follow the leader, part 2 (luke 9:23-27)

It seems to be connected with death – or a kind of death – as indicated by the next part of the statement about taking up your cross every day and following him. The cross is nothing other than an instrument of torture and death – it had no other purpose. And it was reserved for the lowest criminals who were to be made a public example of.

So Jesus is saying that he requires that his followers must take a complete internal decision so that their attitude to themselves must equate to becoming lost, ruined, nothing. And this is symbolically achieved through connecting oneself to public disgrace, humiliation, torture, and death.

What mad talk is this from the Messiah? Messiahs are meant to be saviours of their people, not killers of them!

Tags: jesus, contemplative, messiah