take up your cross...

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."

"LOVED HIM"

Beholding this person who came forward from the crowd wanting to join the ranks of Jesus and His Disciples! He started out GREAT; running up, in a culture where ONLY walking was dignified. Then kneeling as to worship and praise the one true King! He asked Jesus; "GOOD Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" Like many people today who want to know what can "I" do? We feel we can earn eternal life, after all "I" deserve it!!!

Jesus has a lesson planned for this young man and the rest of us looking on. Jesus asked about this young man knowing the Ten Commandments. The young man not only knows them, he has kept them! This poor person seems unaware of his own nature. He seems to even think he is "GOOD." Unfortunately, many of us go through life believing the same kind of thing; we are good. But, are we really?

Jesus knows the heart of this person, Jesus knows He is about to reveal a difficult truth to this prospective follower; "...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." The odds that this person kept the Commandments are zero. Jesus is generous in his assessment with him and saying there is one thing he lacks. We can see ourselves in the person's place, we all lack one thing; sell everything you have, give it to the poor. Then we can TAKE UP our CROSS, and follow Jesus. It's not easy. Very few of us will be able to do this.

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