The Burden Of The Cross Series

Florence Chadwick was the first woman ever to swim the difficult

and cold 21 mile stretch of water between Catalina Island and the

California coast. She failed on her first attempt because of poor

vision. After 15 hours and 55 minutes of numbing cold she asked to be

taken out of the water. A heavy fog blanketed the area and obscured

her vision of the land only one mile away. She said, "If I could have

seen the shore, I could have made it." She was defeated because she

lost sight of her goal. The fog did not hinder her physically, but

psychologically it sapped her of her strength and courage to go on by

robbing her of the vision of her goal.

Jesus, the creator of the mind, is naturally the master psychologist.

He knows how important vision is to strength, courage, and happiness.

He knew that the fog of persecution that would settle down around His

disciples would lead to doubt, confusion, and discouragement. He

knew that these things blind Christians and rob them of the vision of

their goal, and can defeat them, and cause them to lose the happiness

of all the other beatitudes. Therefore, in this last beatitude Jesus

provides His disciples with a defensive weapon to penetrate the fog of

persecution. He promises great reward in heaven to those who will

press on in the dark, knowing the light is still shining beyond.

Joseph Conrad in Typhoon has the captain shout to Jakes the mate

as great waves pound the ship, "Don't you be put out by anything!

Keep her facing it! Facing it, always facing it-that's the way to get

through-face it! That's enough for any man. Keep a cool head and

face it." This is what Jesus is saying to His disciples. The storm of

persecution is coming. If they try and turn back to escape it, they lose

all. Their victory and happiness depends on their keeping a cool head

and facing it. It is hard to keep cool in the fires of affliction, however.

How many of us could face the cruelty of Nero, who put Christian men

and women in sacks, covered them with oil, and set them up on poles

in his garden; then lit them as living torches to light up his garden at

night. Yet this is what Jesus calls His disciples to face. This is the

burden of the cross.

Lowell wrote, "By the light of burning heretics Christ's bleeding

feet I track. Toiling up new Calvary's ever, with the cross that turns

not back." Happiness is pressing on whatever the cost with your eyes

upon Him who bore the cross for you. Jesus says, happy are those

who take following me seriously enough to bear the burden of the

cross. Take up the cross and follow me Jesus said, and His demand is

still the same today, and the promise is still the same, that those who

suffer with Christ shall also reign with Him.

This beatitude must have been shocking to those who first heard it.

They were expecting honor and Jesus offers them hostility. You would

naturally think that the person who developed all the qualities of

character in these beatitudes would be loved by all. He would be so

pleasant and helpful in society that his friendship and presence would

be treasured, you would think. One of the unfortunate paradoxes of

life, however, is the fact that the best people are often the most

despised. Jesus, who alone embodied all of these beatitudes perfectly,

was crucified. Excessive goodness provokes opposition because it

makes the conscience of evil men burn with shame and guilt. Too

much light clashes with darkness, and holiness clashes with evil, and so

the Christian is under constant pressure to conform to the world so as

not to rock the boat, and stir up opposition. There is a tendency to

abuse the former beatitude and be a peacemaker at any price, even

the price of compromise and silence. Everyone one of these beatitudes

can be perverted.

Some of the other beatitudes have been difficult to grasp, but this

last one is the crowning paradox of them all. It is equivalent to Jesus

saying His burden is light. How can a burden be light? If it is light it

is not a burden is it? Yet Jesus calls us to take up the burden of the

cross which is a very costly act, yet one which leads to much joy and

happiness. What could be more paradoxical-a crushing burden that

lifts you to the skies. Being exceedingly glad when you are hated and

despised. Jesus knew this was a hard statement to believe and

understand. That is why He states it twice. It is so incredible. All

other beatitudes are in one verse each, but this one takes three verses