Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? (Mark 8: 31-36)
This is an uncompromising image of faith. What life-plans, hopes and ambitions make any sense in this moment? To take up our cross is to surrender all attempts to use life, religion and God for our own ends and needs – but the instinct to make such attempts runs very deep. It may look admirably devout and spiritual, but our peril is that we are engaging in activities that are powerless to save. We cannot save ourselves. To take up our cross is to set our mind on ‘divine things’, says Jesus. This all hinges on God and what he is about. All our hope is found here, for the cross is for ever the sign of a God who loves, saves, delivers and raises life out of the darkness of what is dead and lost. Those who lose their life here will find it.
For Reflection
What does ‘taking up your cross’ mean for you?
Prayer
Nothing in my hand I bring.
Simply to your cross I cling.
Rock of Ages – Augustus Toplady 1725
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