The Cross and Christian Discipleship

GOLDEN TEXT: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” —Galatians 6:14

JOHN 12:20-26; II CORINTHIANS 5:14-19

APRIL 3 this year is Palm Sunday, so-called in commemoration of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem just a few days before he was crucified. He was acclaimed king by his friends and admirers, and palm branches were strewn in the way as he rode into the city on an ass. But, due to the opposition of the religious rulers, the city and the nation as a whole rejected Jesus.

Jesus was always ready to minister to those who sought his aid, hence the unusual nature of the circumstance recorded in John 12:14-19. At the time, which was just before his arrest and crucifixion, the jealousy and anger of the Pharisees had spurred them on in their determination to do away with him. They said among themselves, “Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.”—John 12:19

“And there were certain Greeks among them, that came up to worship at the feast.” Through Philip they requested an interview with Jesus. These “Greeks” may have been Gentiles, or they may have been Jews who ordinarily lived in Greece. This is not important. The point is that when their request finally reached Jesus’ ears, he did not choose to see them. Instead, he explained that the hour had come when he should be glorified. Then he explained that “except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

These remarks indicate that Jesus considered the time of his arrest and crucifixion so near that there would be no point in interviewing the Greeks, for, in any case, the real blessing he had come to impart to them and the whole world was dependent upon his death. He had reached a high degree of popularity. As the Pharisees observed, it seemed that the whole world had gone after him, and now these Greeks were seeking an interview. But all of this could mean nothing, except, as a “corn of wheat,” he fall into the ground and die as the Redeemer of mankind.

“He that loveth his life shall lose it,” Jesus further explained. The popularity he was temporarily enjoying must not be allowed to swerve him from the real objective of his coming to earth, which was to give his life for the sins of the people.

He explained further that this must be the viewpoint of all those who elected to follow him. He did not want his disciples to imagine that following him would lead to their popularity, for with them, as with himself, their foremost opportunity of service in the divine plan of salvation was to suffer and die. He had invited them to take up their cross and follow him.

In II Corinthians 5:14-19, Paul explains that we are constrained to enter upon this life of sacrifice by the love of Christ, “because we thus judge, that if one die for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him. which died for them, and rose again.”—vss. 14,15

Those who are thus living “unto him,” devoting their lives to sacrifice as he did, are being baptized into his death, and this means that they are also baptized by one Spirit into the one body, the mystical body of Christ. (Rom. 6:3-5; I Cor. 12:13; Col. 1:26,27) It means that they are “in Christ”; that is, that they have denied themselves, have renounced their own wills, and have accepted the headship of Christ.

Paul further explains that “if any man be in Christ, he_ is a new_ creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (II Cor. 5:17) This being true, our relationship with others of like precious faith is not according to the flesh. We no longer think of Christ after the flesh, Paul says. As new creatures we are dwelling together with him and with one another in the “heavenlies.”—Eph. 2:6

“All things are become new,” writes Paul. Then he explains that these “all things,” are of God, “who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” In other words, having been reconciled to God ourselves, we have been given the opportunity of being co-workers with God in the reconciling of others. To participate in this work now means the laying down of our lives as Jesus did, sacrificing all in our faithful ministry of the “word of reconciliation.”

QUESTIONS

What event in the life of Jesus is commemorated by Palm Sunday?

What is the apparent reason Jesus did not grant an interview with the “Greeks” who asked to see him?

What did Jesus mean by his reference to a “corn of wheat” falling into the ground and dying?

Can Christians expect to be popular in the world if they follow faithfully in the footsteps of Jesus?

What is involved in our being “in Christ” and how does this make us new creatures?

What service in the divine plan do Christians render as they lay down their lives sacrificially, following in the footsteps of Jesus?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |