Saturday 27 September 2008

Background

This passage follows on directly from Jesus' prediction of hisown suffering, death and resurrection. It immediately precedesLuke's telling of the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36), whenMoses and Elijah appear with Jesus in a vision to speak more abouthis 'departure'. What is different about the passage in Luke'sGospel is the word "daily" in verse 23. There is a sense that theself-denial and following of Jesus is to be an on-going, day by dayaffair versus a quick and literal martyrdom.

Choosing to suffer is an unfashionable thing in the world of humanrights and equal opportunities. But this passage is not anendorsement of a status quo where the dispossessed and powerlessare told to accept their lot. There is no endorsement of sufferingor self-denial for its own sake here, but only as a condition offollowing Jesus. We understand 'following Jesus' here to meanmoving the world closer to the kingdom of God, which isparticipating in God's redemption.

Martin Luther King Jr spoke of 'creative suffering' - that which aperson might accept to change things towards the kingdom of God.For him, this included suffering physical harm in order tochallenge racist laws with non-violent resistance. It also includedsuffering people's criticism at the methods his movementused.

For "pick up your cross daily and follow me", we might hear 'havethe courage to challenge what is wrong and not conform to the easyway for a quiet life. Accept a cost to yourself to achieve a goodchange in your household, your society, your world'. It might helpto remember that resurrection was at the end of Jesus' ownsuffering, not an endless martyrdom.

To Ponder

Where does the cost of suffering become too greatand stop being creative?

What about when suffering seems to have no effector purpose?

Are there still times to suffer for what isright?

What recent examples of any of the above can youthink of?