View source for Cross

[[File:cross3.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Man tied to a Patibulum as a prisoner moved in public.]]

== Taking up His cross ==

Are [[Modern Christians]] taking up His Cross?

We see the gospels mention the idea of taking up the ''cross'' of Jesus and following Him.<Ref>[[Matthew 16]]:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
: [[Mark 8]]:34  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.
: [[Mark 10]]:21  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
: [[Luke 9]]:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.</Ref> 

Every time he mentions the cross he also says [[follow me]].

What does ''taking up the cross'' really mean?

== The Cross ==
[[File:crucify.jpg|left]]
The word cross is translated from the Greek word ''stauros'' which is said to mean a ''pole'' or a ''stake''.  Nowhere in the literature of that day do we find the word ''stauros'' representing two pieces of wood placed across one another like a cross. It is likely that Jesus would have begun his trip to Golgotha with one piece of wood, called in Latin a Patibulum, with His arms tied to the ends. Because of His weakened condition someone else named Simon carried the beam to which he would be nailed.<Ref>[[Matthew 27]]:32  And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
: [[Mark 15]]:21  And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
: [[Luke 23]]:26  And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.</Ref>

The true image of Christ going to his crucifixion is that Simon carried nothing  more than a ''patibulum'' which normally the prisoner would be fastened to by the wrist. On arrival that ''patibulum'' made from stauros/stake would be lifted or hoisted up onto another ''stauros'' already standing upon the mount and sticking into the rocky top of Golgatha. 

There would be no reason to believe that Jesus carried a hewn or sawed beam with a cross piece fastened to it and the debate is often a distraction from the real message of Christ. The Greek word ''stauros'' which could simply mean a pole or stake. But to understand the metaphor and message it may be helpful to now that the word ''stauros'' comes from the verb ''histēmi''  ἵστημι (meaning "straighten up", "stand"). Taking up the cross of Christ is a metaphor for taking the stand of [[righteousness]] as a member of His government of God called the [[Kingdom of God]].

Jesus was sometimes just talking only to those who would be the [[appoint]]ed [[ministers]] of a voluntary government which operated by [[faith]], [[hope]] and [[charity]] which was [[love]]. From the beginning [[John the Baptist]] and [[Jesus]] as the [[Christ]] told all to seek the [[Kingdom of God]] and His [[righteousness]]  rather than force and the [[perfect law of liberty]] rather than [[bondage]]. There would be no other [[Fathers]] nor [[benefactors|rulers]] who could ''exercise authority one over the other'' in His government.

There has always been a need for some men and women being willing to take the same ''stand'' as Jesus did and serve the people according to [[The Way]] in a [[daily ministration]] of [[thanksgiving]].

{{Template:Nailed to his cross}}


{{Template:Network}}

== Footnotes ==

<references />