The Way Of Jesus

Tuesday, ‎February ‎21, ‎2022

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.—1 Corinthians 12:18

Memory of the Month: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Today's reading: NUMBERS 1-2 MARK 3:1-19

It Is The Way Of Jesus

A good friend asked me this morning in a text about "taking up our cross" and as I read Mark, chapter 3, I saw an example set by Jesus Himself.

First, the scripture: Luke 9:23, "Then Jesus said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

Jesus was always about living His faith, of course and Paul echoes this in: 1 Corinthians 15:31 where he says, "I die daily" or "I face death daily".

Jesus meant to die to self and sin but He also meant to put our lives out there everyday no matter the consequences.

This example Jesus sets is in Mark 3. Jesus was in the synagogue on the Sabbath and saw a man with a withered hand and Jesus also sensed the ambition of the Pharisees to catch Him in breaking what they perceived as a Sabbath law.

Jesus asked the Pharisees this question: "Do our laws tell us to do good or evil on the Sabbath? To save life, or to snuff it out?"

The Pharisees did not answer.

Here is the example I see from Jesus. Verse 5 says: "Jesus was furious as He looked out over the crowd, and He was grieved by their hard hearts."

Jesus was 'furious'. This translates 'passionately and violently' angry.

Ephesians 4:26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry...

Jesus was violently angry and what did He do? He healed. He would not let the 'sun go down on His wrath' in that the people there who believed and the rest of us for all time would not see a violent reaction from Him but a work of healing in love-so this chapter of His 'never sinning life' was closed in that we all see Jesus violently angry but He did not fall prey to sin. Our minds are made up on His behavior-the sun has set-this opinion is formed forever. Jesus knew all this but it was not just that, this was the very heart of God for us all to see-this is the behavior the Holy Spirit brings to our lives when we obey.

So, what does it mean to take up our 'cross' and follow Him? To me, this charges me with dying to self or giving complete control to the Holy Spirit-not just once a day every waking moment. Yes, with man this impossible-with the Holy Spirit, it is possible, Matthew 19:26.

So, what does it mean to take up our 'cross' and follow Him? It means to follow the example of Jesus when faced with our own furious anger or any other sin of the flesh, the eyes, or pride and be the 'healer' or the woman or man that makes this situation good or righteous-no matter what the world thinks. When the 'sun sets' on the opinions of you in the minds of those around, will it be that they saw you sin or that they saw you put yourself out there for God's righteousness no matter what they thought? Will the world judge you for your sin or for your 'holy' behavior? Remember: Jesus was 'grieved' at their hard hearts-grieved. He hurt 'for' them. He did not hurt them.

Remember, satan will always accuse us. He will always broadcast our sin or what he considers our 'Jesus-freakishness'.

Jesus knew this would be another nail in the cross but did He blow up and destroy them all? He did not allow His anger to ruin the day. He healed. Jesus teaches us to take up our cross and obey Him is to allow Him, the healer, to heal through us-broken hearts, bad attitudes-folks who have been this way all their lives-Jesus wants to heal them through us.

None of us can heal anyone. But, with Christ Jesus in control, the setting sun of opinion, the reaching the lost, the healing the broken-hearted will all be done in His righteousness.

Healing from the midst of your anger? It is the Way of Jesus. Put yourself out there to have opinions of you formed as a, as Paul put it, 'a fool for Christ Jesus'.

It Is The Way Of Jesus.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Teach me more of taking up my cross all the time. I confess that I care what they think. Forgive me merciful and great God. Thank You.

Give me great desire to be known as a servant of the most High God.

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen