The following 5-minute video is from the YouTube site, Got Questions Ministries; their video-page link is as follows: https://www.youtube.com/@gotquestions/videos
Highlight points follow video:
Highlight points:
What Jesus did NOT mean:
- “Cross” is not symbolic for some burden such as a strained relationship; illness; affliction
- Many people, with self-pitying pride take up such a cross
- To first century believers, the cross only meant one thing: death by the most painful and humiliating means known
- Modern Christians cherish the symbol of the cross and view it as representative of atonement, forgiveness, grace and love
- In Jesus’ day the cross symbolized torturous death
- He used it in the gospels to indicate that one be willing to die to self; to surrender such that your own goals… are exchanged for His
- Following Jesus can be easy when life goes smoothly
- One’s true commitment to Him is revealed in how trials are faced and dealt with
- Only those willing to take up their cross can be His disciples