The Burden Of The Cross

Florence Chadwick was the first woman ever to swim the difficult and cold 21 mile

stretch of water between Catalina Island and the California coast. She failed on her first

attempt because of poor vision. After 15 hours and 55 minutes of numbing cold she asked to

be taken out of the water. A heavy fog blanketed the area and obscured her vision of the

land only one mile away. She said, "If I could have seen the shore, I could have made it."

She was defeated because she lost sight of her goal. The fog did not hinder her physically,

but psychologically it sapped her of her strength and courage to go on by robbing her of the

vision of her goal.

Jesus, the creator of the mind, is naturally the master psychologist. He knows how

important vision is to strength, courage, and happiness. He knew that the fog of persecution

that would settle down around His disciples would lead to doubt, confusion, and

discouragement. He knew that these things blind Christians and rob them of the vision of

their goal, and can defeat them, and cause them to lose the happiness of all the other

beatitudes. Therefore, in this last beatitude Jesus provides His disciples with a defensive

weapon to penetrate the fog of persecution. He promises great reward in heaven to those

who will press on in the dark, knowing the light is still shining beyond.

Joseph Conrad in Typhoon has the captain shout to Jakes the mate as great waves pound

the ship, "Don't you be put out by anything! Keep her facing it! Facing it, always facing

it-that's the way to get through-face it! That's enough for any man. Keep a cool head and

face it." This is what Jesus is saying to His disciples. The storm of persecution is coming. If

they try and turn back to escape it, they lose all. Their victory and happiness depends on

their keeping a cool head and facing it. It is hard to keep cool in the fires of affliction,

however. How many of us could face the cruelty of Nero, who put Christian men and women

in sacks, covered them with oil, and set them up on poles in his garden; then lit them as living

torches to light up his garden at night. Yet this is what Jesus calls His disciples to face. This

is the burden of the cross.

Lowell wrote, "By the light of burning heretics Christ's bleeding feet I track. Toiling up

new Calvary's ever, with the cross that turns not back." Happiness is pressing on whatever

the cost with your eyes upon Him who bore the cross for you. Jesus says, happy are those

who take following me seriously enough to bear the burden of the cross. Take up the cross

and follow me Jesus said, and His demand is still the same today, and the promise is still the

same, that those who suffer with Christ shall also reign with Him.

This beatitude must have been shocking to those who first heard it. They were expecting

honor and Jesus offers them hostility. You would naturally think that the person who

developed all the qualities of character in these beatitudes would be loved by all. He would

be so pleasant and helpful in society that his friendship and presence would be treasured, you

would think. One of the unfortunate paradoxes of life, however, is the fact that the best

people are often the most despised. Jesus, who alone embodied all of these beatitudes

perfectly, was crucified. Excessive goodness provokes opposition because it makes the

conscience of evil men burn with shame and guilt. Too much light clashes with darkness, and

holiness clashes with evil, and so the Christian is under constant pressure to conform to the

world so as not to rock the boat, and stir up opposition. There is a tendency to abuse the

former beatitude and be a peacemaker at any price, even the price of compromise and

silence. Everyone one of these beatitudes can be perverted.

Some of the other beatitudes have been difficult to grasp, but this last one is the crowning

paradox of them all. It is equivalent to Jesus saying His burden is light. How can a burden

be light? If it is light it is not a burden is it? Yet Jesus calls us to take up the burden of the

cross which is a very costly act, yet one which leads to much joy and happiness. What could be

more paradoxical-a crushing burden that lifts you to the skies. Being exceedingly glad when you

are hated and despised. Jesus knew this was a hard statement to believe and understand.

That is why He states it twice. It is so incredible.

All other beatitudes are in one verse each, but this one takes three verses to state. It is both