Note that someone carrying cross, to be crucified, was demanding, humiliating, painful with the only outcome was more pain, more humiliation, more agony and finally, death.
THERE IS NO OTHER POSSIBILE OUTCOME.
YESHUA had to go through that experience. It cost Him blood as he wrestled in accepting the extreme dedication required to face the bizarre trial that He would soon be immersed in. The extreme depravity of man, hypocrisy and hatred of the Jewish leaders, the offspring of those that He rescued out of Egypt and protected and cared for in the wilderness. The betrayal of a friend, the denial of another, the abandonment of the rest. The spinelessness of a gentile ruler, the cruelty of soldiers, the extreme humiliation and pain on the cross, carrying our sins and finally abandoned by His own Heavenly Father.
Man’s spiralling descent into darkness and depravity continued with the mixing of strange flesh – of which result had to be destroyed by a cataclysm, the flood. The following daring challenge and rebellion against YHWH was that tower, showing YHWH that man shall NOT obey Him, but force Him to obey them.
And all this mess left us humans in an untenable position… We “are” (at least think and act as if we are) gods, minding our own ways, but are prisoners of a cruel exacting dictator, that is our own flesh and lusts. Ro 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
There is a judge coming, and He is going to exact revenge on His enemies, those that rebel against Him, building their own kingdom, following their own plans, desires, lusts… This god inside me does not want to submit, wants to rule, demand his own way, desire to control everyone and everything, even YHWH… But I cannot control myself, my flesh. If I still have a glimmer of integrity and morality, know of right and wrong, I am unable to act right. Rom 7:14 ¶ For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
There is no way out, we are in a narrow, dangerous ravine, no turning around – or back, just deeper into the dark foreboding abyss… Rom 8:4 The righteousness of the law cannot be fulfilled in us, who walk after the flesh 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; 6 To be carnally minded is death; 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: 15 For we have received the spirit of bondage to fear…
However, for those that WANT to escape, there IS hope, there IS a way out, YHWH Elohim (LORD God) and YESHUA, the Son of Man needs to regain their rightful rule in my life, my thoughts heart, and intestines (deepest emotions). Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. YESHUA, in giving up His rights as God, and died the death of a base criminal, IN THIS ACT HE OVERCAME ALL GODS IN MAN. This was all to turn the downward spiral that started with that one fruit. The promise – you will be as gods, as the fallen angels. YESHUA WAS a god, but He became AS a criminal - 1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree… and He gave us the chance to accept that ability, on the condition that we take up the cross to deny life and right to the god in us, ruling us, forcing us into shame, damage, finally destruction.
As an aside, YESHUA, even though carrying our sins, never did sin, He never would sin, as He would then NOT be the perfect sacrifice.
Carrying the cross is for us to forcibly drag this god to his death, deny his desires and demands and having him stripped of his authority and rule.
Rom 8:1 ¶ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Hardly ever are we made aware of the power of this god-king that rules in our minds, especially in our oversaturated and rich Western world. So deeply ingrained and pervasive the influence of this god in our lives, that, according to YESHUA, YHWH our Father must intervene for us to even start this process of death to the ruler.
We can only pray: Our Father, be merciful and patient, show me my god(s) and where he has control. Give me the ability to ruthlessly take my ideas and inclinations and desires, lusts even, take up the cross so that they can be crucified and finally expire never to return.
When we call to Him, He will lift us out of our impossible and helpless position, the prison from which we have no escape.
We will get rid of these agonizing accusations – we know it is true – sometimes we cry, other times we deny and the rest we suppress the guilt that rises like a very severe heartburn when confronted… Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk after the Spirit., to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.10 ¶ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Now for the crunch. It is not all grace, and no effort, or cost to us. YHWH does not rule with another god that is opposed to Him… Mr 8:34 Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Rom 8:13 but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Note that there is even a condition HOW to carry the cross – the instructions are to come from the Spirit of YHWH – how to kill the deeds of the body.
And when we are extracted from the crevasse - 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God, ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
These are harsh words, denial, kill, death. But when someone wavers, pull back from, this harsh reality, there are other warnings, as stark and serious as any of YESHUA.
Mt 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
A word to agonize over, pray over, meditate over, worthy. In Greek befitting, congruous. Not befitting something or someone is trash. Trash turns out to be befitting only of fire. The lake of fire.
This is serious. YHWH IS serious. There was a historical incident where He classified someone as found not sufficiently “weighty”. This is recorded in Dan 5. The most powerful man in the world at that time was trembling, and some reckon, it was worse than that. MENE MENE TEKEL UPHARSIN. Reckon, Weight, Divided. Weighed and found too light. His impenetrable city was conquered, the kingdom collapsed, he lost his life. The incomparable magnificent city was made in a pile of junk, worthless, the home of unclean animals and demons.
YESHUA was serious. He said it more than once, that some will hear one day “I know you not”, and in other words, “you are not fit for My kingdom, you do not fit in”.
The choice is man’s. Yours and mine. Use it or lose it.
The Judge has spoken, and said: Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
And
Mt 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Mt 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.