Carrying Your Cross with a Twist!
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
Luke 14:27
Jesus was speaking to Hebrews. It is like ly that the word “cross” here is better translated “Stauros” or post. This would have made sense to the Hebrew mind pre Jesus’ dying on a Roman cross. It would have reminded the Hebrews of the same use of the word in Deuteronomy 40:18 translated as pillars. These pillars were the corner and side posts that held the curtains that made up the tabernacle. Different priests were given the assignment of carrying these pillars upon their shoulders from place to place as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. When the cloud of God’s presence left the tabernacle, those assigned to carry the posts would heave them up onto their backs and shoulders and drag them until God showed them where to set them down. Each person would carry one post whose weight combined with the stand that was also carried equaled the amount of the price of redemption.
The post carriers were not lone wolves bearing their burdens with grief. No! They were priests. They joyfully did their share along with others who carried their posts and curtains and tabernacle furniture. Yes, sometimes it would rub a sore upon their backs. I am sure they got a few splinters and sometimes the burden seemed too heavy to bear, but they did it joyously as unto the Lord as their reasonable service of worship!
Then, we can be Jesus’ disciple (student).
Your cross is not some burden that God is laying upon you for torture or to grow you, but rather it is the thing that should lead you to God and His presence and His joy.