East Ridge Pres

Luke 9 “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Every time that Jesus predicts his own death on the cross he follows that with another teaching. Every time he says “I have a cross to bear” he follows that by saying “Every one of my disciples has a cross to bear as well.” As Jesus’ cross is the center of the Christian faith. The disciple’s cross is the center of the Christian life. You have a cross that you must bear. A cross means pain. A cross means suffering. A cross means self-sacrifice and self-denial. A cross means rejection and hatred. A cross means being shamed and humbled before the world. A cross means obedience. Suffering for Jesus. Jesus is telling us that obedience means suffering and sacrifice and rejection. Do you have such crosses in your life? Or are you running from your cross? Are you re