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Friday, April 10, 2009
PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM
The passion of the Christian
Exclusive: David Kupelian explores what it really means to be a follower of Jesus
Posted: February 27, 2004
1:00 am Eastern
By David Kupelian
WorldNetDaily.com
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
– Mark 8:34-37
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
– Luke 9:23
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
– Matthew 10:38
Many dazzlingly eloquent words have been written and spoken lately about Christ's "Passion" – both the Mel Gibson movie and the Real Thing.
Indeed, viewing "The Passion of the Christ" is powerfully rekindling many believers' appreciation for what Jesus endured for their sakes.
Question: Will this roaring fire of gratitude for Christ's suffering and death on the cross also rekindle – or ignite for the first time – a fire in the belly of believers for "taking up the cross" themselves?
What about it? Is it enough to immerse our minds and souls and emotions in the graphic realization of Christ's immense suffering on our behalf? Or are we going to go the distance, finish the race, and fulfill Jesus' direct and repeated instruction that each of us "take up his cross daily"?
But first things first. What in the world does "taking up your cross" really mean?
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