Thayer Thursday – The Humiliating Cross
Chris Thayer is the Director of Discipleship at Good Shepherd Church in Charlotte, NC where he oversees adult life groups and Biblical education. On Thursdays I share his weekly “Thayer’s Thoughts” for small group leaders, which are based on the previous Sunday’s sermon. Click HERE to watch or listen to the accompanying sermon.
For good reason, the cross has become the symbol of Christians around the world. Just about every church you drive by or visit will have a cross displayed prominently—often in its architecture. Walk into any Christian book store or jewelry store and you’ll likely find cross necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with this. They are often good reminders of what Jesus did for us. However, sometimes this familiarity and comfort with the cross causes us to forget that it was an instrument of death and torture. When Jesus says ‘pick up your cross and follow me’ in Matthew chapter 16, He didn’t mean a charm on a necklace—but the instrument of your own persecution and murder.
The cross was the most vile punishment the Romans had, and they reserved it for the worst offenders. If we were the ones Jesus was addressing in Matthew 16, His statement that His disciples must pick up their cross and follow Him would be shocking, revolting, and terrifying.
We miss much of this not only because our familiarity with the cross but also because of our understanding of the salvation Jesus achieved through His death on one. We have the benefit of seeing what the disciples didn’t understand at the time: that through the suffering of Jesus God’s plan for the rescue of all of humanity and creation was achieved. This was not how they anticipated God would achieve His plan.
Directly before today’s passage (Matthew 16:24-28), the disciples (Peter in particular) recognize that Jesus is the Messiah. The King. God’s anointed one who would rescue the world.
After Peter identifies Jesus as the Messiah, though, Jesus said that He was going to suffer and be killed. This was entirely counter to their expectations for the Messiah. Many first century Israelites (Peter included) expected that the Messiah was going to be a conquering king. A king who would overthrow the corruption of the current leadership of the land and the temple. Somebody who would deal a decisive blow to the oppressive Rome and restore Israel. That’s why Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him for saying He was going to suffer and die.
Their expectation, however, was too small a task for Jesus!
He wasn’t only concerned with redeeming one piece of land or one people group—He was going rescue all of the earth and offer His salvation to everyone.
So why does Jesus tell His disciples that anybody who wants to follow Him must die to themselves and pick up their cross? Because at the heart of this entire passage is Jesus’ challenge to what His role was as the Messiah. In order to be great in God’s Kingdom, you must be servant to all. You must die to yourself.
Jesus’ message could be summarized: “If you want to follow me, you must be like me. Pick up your cross, not your sword.”
Chris Thayer
Categories: Blog, New Testament, Thayer Thursday