A Cruciform Life

Tim Davis

“The Greco-Roman world could not imagine that humility could lead to honor.”[1]

The Greco-Roman world was the culture Jesus ministered in. Yet, contrary to the surrounding culture, Christians viewed humility as a key ingredient of the good life.  

Today, virtue is sought by looking inside of yourself. “Those inner-most feelings and desires define who you are.” At least that’s what we’re told. But the Greco-Roman world was different. Virtue was found by looking outside of yourself. Like clothing, the virtuous person would “put on” virtues like prudence, temperance, and so on. However, “humility was a shameful lowering that offered no reward.”[2]

But Jesus’ way was different. Of all the virtues we should strive to “put on”, humility is near the top.

W.W.J.D.

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus tells his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” 

What’s he getting at here?

For starters, we know what Jesus doesn’t mean. Let me illustrate. Remember those W.W.J.D bracelets—what would Jesus do? Well, we know what Jesus did: he died for the sins of the world. Does that mean we should do that? Of course not. This is one of those things only Jesus can do. So when Jesus invites his disciples to take up their cross, he’s not implying that their lives and deaths will accomplish the same redemptive purposes as his.

So what does it mean for you and me to take up our cross? At the very least, the cross gives us an example to model our daily habits and routines around. But this takes us a question deeper: what example does the cross provide?

At this point it’s important to remember that Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 16:24 happens before he dies on the cross. This means he launched his earthly career with his gaze set on the cross. In other words, the road toward sacrifice wasn’t “plan b”; Jesus clothed himself in humility from the very beginning. 

The cross gives us the penultimate example of humility.

JESUS CONDESCENDED 

The Apostle Paul highlights the same idea. In Philippians 2:2-5, he writes, “Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind… in humility count others more significant than yourselves… Have this mind among yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.”

What “mind” did Jesus have? Paul gives the answer in the verses that follow. Jesus condescended to earth, took on human form and clothed himself in the rags of a servant. 

And he did all of this for you and me.

 This is the mind Paul wants the Philippians to have. It’s the mind he wants you and I to have—the kind of mind that’s humble and committed to sacrificing for the sake of others. 

THE WAY OF DISCIPLESHIP 

The cross not only accomplished salvation (wonderful as it is), but it also gives us an example to follow. Being a disciple of Jesus means conforming your mind to be more like his. It means wearing the same clothes that he wore. As Peter writes, “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another” (1 Peter 5:5).

Greco-Roman culture taught the path of honor. Our culture teaches us to “follow our hearts”. But Jesus gives us a different road to travel on—one marked by humility. This is what it means to shape our lives by the cross. This is what it looks like to live a “cruciform life.”