I have been wrestling much as of late with what it means to be a follower of Jesus. I want to live a life that is sold out to Jesus completely…kinda, sorta. As long as following him doesn’t cost me a lot. A kind of long distance relationship, like a good friend who I can instantly pick up conversation with after weeks with no communication and everything is fine. A relationship in which I can check in occasionally to catch an update, but with no real interaction. After all that is what it means to be follow, right?
It’s easy for me to justify Jesus command to “deny yourself, and follow me” in terms of my generation. In which following someone happens over a computer screen via twitter or Facebook. This way I can stay connected to those I love with no real commitment, no real interaction. It’s fast, easy, concise (especially twitter), and I choose when I am interested and when I’m not. I choose and filter what comes in and out…what is valid and what is not…I rule. I follow on my terms.
However, the call of Jesus comes on his terms. Not in the form of a one-time click to “follow” and receive occasional updates on how to live, but a lifelong process of learning to die to my need to rule, and submit to him by bearing my allotted cross. Following Jesus is tough, takes time, commitment, devotion, and calls us to a complete death of ourselves.
Hear the command of Jesus to “deny yourself, and follow me” in light of theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s words,
“The cross means sharing the suffering of Christ to the last and to the fullest. Only a man thus totally committed in discipleship can experience the meaning of the cross. The cross is there, right from the beginning, he has only got to pick it up: there is no need for him to go out and look for a cross for himself, no need for him deliberately to run after suffering. Jesus says that every Christian has his own cross waiting for him, a cross destined and appointed by God. Each must endure his allotted share of suffering and rejection. But each has a different share: some God deems worthy of the highest form of suffering, and gives them the grace or martyrdom, while others he does not allow to be tempted above that which they are able to bear. But it is the one and the same cross in every case.”
So the question comes to me…and to you: What is our cross? How can we learn to follow Christ by bearing the cross he has allotted for us? Are we willing to do that?—Too follow the One who walked “the way of suffering,” to be crucified with him, to die with him and find real life.
In 140 characters or less…“May God give us wisdom to see our crosses, courage to take them up, and strength to bear them joyfully.”
