Scripture Reading: Hebrews 13:10-15
Memory Verse: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” —Matthew 16:24
Introduction:
The cross was a form of execution. Jesus not only ultimately died on the Cross, but the principle of the cross in His life was a daily experience. He was without sin, but He had taken on human flesh and felt all the natural desires and needs of a human being (Hebrews 2:18 and 4:15). He could feel tired and hungry, and He knew discomfort (John 4:6; Matthew 4:2-4 and 8:20). But Jesus did not live for Himself—His own desires and comforts. His natural flesh did not govern His life. He lived bearing the cross daily. Jesus’ death was our death, and His resurrection was our resurrection. We have been raised in Him—a new creation! But we are still in human flesh, and so, as Jesus did when He walked the earth in the flesh, we now must take up the cross daily and follow in His footsteps.
Being a believer does not mean it is no longer possible for a Christian to sin. We still have the ability to choose to sin if we want to, but the wonderful truth of the Gospel is that we no longer have to because the very nature of sin that was within us has been dealt with by Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross (1 John 2:1). When we choose, daily, to “take up the cross,” we choose to follow in the attitudes and purpose Jesus portrayed in His life and death here on earth. Following in His footsteps means to walk in love, humility, compassion, and servitude. It means not following our earthly desires, but being guided by heavenly desires—looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Lesson Questions:
- What happens when we become a believer? Ephesians 2:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17.
- What directive about our attitude did Jesus give us in Philippians 2:5-8?
- Jesus never lost sight of His mission on earth (Luke 9:51a). What is our mission? John 20:21.
- What attitude did Jesus show by His sacrifice on the cross, that we should show to others? 1 John 3:16.
- Describe another quality that Jesus had on the cross, that we should also have when we “take up the cross.” John 4:34; Hebrews 10:7; Matthew 26:36-46.
- Though Jesus was Lord of all, what did He come to do? Luke 22:24-27; Mark 10:45; John 13:3-17.
- Explain the attitude we should have, that follows the one Jesus had when He was faced by mockers and enemies. Luke 23:33-43; Matthew 18:21-22.
- Jesus saw beyond the suffering of the cross. What vision should we have? Hebrews 12:2; 2:10.