In some of the Maximum-Security Prisons in the United States ... when a prisoner is taken to be executed ... the guard that is leading the procession continual shouts out, ... "Dead man walking".
It means, ...to clear the way ... to quiet down ... for this prisoner is on their last walk ... on this side of eternity.
They are truly ... A Dead Man Walking.
And When a Roman official in Biblical Times ...sentenced a man to be executed ... he too would shout a command, ... "Lay the cross ... on the man"!
Then a cross beam was strapped to his arms ...and the victim was required to carry it ... to the sight of the crucifixion.
When Jesus commands each of us ... to take up your cross, ... He is making it clear... that each human being is ... "A Dead Man Walking.
The scriptures share this spiritual truth BIBLE "Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, .......and in this way ......death came to all, ...because all sinned" END (Romans 5:12) (Pause)
Death came to all ... to all of humanity ... through sin.
Causing each human being to be a ... Dead man walking.
Ever since the dawn of time, ......the wall of death has hemmed us in ....... it has kept us captive, ......it has been ......our prison.
Many of you may be familiar with the statement:
"I am not afraid to die.
It's just that I don't have ... much enthusiasm for it." (Pause)
And since the fall in the Garden of Eden...... death has had a grip on us.
The writer of Hebrews tells us, "all their lives (mankind has been) held in slavery ....by their fear ...of death."
(Hebrews 2:15)