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The Mark of the Cross

Galatians 6:14-17 14  May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15  Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16  Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God. 17  Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

Does the cross just move us or does it mark us? Does it define who we are? Does it just inspire us or does it shape us to the point that when others see us they can see the cross of Jesus? How many Christians today are trying to claim Christ without embracing the consequences of the cross? Romans 12:1-2 tells us we aren’t to be conformed to the world’s way of thinking and living, but we are to be conformed to the image of Christ. What that means is that our lives are to take on the shape of the cross. In our main text in Galatians 6, Paul was refuting those who were saying that the new Gentile converts would have to be circumcised. Yes, circumcision had been the Old Testament mark which identified God’s people, but when Jesus came, it wasn’t about an outward mark of faith, but rather an inward circumcision of the heart. It was about taking the shape of the cross inwardly, being conformed to the way of the cross, being changed on the inside to become someone who was willing to go wherever, do whatever, and say whatever in order to further the message of the cross.

Here are four ways our lives are to be marked by the cross if we are truly following after Jesus.

1. If I have been marked by the cross, I will embrace sacrifice.

When we look at the sacrifice of Jesus, we have to understand that He died not only a sacrificial death, but He lived a sacrificial life. Jesus led a cross-kind-of-life long before He was ever on the cross. Think about the fact that Jesus never married. He devoted His life to learning and to teaching and traveling to impact others. That was a tremendous sacrifice. He didn’t take an earthly bride. He said, “The church will be My bride.” Jesus never built or owned a home. He slept wherever He could find a spot as He traveled about. He was someone who had to borrow from others. He had to borrow a donkey for the triumphal entry. He had to borrow space in an Upper Room to have the Last Supper with His disciples.

Philippians 2 tells us that Jesus emptied Himself of His position in Heaven, and surrendered Himself to God’s plan by becoming a man, by becoming a servant. He who was lauded by angels came to heal our diseases, wash our feet, and die for our sins. It was a complete sacrifice from the time He came until the time He died. We can only follow Jesus to the extent that we are willing to empty ourselves of ourselves and take on the nature of a servant as God would define it for each of us.

2. If I have been marked by the cross, I will forgive quickly.

It is telling that even while Jesus was on the cross, forgiving others was on His mission. Why is that? Jesus always gave people what they needed. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse what has been done. It was a weighty matter for God to forgive us. It wasn’t a trite, flippant, “I forgive you.” It wasn’t a “That’s ok. I understand.” No, it was “Look at Jesus on the cross. Look at my Son. This is what your sin has done, and this is what forgiveness costs. It is awful. It has hurt Me more than you could know, but I am willing to bear it because of my love for you.” It is OK to help people understand the weight of their offense. God’s forgiveness was more than words. It was a demonstration. People had to SEE forgiveness in action.

I like that Jesus said, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do” when He forgave the people who were hanging around the cross. I think it gives us a perspective from which we can forgive others. When people hurt us, often, if not most of the time, they don’t know that they have hurt us or they don’t know the extent to which they have hurt us. Forgiveness actually helps them see there was something wrong, there was a need for forgiveness, there was a transgression committed, there was a line crossed.

Forgiveness points out that there has been a problem and gives people grace to grow into becoming different people. Isn’t that what happened to you when God forgave you? Haven’t you been given room to grow in Christ through the grace God has shown you? God won’t write you off because of your sin or because of some offense. That is the message of the cross, and it is the message you and I are called to not only preach, but to practice in our day-to-day-relationships!

3. If I have been marked by the cross, I will love no matter what.

If you are going to be a disciple of Jesus, one mark on your life will be your love for other people. People from all countries. People of all races. People of all kinds of status. People of every religion. People whose politics make you question your sanity. Old people and young people. Even people who you could legitimately say live in opposition to you, you know, the people the Bible calls your enemies. We are to love even them.

The weight of the command to love cannot be overlooked or diminished. Matthew 22:37-40 37  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38  This is the first and greatest commandment. 39  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Everything hangs on or hinges on us getting this right. We cannot say we have been to the cross if while we were there, the love of God was not deposited into our hearts. And if the love of God has been deposited into our hearts, it was deposited there in order to be dispensed to others.

4. If I have been marked by the cross, I will make disciples.

The message of the cross is one to be preached. It is one to be shared. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20 19  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Our Church of God church planter in Kenova at New Beginnings Church of God made a bold statement recently that has continued to resonate with me. Here it is: “You can’t say you are a disciple if you have never made a disciple.” -Bob Ingels That’s a lot to take in, isn’t it?

Perhaps this is where the rubber meets the road where the cross is concerned. Are other people being marked by the cross because we are leading them to Jesus? When Jesus called the first disciples, He made it clear what discipleship was all about. He said the purpose for which He was calling them was that they might become fishers of men. Discipleship is about worship and prayer. It is about faithfulness to the Word of God. It is about seeking the will of God. It is about serving and loving others and meeting their needs, but ultimately, it is about bringing people to Jesus.

In Luke 9:23 Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Are we following closely enough that the cross is leaving a mark on us?

 

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