What Makes Our Cross Heavy?
Tuesday Thought 10.8.24
In all three synoptic gospels, Jesus tells us that to follow him means to “take up our cross.” What is our cross? What was Jesus’ cross? The cross of Jesus was made heavy because of our rebellions and resistance to his truth and love. The heaviness came from our sin. I’m thinking part of what makes our cross heavy and what Jesus asks us to carry is also related to others’ sin. Specifically, the consequences of the sins against us. Did we endure a pattern of parental angry overreaction to our childish misbehavior? How emotionally safe do we feel with authorities? Have we been physically mistreated? Or subject to a pattern of getting beaten up? Have we ever been afraid for our lives? How much anxiety do we deal with? How much shame? Were we sinned against s*xually? Did someone we trusted exploit that trust for his/her own pleasure? What consequences have we suffered in our marriages? And how slow are we to trust trustworthy people? God means to bring substantial healing for us from life-altering trauma of various kinds. And we seek, ask, and pray for that healing. But there will be continuing consequences that will not be fully healed until heaven. Because some sins against us set us up for long term anxiety, shame, and distrust. Those are hard crosses. Jesus endured his cross for the joy set before Him. We can also work towards putting our crosses into the same kind of perspective. We, also, can anticipate the joy that C.S. Lewis says is the “serious business of heaven.” The Lord bless you and keep you all your days. Matthew 16:24 Luke 9:23 Mark 8:34