Self-Denial

Self-Denial

 

“…Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple….”

Luke 14:27

 All of us might conclude that one of the most painful, yet rewarding lessons to endure learning within the Christian experience is the lesson of “Spiritual Denial.” After we have bumped our (personal and collective) heads against every seemingly difficult obstacle and have stumbled over every apparent hindrance to life, we finally come the understanding that the authentic Christian experience is one that calls for us to follow Christ in every way.

However, the humanistic problem is that we tend to want to follow Jesus Christ on our own terms – within our own understanding of “productive living.” Oh but if we would dare follow Jesus on His terms, then we must hold fast to a reality that is NOT so simple – a responsibility that presupposes our deepest desire: To deny myself of myself!

To understand the Luke 14 passage is to also understand (among other things) a great fight of spiritual significance. It is really the fight of our lives with the Shepherding of Christ at stake! Jesus not only requires that I “…come after him….”, but He also requires that I bring something with me: My own Cross!

I’m sure we’ll agree that the Cross of Christ represents the deepest suffering, humiliation and anguish, but in addition, it represents the greatest sacrifice that one can ever make in fulfilling a divine purpose: The denial of self! Within the application of self-denial is the realization and feeling of spiritual separation from what you have always (humanly) known.

The word translated “Carry” is the word “Bastazo” (bas-tad-zo), which means to take up with your hands (as to work with as well as walk with) – to bear upon your entire being something specific that is completely burdensome to you, but must be fully and willingly supported. Saints, in other words, I must fully support, work with, walk [live] with, as well as allow upon my entire being something that is painful to me! Yes, this sound completely crazy and utterly stupid, but if I am to know Christ and be His “Disciple” then it is an extreme must!

The word translated “Disciple” in the Luke 14 passage is the Greek word, “Mathetes” (Math-ay-tes), which is a learner, pupil and supporter! Wait a minute here, what Jesus is essentially saying in this passage is for me to “support” something that will become increasingly painful to me in order that I might be able to “support” Him (as his pupil)! WOW! Please think about this. It is in this that I am truly a Christian! It is in this “Christian experience” that I “hold up” Christ in support of Him as I hold up the support of my own Cross – my own pain! This is how I truly identify with Him, and how I know Him as He knows me! My friends, this DENIAL will afford me the fellowship that I need in order to Come to Him.

So well did the song writer pen his words….

“…Goodbye world, I stay no longer with you. Goodbye pleasures of sin, I stay no longer with you. I’ve made up my mind to go God’s way the rest of my life…”

 Grace & Peace,

Roc