his, no matter what.
