Matthew 16:24 KJV
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Taking up the cross is not being crucified. It is what Jesus did before He got crucified. He took up the cross, because He was willing to be crucified.
John 19:16-17 KJV
[16] Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
[17] And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
Jesus had prayed to His Father asking for that “cup to pass from Him.” Jesus may not have known if the Father would grant that request, and keep Him from getting crucified. If not, He was willing to die on the cross. Jesus was going to obey His Father, regardless of the cost.
You taking up your cross = you being willing to be crucified, to suffer whatever, if necessary to obey the Lord.
Crucifixion was a method of execution for criminals, the worst criminals. So even taking up the cross, before the actual crucifixion, was shameful and humiliating. Be willing to lose your reputation, be shameful in people’s eyes, humiliated, if necessary, to obey the Lord.
Thank you, Mark A., for this teaching.
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