The Meaning of the Cross
Mark 15:30
" Save thyself, and come down from the cross."
The cross is more than a Christian symbol, the cross carries meaning. When Jesus chose the cross, He showed the Christian how they should live their life. It is commanded in the Scriptures that the Christian should carry their cross in Mark 8:34 when it says, "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." You will never be the Christian God wants you to be until you learn to carry your cross. So, what is the meaning of the cross?
First, the cross means total self-sacrifice. When Jesus died on the cross, He was totally sacrificing His life. He had to completely die to Himself if He was going to carry the cross. Jesus understood what the cross meant. He understood the suffering of the cross. He knew what He would go through when He chose the cross. Yet, He accepted the total self-sacrifice of the cross.
You will never be the Christian you are supposed to be until you learn to totally sacrifice yourself for the sake of Christ. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:31, "I die daily." He understood that the Christian must die to self if they are going to carry their cross. As long as you are wrapped up in yourself and what you want, you will never carry your cross and totally sacrifice yourself for the sake of Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 10:38, "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." The total self-sacrifice of the cross shows Christ you truly want Him and His life.
Second, the cross means total surrender to God's will. When Jesus accepted the cross, He was accepting the will of the Father. Luke 22:42 says, "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." Your cross is a symbol to the world that you are willing to follow God's will for your life with no strings attached. This is the only hope for this world. Until Christians are completely willing to totally sacrifice self and wholly follow the will of God for their lives, they will never have an impact on this world. It was very evident that the early church was willing to carry their cross, and that is why they turned their world upside for Christ.
Third, the cross means total ambition to live for others. The whole purpose of Jesus dying on the cross was so that the world could be saved. When you are willing to carry your cross, you are willing to completely live for others. When you're willing to carry your cross, your life means nothing to you for you are living to be a help to others. It means a spouse will totally live for their spouse. It means the child will totally live for their parents. It means the Christian will totally live for others.
Are you willing to carry your cross? Friend, you will never do anything great for God until you are willing to carry your cross. If you carry your cross, then you must totally sacrifice yourself to live in the will of God so that you can help meet the needs of this world. Not everyone will carry the cross, but I hope that is not the case for you. Jesus Christ was willing to carry the shame of the cross for you. Are you willing to carry the shame of the cross for Him? When you do carry your cross, it is then that you will find total satisfaction in life.