“WHOEVER WANTS TO BE MY DISCIPLE MUST … TAKE UP THEIR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME.” —MATTHEW 16:24, NIV
Much of modern spirituality is focused on the individual. It’s all about what seems right to you; what makes you happy; what will allow you to fulfill your goals and aspirations.
Jesus stands in opposition to this spirituality of self when He says that if we really want to find ourselves, we have to die to ourselves. We have to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24-25).
If anyone wants to follow Jesus, they need to first say “no” to themselves and let Jesus be ahead of us. He’s number one.
I’ll admit, being number two doesn’t come naturally to most humans. In fact, the kingdom of heaven is exactly opposite to most of our inclinations. We have a powerful drive for self-preservation, and that’s normal. But Jesus showed us a supernatural way to live and survive. It’s not the way that seems natural; it’s not worldly. And it’s certainly not the way that the enemy leads.
When we step out of line and move to the front position, we become fair game for Satan. He will lie to us, steal from us, and try to destroy us. If we try to carry the burden of anticipating an unknown future, we can descend into all kinds of worry, fears, and anxieties.
We are not God; we are not in control, and we can’t even be sure about tomorrow. Most people will acknowledge these facts. So why put yourself in the number one position? We had no control over how or where we were born or the color of our skin or eyes. We were created, so it makes sense to put ourselves under the direction of the loving Creator who leads us into good things.
Even though He was fully God, as a man, Jesus put Himself in the number two position under the authority of His Father. He denied Himself, took up His cross, and was obedient to death.
His death and resurrection won for us true Life, and He modeled for us how to find that Life.
Thank goodness we don’t have to play God to obtain it. We can follow Jesus in the number two position. “If you take that crabbed tree [the cross] and carry it lovingly, it will become to you like wings to a bird and sails to a ship.” —Samuel Rutherford
