“Take Up Your Cross”, words and music by Paul Hayden
MATTHEW 20.17-19: And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, (18) “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death (19) and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” (ESV)
In Matthew 16.21 and following, Jesus introduces his disciples to the plan that he is going to Jerusalem and he will suffer, and be killed, and then be raised on the third day. And as he further explained in the verses above, his death will be a cruel death and the process will include being beaten by a whip, most likely containing bone and metal fragments designed to cut into the skin.
The arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem was right on time in accordance with the Passover festival conducted by the Jewish religious community. This was all in keeping with the plan of God by which Jesus will triumph over the devil, and sin, and darkness, by giving his life over to the Romans to be killed. The death of Jesus on the cross was not perpetrated upon him. He willfully allowed it to happen as he obeyed the will of God the Father.
Jesus also calls to each of us to follow after Him, as we symbolically carry our own cross. The “carrying of the cross” that is appointed will be unique to us as individuals. And we will discover the cross God has for us as we live our lives. I view the carrying of the cross for myself to be that of seeking to be obedient to the will of God for me personally, on an ongoing basis, as He makes me to understand it.
I do not believe that the manner and method of “carrying our cross” is something we go looking for, or seek to discover. Life is full of difficulties and hardships that bring to us the opportunity to choose to stay committed to the will of God, as we turn the events, circumstances, and outcomes over to Him.