Perspectives on Suffering and Evil VI: The Disciple’s Cross                   2009.09.27 (Matthew 16:13-16, 21-28)                                          Pastor Richard Yu

In Matthew 16, Peter makes the correct confession about Jesus’ identity, nevertheless, by Christ, he did not mean what we now mean. When we refer to Jesus as the Christ we think of him in light of the whole teaching of the New Testament, that includes not only his birth and works on earth, but also his crucifixion, burial, resurrection, ascension, and his future coming. But when Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ he still didn’t have the slightest idea (or room in his thinking) for a crucified Messiah; it must have been a shock to Peter when he hears this. Moreover, while the disciples were still in disbelief over Jesus’ incredible prediction, he tells them that if any of them wish to follow him he must deny himself and takes up his cross and follow him (and even daily).

To deny oneself is to give up ownership on oneself; to disown, or to renounce claim on oneself. One who follows Jesus must realize that his life is no longer his own to do as he pleases. Thus, a disciple’s career, pleasures, material possession, and indeed, all parts of life, are not a matter of personal choice alone, but must be subjected to the Lord’s claim on one’s life.

The cross was an infamous symbol of disgrace, torture, shame and death in the Roman world. It was an instrument of execution reserved for run-away slaves and political insurrectionists. When you take up your cross you are dying to the world and to yourself, you have nothing to live for or hope for, you have only pain, suffering, and shame left. 

Today, when we speak of our crosses to bear, we quite often speak of an unwanted condition in our life, an unpleasant long-term circumstance, a burden which we’re unwilling to bear, a disappointment in life, even just an inconvenience, and sometimes we almost mean it in a frivolous way, referring to certain behavior of our spouse, parents, children, or co-workers . . . etc.

But Jesus comes along and says unless you take up your cross and follow me you cannot be my disciples. Which means a follower of Jesus is to have the attitude that says, “I do not have the right to determine my own course of life. I am dead, crucified with Jesus. I live to serve him only.” This is the standard Jesus sets up for his followers. To be his followers is, in part, to suffer as he suffered – on the cross.

“It has been granted to you,” Paul writes, “on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him” (Phil. 1:29). It’s a concept of grace – it’s our great privilege to have come to faith and it’s our great privilege to have come to suffering for Jesus’ sake. ^“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matt. 5:10-11), says Jesus. Again, we find in Philippians 3:10, Paul writes, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”

Most of the passages that talk about suffering have something to do with suffering for the sake of righteousness, with persecutions. That means as long as we determinedly follow Jesus as our Lord and Savior and seek his righteous kingdom in this sin-cursed world, we will meet all kinds of rejections and persecutions that would result in pain and suffering – although essentially minor as compared to Jesus’ suffering on the cross – that is just part of the Christian life that is to be expected. May God in our time raise another generation of Christians who love the cross, not only the cross of Christ, but also the cross we are called to life up and bear.

Finally, when Christians or the church is going through suffering, one of the genuine marks of spiritual maturity is confession. Mature believers would not be so interested in trying to find explanations to our strugglings or justifying God’s action in it; we would be instead much more inclined to speak of the goodness of God, and more deliberate on confessing the sovereignty, faithfulness, justice, and love of God.

What I have been attempting to do is to establish a biblically faithful Christian worldview on human suffering and bringing everything to the centrality of the cross and the resurrection. All six of these perspectives need to be considered together; and if you understand them and embrace them with your heart and mind, then when the painful suffering comes your way, your faith would be much better informed, your confidence in Christ will be much more secured, and you’ll be far more stable even as you cry out in agony and in loneliness.