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correlation between obedience and love. Obedience is the true measure of our love for the Lord. The closer to the Lord we get, and the more intimate our relationship with him becomes, the more we will fall in love with him. The more we love him, the more willing we will be to obey him. Obedience will then manifest itself in the second great commandment. We will love our neighbors as ourselves. We will not rationalize our failure to do so by suggesting that Jesus was merely using hyperbole to stress the importance of loving others. We will refrain from telling ourselves that Jesus doesn't really mean that we should love everyone with whom we come in contact as much as we love ourselves. Rather, we will desire it and demonstrate it because the Lord's residence in our hearts. The renewing of our minds and our deeper love for the Lord will become increasingly obvious to those who observe and interact with us. The overflow of our love for God will reach our neighbors. The two great commandments are two thirds of what I view as the foundation upon which our Christian life is based. The third part of the equation is contained in Matthew 16, 24. In an effort to be crystal clear, I believe it, in conjunction with the two great commandments, are the sum of Christianity. Collectively, they are what I found to be Christianity from a narrower focus or Christianity. In a nutshell. The three cannot be separated. They are so interrelated, intertwined, and interwoven that it would be a grave mistake and an enormous shortcoming to fail to offer equal consideration, pursuit, and dedication to all three parts. Matthew 16, 24 reads: Then Jesus told his disciples: If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself. Pick up his cross and follow me continuously. What does it mean to pick up or take up your cross? What did it mean to Jesus and to his disciples? Their perspective is at the heart of the verse and far surpasses how many view the cross today. We've sugarcoated it, we've made it more palatable and thus have lost the significance of the meaning of the verse. You see, the cross has a very different meaning to us than it did to Jesus and his original audience. We have hats, shirts, keychains, jewelry, billboards, hilltops, skin, and a variety of other items emblazoned with or displaying a cross. To us, the cross is a location of Jesus' sacrificial and immeasurably loving, gracious, and merciful act that brings atonement for the sins of those who believe. The cross is the focal point of our transition to a new life with Him. It is at the foot of the cross that a monstrous pile of sins having accumulated over the course of human history have been laid down. To some, the cross referenced in the verse I just read is viewed as an inconvenience that takes on a particular form for every individual. You've likely heard the phrase, we all have our cross to bear. It could be an illness, disability, loss of employment, rebellious child. The list goes on and on for what some have even humorously referred to as their cross. To Jesus, the cross was something altogether different. He had yet to be crucified when he relayed to his disciples what was required if one wished to follow him, or what was, according to my belief, one of the three components of Christianity in a nutshell. Nonetheless, he was well versed in what a crucifixion on a cross entailed. It is clear from Scripture that Jesus knew what was coming to him. He knew every detail of what one of the most climactic moments of his life and his ultimate purpose would feel like and look like. You will recall how Jesus asked the Father to take the cup of death on a cross from him, not once, not twice, but three times. You will recall how his emotional state during those prayers resulted in him sweating, as it were, great drops of blood. Such was the intensity of the stress and strain Jesus experienced on an emotional level when contemplating his impending death on a cross, that some of the capillaries feeding his sweat glands ruptured, resulting in hematohydrosis or blood tinged sweat. Only the most intense stress can cause that physiologic response. Initially, Jesus' disciples also viewed it from a different perspective than we do today. Jesus and his disciples lived in towns where soldiers who were Roman, Jewish, and Gentile supporters of Roman government frequented and in various locations became occupants. Roman soldiers were responsible for and participated in the crucifixion of many individuals on a cross, stake, or tree. They practiced a form of lethal punishment reserved for insurrectionists, bandits, or perpetrators of the most heinous criminal acts, largely in order to keep their slave population in check. Crucifixion From which the English word excruciating is partly derived, likely originated with the Assyrians and Babylonians. It was systematically practiced by the Persians in the 6th century BC. Ultimately, it was passed on from the Phoenicians to the Romans, who perfected it for what some have estimated to be more than 500 years. Jesus and his disciples were well acquainted with it. Eventually, Jesus would have firsthand knowledge of it. The day of Jesus' crucifixion was horrifying to say the least. Actually, horrifying doesn't really provide a vivid picture of what the events surrounding and during his crucifixion look like. I'm not certain that I can find an adjective to adequately describe what he endured for you and me. By order of Pontius Pilate, Jesus' back was fiercely beaten with a whip known as a flagrum or flagellum. The leather whip likely had three tongs proceeding from the handle. Attached at various points along the length of the tongs were steel balls andor pieces of pottery, glass, or bone. Such was the enthusiasm of the Roman soldier that Jesus was not only whipped on his back, but the tongs of the flagellum also made contact with his chest, sides, buttocks, hips, and thighs. Doubtful there was much flesh remaining on the areas

