I was heading back to work after lunch. I was sitting at a red light and scrambled to get my phone. This man was strolling through the crosswalk…ahem… with his cross. If you glance closer, you’ll see his disheveled hair. And his tattered shoes.
This man has a story, and I’m bummed I don’t know what it is.
He got to the other side and kept walking down the sidewalk. The light turned green, and I went about my day. I couldn’t stop thinking about him, though.
The questions were firing in my head. Who is this guy? Where did he come from? Where was he going? Why was he doing this? How long had he been walking? Who made the cross? Where did he get it? What was everyone else thinking when they saw him? What’s his story? What’s his name?
I took this picture two years ago. I’ve been holding onto it because I just didn’t know what to say. So many thoughts, but at the same time I’m speechless. It must be why they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Everyone who looks at it will see something different.
What do you see? The stories, thoughts, opinions, and experiences would combine for well over a thousand words.
Some Words From Jesus
Speaking of words, the verse that came to mind when I saw this man on the ‘crosswalk’, was Luke 9:23. Jesus tells his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
Let’s pick apart the instructions one by one.
First – deny yourself. Ouch. Pretty counter-cultural to deny ourselves. It means to say no. Have you noticed that “no” is becoming more and more scarce these days? People don’t like hearing it and clearly don’t like saying it. Yet it is Scriptural to deny ourselves. Say no to ourselves, and yes to Jesus.
Second, he says to take up your cross daily. Taking up our cross refers to us withstanding persecution. Because if they persecuted Jesus, and we are to identify with Him, we, too, will be persecuted. And we must be willing to do it DAILY. In Greek, it’s two words. EVERY. DAY. So not just once or twice a year on the big holidays. Not just when I feel like I can. Not just after a great conference or Bible study when I’m fired up. Not just when I’m full of the Spirit. Not just on Sundays and I’ve been spiritually fed. EVERY. DAY.
Third, we are to follow Jesus. It’s counterintuitive to deny ourselves, take up our cross, then do nothing else. ‘Follow’ is a verb. And we have to trust that wherever He leads will be the right way. He will not always lead us down easy paths (for His was not easy), but we can trust there will be things we have to learn along the way.
So Now What?
This Easter maybe you are at your own crossroads. Maybe your life is disheveled and your way seems tattered. The way forward is to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. Don’t be afraid of what others will think. He’s got you. He loves you.
I found this beautiful version of “Above All” today – one of my favorite descriptions of Easter. Listen here. And don’t worry about how you look carrying your cross. Your hair may be messy, your shoes may be falling off, and your life may feel out of control. But the state of your soul is what matters. Hold tight to Jesus this Easter.
INTERTWINED 