No Crown Without A Cross
Luke 9:18-26
David P. Nolte
When Jesus spoke of the cross we must bear, He was not speaking about a lapel pin or bumper sticker.
He was not referring to an ostentatious display. of a huge hunk of baggage on a chain or cord for a necklace.
He didn’t mean a cross on the wall of a sanctuary or one on a church steeple.
He did not mean, as some misguided individuals think, that we are to be literally nailed to a literal, wooden cross.
Let’s hear Him. “Once when Jesus was praying in private and His disciples were with Him, He asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.’ ‘But what about you?’ He asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered, ‘The Christ of God.’ Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And He said, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.’ Then He said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of Me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:18-26 (NIV).
If anyone wants to follow Jesus it will not lead to the crown until it has led us to the cross.
Let’s consider the practical applications of His call to the cross. WHAT SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT CROSS BEARING?
I. Bearing A Cross Is A Choice To Deny Self:
A. He said, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”
1. Our cross is not one He imposes on us, but it is required that we bear one if we choose to follow Him.
2. Jesus said that every follower must deny self and take up the cross daily.
B. Many people confuse a cross with a thorn in the flesh.
1. Let me remind you of Paul’s thorn. Because he had been granted a glimpse of heaven, in order to keep him humble, Satan was permitted to afflict him with some bodily ailment, or “Thorn in the flesh.” Listen to Paul:
a. “There was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” (Paul didn’t take it up, it was put onto him.)
b. “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” (He not only didn’t choose it, he sought to be released from it.). 2 Corinthians 12:7-9a (NIV).
2. Bearing a cross isn’t a backache or bunion; not arthritis or acne; not pain or Parkinson’s. Those are thorns in the flesh to which all are subject.
C. A cross is for those who choose to follow Jesus. Let’s check a couple of examples of those who did:
1. Zacchaeus who when converted denied himself and gave away half of his goods and refunded four times what he had swindled from others.
2. The many martyrs, like those in Hebrews 11, who took up a cross and “faced jeers and flogging, ... were chained and put in prison, ... were stoned; sawed in two; put to death by the sword .... went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated ..... wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.” Hebrews 11:36-38 (NIV). All for choosing a cross!
D. They all could have saved their lives by recanting their faith – they chose the way of the cross. Taking up our cross is a choice we make that requires self-denial.
E. In the year 155 A.D., Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna was arrested. The proconsul tried to persuade him to recant and save himself. Surely given his advanced age it would be better for him to avoid torture and death. All he had to do was worship the emperor. Why be so stubborn? The bishop answered, “For eighty-six years I have served Christ, and he has done me no evil. How could I curse my king, who saved me?” He was burned at the stake.
BEARING A CROSS IS A CHOICE, AND
II. Bearing A Cross Is Being Willing To Suffer:
A. “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it.” When people saw someone carrying a cross they knew he was not on his way to a birthday party.
1. He was on the Via Dolorosa, the way of suffering, pain and death.
2. He was compelled to suffer the shame, the pain, the misery of a criminal’s death, naked, in public view.
B. The suffering we experience might not be that severe. For most of us it might be
1. Rejection by others, even family, for our faith.
2. Ridicule, being called “goody-two-shoes” or nincompoops for believing.
3. Ruin of our business because we refuse to compromise on convictions.
C. This suffering is not masochism, not asceticism, not purposely taking the bullet – rather it is willingness to do it for Jesus’ sake when the alternative is to deny Him.
D. Pastor Ken Klaus told the story that in the Korean Conflict, there was a young sergeant by the name of Gardolibov. In the battle known as “Heartbreak Hill,” during a lull in the shooting, a rescue team was sent out to aid the wounded.
By the time the medics found him, the sergeant was dying, but that hadn’t stopped him from fulfilling his duty.
In that moment when a normal thought would be survival, the sergeant was still doing his duty. A crucial communication wire had been broken. Forgetting the danger, Gardolibov had clenched the two broken pieces of wire ends between his teeth. He died like that.
Klaus said, “As admirable as the sergeant’s sense of duty was, it pales in comparison to the sacrifice of our Savior. Scripture tells us of how Jesus’ innocent blood was shed. It was shed not just to save a few comrades who might appreciate His gift. No, Jesus died for people who hated and despised Him. He died for the very people who had put Him on the cross and made mockery of Him as He was dying.”
E. Jesus suffered on the cross as a dying sacrifice, but Paul wrote for us, “I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1 (NIV).
1. It means to use the members of our body in benevolent, moral, and righteous ways.
2. Though we may never be called on to die for Jesus, we are daily called on to live for Hm.
3. In extreme situations, it might lead to death. But if we are not ready to live for Jesus, we are in no shape to die for Him.
BEARING A CROSS MIGHT LEAD TO SUFFERING BUT IN THE END
III. Bearing A Cross Will Gain Us A Crown:
A. “If anyone is ashamed of Me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” The Bible promises a share of the glory:
1. “There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” Romans 2:9-10 (NIV). So with Paul we can say:
2. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 (NIV).
3. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NIV).
B. We are promised a crown. But what kind of crown?
1. “Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” 1 Corinthians 9:25 (NASB).
2. “In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8 (NASB).
3. “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12 (NASB).
4. “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” 1 Peter 5:4 (NASB).
C. Charles Spurgeon said, “There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below.” First the cross and then the crown.
D. God calls for a choice; “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20a (NIV). As the song said,
“There’s a road that leads to darkness,
the end will bring you death
There’s a road that leads to glory,
eternal peace, and rest
Win or lose it’s yours to choose
why not make the trade
Just bring your empty life
today, choose a better way.”
—Unknown Author
E. Brothers Richard and Robert were both professing Christians, but they made radically different choices. Richard entered into business with a man of shady principles and was soon just as shady. He made a fortune but was impoverished in spirit.
Robert went to college and became a successful and godly doctor. He volunteered his services in places like Haiti and New Orleans.
Richard became ill and when Robert visited him, he said, “Robert, we both made choices – me, stupid ones, you, wise ones. Now as I am dying, I’d give all I have to be in your place. I go into darkness, you into light; I into the gloom of a crypt, you into glory of a crown.”
I don’t know how that story ends, but I know that the story of a cross bearer ends in glory. You and I are like one of those brothers – headed for darkness or glory; choosing the world or the cross.
To quote the song again,
“You can trade the life your living,
make a brand new start
You can trade your sin and heartache
for a pure and contrite heart
Choose a cross to carry
like the one that Jesus found
And some sweet day
you can trade your cross for a crown.”
Sin has come; suffering as well. But Jesus has also come. His sinless life was filled with suffering which He bore for us, suffering which made Him one of us, suffering that identified Him with us, suffering He endured so the power and penalty of sin might be removed.
So, trade your old life for new, your sin for forgiveness, your stubborn heart for a pure, contrite heart – and, why not just do it today?
