When I survey the Horrible Cross

intro

Oh the Wonderful Cross is the name of the Song, Another song is called the Old rugged cross. The song goes:

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross Till my trophies at last I lay down And I will cling to the old rugged cross And exchange it some day for a crown.

The cross is both the most beautful symbol to some and the most horrible to others.

Now you may say, sure to the chriostian it is beautiful and to the unbeleieverr it is not. However, that is not always the case.

The cross, as a symbol of what it represents is often shunned by many Christians. Believe it or not, the first Christian to dispise the cross was not Judas Iscariot, but Peter himself.

Peter, at first, never understood the cross. Later he would come to love it, so much that he himself chose to be crusified upside down as to not dishonor the Lord crusifixion, but it was a rough start.

What is the cross andf what does it mean to us as Christians, who are each called to bear our own Cross?

Luke 9:23 AV

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Our Story starts right after peter’s powerfiul confesion that Jesus is the Christ.

Mark 8:31–38 AV

31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. 34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For 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. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

This announcement stunned the disciples.

If He is indeed the Christ of God, as they had confessed, then why would He be rejected by the religious leaders?

Why would these leaders crucify Him?

Did not the Old Testament Scriptures promise that Messiah would defeat all their enemies and establish a glorious kingdom for Israel?

There was something wrong somewhere and the disciples were confused.

True to character, it was Peter who expressed their concern.

One minute Peter was led by God to confess his faith in Jesus Christ and the next minute he was thinking like an unbelieving man and expressing the thoughts of Satan!

This is a warning to us that when we argue with God’s Word, we open the door for Satan’s lies.

One minute Peter was a “rock,” and the next minute he was a stumbling block!

Note, however, that when Jesus rebuked Peter, He also “looked on His disciples,” because they agreed with Peter’s assessment of the situation!

But the problem was more than theological; it was very practical.

Jesus had called these men to follow Him, and they knew that whatever happened to Him would happen to them.

If there was a cross in His future, there would be one in their future as well. That would be reason enough to disagree with Him!

In spite of their devotion to Him, the disciples were still ignorant of the true relationship between the cross and the crown.

They were following Satan’s philosophy (glory without suffering) instead of God’s philosophy (suffering transformed into glory).

Which philosophy you accept will determine how you live and how you serve.

Jesus summoned the people and taught them what He taught His own disciples: there is a price to pay for true discipleship.

Jesus laid down three conditions for true discipleship:

(1) we must surrender ourselves completely to Him;

Denying self is not the same as self-denial.

We practice self-denial when, for a good purpose, we occasionally give up things or activities.

But we deny self when we surrender ourselves to Christ and determine to obey His will.

This once-for-all dedication is followed by a daily “dying to self” as we take up the cross and follow Him.

From the human point of view, we are losing ourselves, but from the divine perspective, we are finding ourselves.

When we live for Christ, we become more like Him, and this brings out our own unique individuality.

To surrender to Christ is simply surrendering to God’s Word and Commands.

(2) we must identify with Him in suffering and death; and

Discipleship is a matter of profit and loss, a question of whether we will waste our lives or invest our lives.

Note the severe warning Jesus gives us here: once we have spent our lives, we cannot buy them back!

“Losing your soul” is the equivalent of wasting your life, missing the great opportunities God gives you to make your life count.

You may “gain the whole world” and be a success in the eyes of men, and yet have nothing to show for your life when you stand before God.

In choosing to obey God’s Word over our own will or mans will, WILL result in loss.

It can be loss of friends and family. Loss of money and income. Loss of respewct amoung your peers and yes even the loss of your very life.

The true disciple however, knows that whtever they loose in this life is service to God, the Lord will repay in the next.

Paul lost everything, even his life to God, yes to all he lost he said:

Philippians 3:8 AV

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Telling your friends might about Jesus might cost you their friendship, a true disciple bears this loss.

paying your tithes might mean that you run short of money. A true disciple bears trhis loss.

Nowdays going to church might get you killed. A true disciples bears this loss.

(3) we must follow Him obediently, wherever He leads.

If we live for ourselves, we will lose ourselves, but if we lose ourselves for His sake and the Gospel’s, we will find ourselves.

Peter had a vision of his future. All the disciples had thew same vision.

Jesus was on the throne of David. Herod was bgowing down, pilate was worshipping him. They were seated on his right and left hand in seats of gold in posisions of honour.

This was their vision of the future.

And in a single sentamnce, Jesus destroyed it.

He would be mocked by Herod, beaten to death by Pilate and they would suffer a similar horrible fate.

No wonder they rejected it!

BVut this is what it means to follow Jesus wherever he leads. It means to give up your dreams and hopes for the future and say,”NOT MY WILL BE DONE, BUT THY WILL BE DONE.

Peter once said:

John 13:36–37 AV

36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. 37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

And within 24 hours he denied the Lord 3 times. Peter was not yet a true disciple.My friends it is so easy to serve the Lord with lip service, but the day will reveal every mans true faith when it is tried by fire.

Conclusion:

Are you a true disciple? Do you truly love and cling to the old rugged cross you are called to bear? Are you activly seeking to save yoour life, or are you willing to loose it for His aake?

Many people once said: I will follow you whever you go!”, but covid has made them dissapear.

Where is your faith today? Are you willing to lay down your life?

John 12:25 AV

25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.