TAKING UP THE CROSS!
(Adapted from: John Gill's "Exposition of the Bible" Matthew 16:24)
Focus Verse Of The Week
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up hs cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24, ESV)
Classic Commentary
Then said Jesus unto his disciples: Knowing that thye had all imbibed the same notion of a temporal kingdom, and were in expectation of worldly riches, honour, and pleasure; he took this opportunity of preaching the doctrine of the cross to them, and of letting them know, that they must prepare for persecutions, sufferings, and death; which they must expect to endure, as well as he, if they would be his disciples:
If any man will come after me: that is, "be a disciple and follower of him," it being usual for the master to go before, and the ddisciples to follow after him: now let it be who it will, rich or poor, learned or unlearned, young or old, male or female, that have any inclination and desire, or have took up a resolution in the strength of grace, to be a disciple of Christ,
Let him deny himself: let him deny sinful self, ungodliness, and worldy lust; and part with them, and his former sinful companions, which were as a part of himself: let him deny righteous self, and renounce all his own works of righteousness, in the business of justificatiion and salvation; let him deny the pleasures and profits of this world, when in competition with Christ; let him drop and banish all his notions and expectations of an earthly kingdom, and worldy grandeur, and think of nothing but reproach, persecution, and death, for the sake of his Lord and Master; and
Take up his cross; cheefully receive, and patiently bear, every affliction and evil, however shameful and painful it may be, which is appointed for him, and he is called unto; which is his peculiar cross, as every Christian has his own; to which he should quietly submit; and carry, with an entire resignation to The Will of God, in imitation of his Lord;
And follow Me; in the execise of grace, as humility, zeal, patience, and self-denial; and in the discharge of every duty, moral, or evangelical; and through sufferings and death, to his kingdom and glory. The allusion is to Christ's bearin His own cross, and Simeon's carrying it after Him, which afterwards came to pass.
A Thought To Keep
Following Jesus Christ means putting aside our own expectations and desires. Often we have to "Take up our cross daily" by shedding everything else!
"Study To Shew Thyself Approved Unto God, A Workman That Needeth Not To Be Ashamed, Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth" II Timothy 2:15
