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马可福音8：34–38 34 于是叫众人和门徒来，对他们说：「若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我。35 因为，凡要救自己生命的，必丧掉生命；凡为我和福音丧掉生命的，必救了生命。36 人就是赚得全世界，赔上自己的生命，有什么益处呢？37 人还能拿什么换生命呢？38 凡在这淫乱罪恶的世代，把我和我的道当作可耻的，人子在他父的荣耀里，同圣天使降临的时候，也要把那人当作可耻的。」
背起十字架跟随耶稣是什么意思？ 许多基督徒认为背起十字架意味着我们今生必须背负一些负担。 可能是关节炎、任性的孩子或不负责任的配偶。 我们在这个世界上所承受的苦难不是我们的十字架，因为即使是不信的人也必须遭受关节炎或任性的孩子，或不负责任的配偶。 背起十字架跟随耶稣意味着什么？
耶稣给了我们答案，他说：“凡想成为我门徒的，就必须舍己……凡为我和福音丧掉生命的，必得救。” 我想保罗在加拉太书3章20节写下这句话时就很好地理解了这个概念：“我已经与基督同钉十字架，现在活着的不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活着。 我现在在肉身的生活，是因信神的儿子而活，他爱我，为我舍己。” 当我相信耶稣时，我内心的某些东西就死了。 我把自己置于生活中心的那部分已经死了。 我内心想要追寻罪恶的那部分已经死了。 我内心想要过上美好生活并反抗为福音而受苦的想法的部分已经死了。 我的“自我”死了，基督活在我里面。
为什么耶稣称这为背起我们的十字架？ 因为当我向罪死并为基督而活时，我的罪性在痛苦和痛苦中尖叫。 不要以为在基督里过悔改的生活是容易的。 这是艰难而痛苦的。 但如果我的罪性得逞，我得到了全世界，却失去了灵魂，那又有什么好处呢？ 我宁愿向自己死而为基督而活，也不愿为自己而活而向基督而死。
祷告：主耶稣，除了我的罪性之外，世界和其中的快乐对我没有任何吸引力。 请赐予我你的圣灵，以便我每天都可以舍己，向罪而死，这样我就可以永远为你而活。 阿门。
Mark 8:34-38: Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (NIV)
What does it mean to take up the cross and follow Jesus? Many Christians think that carrying a cross means that we have some burden that we must bear in this life. It might be arthritis or a wayward child or an irresponsible spouse. The sufferings that we bear in this world are not our crosses, because even unbelievers have to suffer from arthritis or a wayward child, or an irresponsible spouse. What does it mean to take up our cross and follow Jesus?
Jesus gives us the answer when he says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves … whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” I think Paul understood this concept well when he wrote these words in Galatians 3:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Something in me died when I came to faith in Jesus. The part of me that put myself at the center of my life died. The part of me that wants to pursue sin died. The part of me that wants to have a good life and that rebels against the thought of suffering for the sake of the gospel has died. My “ego” died and Christ lives in me instead.
Why does Jesus call this taking up our cross? Because my sinful nature screams in pain and agony when I die to sin and live for Christ. Do not think for a moment that living a life of repentance in Christ is easy. It is hard and painful. But what good would it be if my sinful nature had its way and I gained the whole world but lost my soul? I would rather die to myself and live for Christ, than live for myself and die to Christ.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, the world and its pleasures have no appeal to me, except to my sinful nature. Send me your Spirit so that I might deny myself and die to sin daily so that I may live for you eternally. Amen.