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HELEN SANDERS
4-21-2022
THE CRUCIFIED LIFE
We as Christians know that Jesus gave his life as a sacrifice for our sin upon the cross. It was necessary because His sinless blood had to be shed. He told his disciples in Matthew 16:21, “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”
Peter did not like what Jesus had said. In verse 22 he rebuked Jesus with, “…Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” Peter did not understand the suffering savior that would be slain as a lamb for the sins of the world. He was looking for a savior to set up a kingdom and destroy all their enemies.
Jesus then rebuked Peter and said in verse 23, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Jesus knew the course set before him, and it included crucifixion.
Then Jesus makes a statement to his disciples and every other person that follows Jesus. In verse 24 it says, “…If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
This statement lets the disciples and us we that they must also crucify our flesh and follow God rather than follow our own plan. When one takes up his cross, it puts self to death, but brings life through Christ. It is not a one-time event. It is a daily event. We are to surrender our will to God even when we do not understand it.
We put our old nature to death. You can be sure it will try to resurrect itself in words, thoughts, and deeds, but we must be led by our spirit and not the flesh.
This is the crucified life.
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