Jesus commanded us to pick up the cross everyday and follow him. Meaning we should do what he did.
If he picked up the cross everyday, did he die everyday? And was he resurrected everyday?
The answer to the question is "yes" in both cases. Jesus picked up the cross by offering himself to be killed and he was killed by those he offered himself up to. How?
Jesus would make claims that would seem unsupportable, go out on a limb, take risks, do things that were dangerous to do, simply because doing them meant he would be attacked if he failed. This could mean teaching things that were hard to explain, or trying to do a miracle.
When he succeeded in these tasks, he was what I call resurrected. He risked attack, was attacked, and recovered.
Why would he do this? Because he wanted to save men from futile life, a life they were living. Where they turned to inadequate means, their own strength, to earn impermanent returns. A very poor situation. He wanted to convince them to come out from this situation and turn to a very capable person, God, and work for Him for rewards with substance. Which is what God had created them for. However, in a similar situation, Moses noted that men would prefer to continue in the bad situation they were in, rather than risking danger in a new venture with an unknown partner. He needed help to convince Israel to follow him and come out of Egypt and the only way they would do it would be if they knew that God was with him.
So picking up the cross is the same as exercising the faith Moses showed in going forward and depending on God to perform the
signs and wonders which would convince Israel to come out of Egypt.
Remember, signs and wonders help, but cannot force people to follow God.
Even if a person comes back from the dead, even that cannot convince people to serve God.
However, because Moses obeyed God when he heard His voice, he was able to bless Israel, deliver her from oppression in Egypt. Because Joshua obeyed God similarly, Rahab was delivered from idol worship, serving that which could only pay temporary returns and even that, inadequately, to serving the Almighty for eternal treasure.
If you and I similarly hear God's voice and obey, unlike Israel, we can share in Christ's work of blessing the world.
If he picked up the cross everyday, did he die everyday? And was he resurrected everyday?
The answer to the question is "yes" in both cases. Jesus picked up the cross by offering himself to be killed and he was killed by those he offered himself up to. How?
Jesus would make claims that would seem unsupportable, go out on a limb, take risks, do things that were dangerous to do, simply because doing them meant he would be attacked if he failed. This could mean teaching things that were hard to explain, or trying to do a miracle.
When he succeeded in these tasks, he was what I call resurrected. He risked attack, was attacked, and recovered.
Why would he do this? Because he wanted to save men from futile life, a life they were living. Where they turned to inadequate means, their own strength, to earn impermanent returns. A very poor situation. He wanted to convince them to come out from this situation and turn to a very capable person, God, and work for Him for rewards with substance. Which is what God had created them for. However, in a similar situation, Moses noted that men would prefer to continue in the bad situation they were in, rather than risking danger in a new venture with an unknown partner. He needed help to convince Israel to follow him and come out of Egypt and the only way they would do it would be if they knew that God was with him.
So picking up the cross is the same as exercising the faith Moses showed in going forward and depending on God to perform the
signs and wonders which would convince Israel to come out of Egypt.
Remember, signs and wonders help, but cannot force people to follow God.
Even if a person comes back from the dead, even that cannot convince people to serve God.
However, because Moses obeyed God when he heard His voice, he was able to bless Israel, deliver her from oppression in Egypt. Because Joshua obeyed God similarly, Rahab was delivered from idol worship, serving that which could only pay temporary returns and even that, inadequately, to serving the Almighty for eternal treasure.
If you and I similarly hear God's voice and obey, unlike Israel, we can share in Christ's work of blessing the world.
