Lessons of the Cross for Daily Life



Num 11: 16-17, 24-29

1 Cor 3: 1-9, 18-23

Mark 9: 30-41


Greetings

Introduction

Summary of the passage


How did Cross become a symbol for us? 

Jesus Incident

Constantine Incident


The Gospel passage talks about three different incidences that happened with the disciples and Jesus when they were travelling through Galilee. Jesus, as we see in the earlier passage, teaches his disciples that they need to pray more so that they can also do wonders like Jesus Christ. Jesus knew that his time was near and it wouldn't be long, when he was crucified on the cross. He wanted his disciples to be ready for the time when they have to work without the supervision of Jesus, he was preparing them for the descent of the Holy Spirit. In these incidents Jesus gives and teaches us three valuable lessons that are practiced by him on the cross. 


Jesus prophesied in front of the disciples that soon he would be arrested and killed by the people, but on the third day he would rise again. He was teaching to his disciples and along with his teaching he suddenly prophesized. Just imagine how the disciples would have felt? They had just failed Jesus, when they could not cast away the evil spirit, and now they are afraid to ask again, in fear of disappointing him. Their minds were shut by the spirit, but they were listening to each and everything. 

In our lives, we listen to the trials and pain of many people, we listen to the suffer and overcome victory, but are our minds shut, to understand and comprehend the true essence of the challenge and the work of God in their lives of others? or are we afraid to understand what it truly means? We must motivate ourselves like Jesus, when he knew what was kept for him by God, but he was not scared by the trial to come, but was preparing for the pain and suffering that is to come on him. 

The first lesson of the cross for our lives is, ‘Do not be scared of the Trials to come, but face them by the power of Jesus Christ, our savior’.


When we read from verse 33 onwards, we see that when they reached Capernaum, Jesus asked the disciples about the argument that was going on among them on the way. Then the disciples did not answer because they were arguing who is greater among them. Jesus actually heard what they were arguing about, but wanted to teach them the true meaning of discipleship and servanthood. 

When we are selected for a certain responsibility within the church and in the society, we need to understand that we have been chosen not to boss people around, or show my superiority to the people, but on the contrary, we are chosen to be the servants of others. We are called by a God who is humble and submissive, and not bossy or violent. We are called to be the brothers and sisters of Jesus, who humbled himself to a level of self-surrender to death. That is what Jesus wanted to teach his disciples. He called all of his disciples and told them if anybody wants to be the greatest, they must surrender themselves and be the servant of others. He took the most innocent person, a child, and taking him in his lap he said, if you accept the humblest ones, the most destitute in His name, then we have accepted Jesus in entirety. The second lesson of cross for us is to Pursue a path of Humility and Servanthood.


The cross is a symbol of inclusivism and acceptance for all people. Jesus does not discriminate on any basis, but opens his arms for each and every one. The final incident that we see from verse 38 onwards is very interesting and relatable. The disciples go to Jesus to complain about a certain individual who was casting out demons in the name of Jesus Christ. And they confronted him to stop because he did not follow the path of disciples. A very interesting incident, when somebody does not agree with us, or we do not agree with the ways of another person, we get a higher authority to stop that person, just because our ways and ideals don’t match. Is this what we want to live in? Maybe because of such behavior of disciples we see these things still continuing in Church. No. Disciples were going through a time of growth or metamorphism. They needed to grow so that they could lead the church of Jesus Christ. 

When we work in the name of Christ, we do not need to work just for one type of people, but our gospel must be inclusive and open for all people. The Cross serves as a symbol of sacrifice for all the people. We are not to leave people behind just because we do not agree with them. The final message of the cross for us is that Jesus has called Everyone to be his disciples.


Conclusion

When we see Calvary we see that there were three crosses on that mount. Those three crosses actually serve as different symbols for us. One cross was the cross of sin, one cross was the cross of redemption, and the final cross in the Centre was the cross of salvation. The Cross is a speaking symbol which talks about the good news of Jesus Christ to us.