Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, 

"If anyone 

wants to follow after me, let him deny himself,

take up his cross,

and follow me."

Mark 8:34 CSB

Here we go, "How to build a popular movement 101"

Jesus has miraculously fed thousands, there's been healings, he can't travel anywhere without being recognised and asked for help, he's well on the way to being made king.

And then this.

Deny yourself.

Take up your cross.

Follow me.

Jesus is addressing the crowd and his team here...

Yes "follow me" works. Jesus is a rabbi, a teacher, we love what he says, and he's a healer, a miracle worker, we want to be part of that. Click follow.

Deny myself? Sure there's going to have to be some self sacrifice to overthrow the Romans and restore Jewish autonomy. I'm up for some giving.

But take up my cross?

What is that all about?

I know people who've been murdered by the Romans on a cross. 

I've seen it.

Smelled it.

Heard it.

It's horrible.

Terrifying.

This Jesus has lost the plot if he wants me to carry a cross, my own cross, I don't want anything to do with a cross.

I'm out.

#wordsofJesus

#popularnotpopular

#upsidedownkingdom