Hickey Theology - 3/23/2025

The scripture (Mark 8:31-38) this past Sunday dealt with Jesus telling the disciples that he would suffer but would rise on the third day. In this text Peter rebukes Jesus because of what he is saying, in which Jesus tells him “get behind me Satan.”

Interesting enough, just two verses earlier Jesus asks Peter “Who do people say that I am?”. Peter’s response was “the Christ”. We need to understand that these are two different situations. The first has to do with the view or anticipation of just what kind of Christ or Messiah Peter thought Jesus would be. Peter, like the other disciples, was still expecting a warrior-like Messiah who would come and save them from the Roman Empire. So, when Jesus was talking about dying that completely went against their expectation. On top of that, Jesus is asking them to deny themselves and TAKE UP THEIR CROSS.

Whoa! The image of the cross for the disciples is one of pain and suffering. The last thing the disciples envisioned doing was carrying a cross.

The reality is the disciples did have to take up their crosses throughout their journey to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. We know that almost all of them will die because of sharing the message of Jesus Christ. The thing is we don’t take up our crosses as much as we like to wear them, but then again wearing a cross is easy. I ask the church family Sunday in worship who was wearing a cross and there were several who raised their hand. Yes, it is easier to wear a cross, but we carry many crosses in our lives. The challenge is to bear our crosses and be faithful to the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Our crosses are real. We lose loved ones. We struggle with health issues and family issues. We even try to carry a cross for all the things happening in the world. Our crosses become so heavy that we can’t get up or we choose not to get up.

The pain and suffering we feel is real. Our struggles are real, but yet when we become so focused on the cross we bear, at times all we can seem to do is save ourselves. Don’t get me wrong—we have to take care of ourselves—but as followers of Christ, we are called to take up our crosses and be faithful to the ministry of Jesus Christ.

There are people all around us that need the love of God that the Good News has to offer. When we are able to fight through the pain and suffering of our crosses to help others, we pull ourselves out from under that cross and not only is our life renewed, but you help someone lift up their cross and you help for them to have new life. Wearing a cross is easy, but are you able to bear it?

If it is true for us as individuals, it is true for a church. Oftentimes, the crosses that a church has are caused by issues that consume them or bury them in a way that they can’t seem to find the strength to throw it off or take it up. Their cross to bear can be devastating, but First Christian was able to stand up after a heavy cross was placed on your shoulder and move forward.

The death of Glenn was a sudden and crushing cross, but because you were able to take it up, you were able not to lose hope. As I look back, the cross that you had to bear could have been so debilitating that all you could do was just simply survive, but because you chose to take up your cross, you have become a light in the darkness.

This is so important because we are going to have people come through our doors carrying the cross of their lives on their shoulders, on their backs. These are people who are feeling the pain and suffering of their lives. When you are carrying the weight of life’s struggles, it is hard to look up and see light—you have this feeling of hopelessness. Our First Christian family can be there for them. First Christian can share the love of God through Jesus, because you have been able to carry your cross, and so you are able to help others take up their cross to follow Jesus.

Remember, wearing a cross is easy, but can we bear it and be faithful to the ministry of Jesus Christ?

Grace and Peace,

Shane