Bearing the Cross by J. M. McLellan

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 25, 1858

Bearing the Cross.

By J. M. McLellan

Look for a moment at the cross-bearing life of Jesus. He became poor, despised of man, endured reproach, was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; when he was reviled, he reviled not again. Though wounded, bruised, put to grief, his soul made an offering, scourged, spit upon, his temples bleeding from the crown of thorns, his hands and his feet pierced with nails, his soul in agony while hanging upon the cross, yet he murmured not, nor complained. All this he bore for you and I, but not a lisp of impatience was ever heard from his lovely lips. His life was a cross-bearing one. How patiently and meekly he embraced all the ills and crosses that awaited him here, during his ministry on earth. "By the cross he lived, by the cross he died, setting his followers an example worthy of imitation. He says, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me," [Mark viii, 34,] adding, "And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." Luke xiv, 27. How often must the cross be taken up and borne? "Daily." Luke ix, 23. Every morning when we arise, refreshed with sleep, we must take up the cross and bow around the family altar and ask for strength from the heavenly Sanctuary to enable us to bear the cross through the day to the honor and glory of God, that when we lie down at night we can enjoy the pleasing reflection that we have done his will. Conscience will not smite us, but our peace will be as a river. Such will soon enjoy the full fruition of their hope in the kingdom of God.

To bear the cross is to confess Jesus in all the acts of life, by patiently and meekly submitting to all the ills, trials, disappointments and afflictions of this life, which are sure to meet us on our journey to Mount Zion. These are all crosses and they must be borne cheerfully by every one that wants and expects to see the inside of the city, the New Jerusalem.

Again, look at the apostle Paul. View him following the great Redeemer in his self-denying life. He hungered, thirsted, was naked, buffeted, and had no certain dwelling-place, was reviled, persecuted, defamed, made as the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things. All these crosses he bore patiently, saying all the way along, "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world. From henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear in my body the marks (cross-bearing life) of the Lord Jesus." Gal. vi, 14-17. Again he says, "For many walk of whom I have told you often, and now tell you, even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ."

Who, Paul, are "the enemies of the cross of Christ?" In the next verse he describes them. They are those "whose god is their belly, (hearts overcharged with the cares of this world,) whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." Phil. iii, 18, 19. These are "the enemies of the cross." They are opposed to self-denial, gadding about in gay attire, "with stretched-forth neck and wanton eyes;" but like the gourd of Jonah, when the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father they will wither and perish.

When Paul returned, "confirming the souls of the disciples," and exhorting them to continue in the faith, he said that we through much tribulation (a cross-bearing life) should enter into the kingdom of God. Acts xiv, 22. None should quarrel with the instrumentalities God may employ to crucify them unto the world, and fit them to be glorified with his Son Jesus Christ.

J. M. McLELLAN.

Hastings, Mich.