of impact. After his severe whipping, the governor's soldiers placed a scarlet robe on Jesus. It acted much like gauze we place on a bleeding wound. At least for a short period, the copious amount of blood draining from the wounds on his torso coagulated and stopped oozing. While adorned in the robe, the soldiers proceeded to mock, humiliate, curse at, spit on, and strike Jesus. If the flogging wasn't enough to drain his body of that precious life sustaining fluid, he had a crown of thorns jammed into his scalp, which most certainly resulted in a fair amount of blood loss. Eventually, the robe was removed from Jesus. That reinitiated bleeding from his torso. At that point, Jesus was required to carry the crossbeam of the two part instrument of his execution. Because he was extremely weak and fatigued, nearly to the point of collapse from utter exhaustion, dehydration, anemia, and excruciating pain, another man had to assist him. On the hill called Galgatha, Jesus was forcefully pushed to the ground on his back. Which aggravated the already painful wounds sustained from the flogging. He was in position on the crossbeam so that his hands were above the level of his head. Once in position, the soldiers pounded seven to nine-inch nails into each wrist, severely damaging or shattering the median nerve. Jesus experienced excruciating pain, numbness, and tingling that radiated from his hands up his arms. He also lost function of his hands, not that it mattered hanging from across. If you have experienced carpal tunnel syndrome, you are at least mildly acquainted with what I'm describing. The cross beam and Jesus naked, tired, sweaty, bruised, bloodied, thorn pierced, nail-pierced, and lacerated body was then hoisted onto the vertical beam. After his knees were bent at a forty five degree angle, additional nails were driven into the metatarsal bones of each foot, or more likely, each heel bone. Hanging with his hands above his head would negatively impact his ability to breathe. The originators of a crucifixion designed it that way. Having nails to secure his feet would ensure Jesus could push up to exhale. That would prolong the crucifixion process. There was a vicious cycle that perpetuated itself when one was being crucified. This method of lethal punishment was well calculated. Allow me to show you what I mean. While hanging from his hands, Jesus' body was placed in an anatomic position more suitable for inhalation than exhalation. Jesus was required to push against the nails in his feet in order to raise his body sufficiently for exhalation. Because of Jesus' loss of electrolytes and blood, he experienced extreme weakness, fatigue, or outright exhaustion, which resulted in cramping of his thighs and calves. That made it nearly impossible for him to push up with his legs. Because his legs could not continually bear the weight of his body, his shoulders and eventually his elbows and wrists became dislocated. That made his arms considerably longer. causing more flexion in his knees. As you can imagine, that made it far more difficult and gave way to more pain and energy expenditure when Jesus was required on numerous occasions to push against the nails in his feet to raise his body for the sole purpose of exhaling. The problem was further complicated by the fact that the dislocated joints and body weight caused traction or added greater tension to his pectoralis muscles. That forced his rib cage upward and outward, or placed his rib cage in a sustained and unnatural anatomic shape more suitable for deep inhalation rather than exhalation. That triggered the domino effect or a chain reaction of terminal consequences. Because Jesus couldn't maintain proper ventilation in his lungs, he developed hypoxia or low oxygen saturation and hypercapnia or excessive carbon dioxide in his blood. Sustained hypercapnia eventually resulted in Jesus' heart rate increasing. His brain and his body were doing everything they could to keep him alive. His heart was beating faster to deliver more oxygen. To his oxygen-deprived body and to eliminate the carbon dioxide. Jesus' respiratory center in his brain was telling him to breathe faster to blow off the carbon dioxide. Unlike the movies, where thieves on the cross are witnessed hanging seemingly comfortably and casually while conversing, Jesus repeatedly slid up and down the cross as often as the excruciating pain and sheer exhaustion would permit. His breathing cycles were reduced to panting in order to prevent asphyxiation and suffocation. Initially, Jesus was profusely sweating. Over time, Jesus became severely dehydrated and anemic as a result of the sweating, loss of blood through the thorn holes in his head, lacerated back, and nail holes in his wrists and feet. No doubt, his blood pressure was at a very low level due to low circulating volume. He was likely in hypovolemic shock. The hypovolemia, hypotension, Hypoxia and hypercapnia eventually gave way to severe and sustained tachycardia. Jesus' heart was beating at an extremely rapid rate. All combined, Jesus went into acute congestive heart failure. He experienced pulmonary edema, his lungs filled with fluid, which further exacerbated his already compromised respiratory status. On top of that, he likely experienced bilateral pleural effusions. In other words, the sacs surrounding the lungs also filled with fluid. Jesus said, I thirst because his body was craving fluid due to the volume loss, and because what was available was in all the wrong places. As if these horrible physiologic changes weren't difficult enough, Jesus developed a pericardial effusion where fluid accumulated between his heart and the pericardial sac surrounding it. When severe, it can cause cardiac tamponade. Which is compression on the heart. That condition prevents the heart from pumping effectively. There are occasions when the physiologic demands are so high and the fluid accumulates so much that the pericardial sac ruptures. I

believe that is what happened to Jesus, and I will explain how I arrived at that conclusion in a moment. Some have suggested that the high oxygen demands of Jesus' heart. Coupled with his compromised respiratory status, coupled with him fighting to prevent hypoventilation, asphyxiation, and suffocation, with the little energy he had left, resulted in a massive heart attack and subsequent cardiac arrest. Whatever the case, Jesus said, it is finished. And then he gave up his spirit in. The Roman soldiers were required to wait until the criminal or alleged criminal was dead. If they grew tired of waiting, they would break the malefactor's legs. This would prevent the malefactor on the cross from pushing up to exhale, thereby prompting death by suffocation. That satisfied the soldiers' impatience. And although seemingly cruel, it was actually merciful. It shortened the suffering of the malefactor. When the soldiers checked Jesus, he was already dead. That is why they pierced his side rather than breaking his legs. Interestingly enough, the fact that his legs were not broken coincided with Exodus twelve forty six that shows a paschal lamb should not have its legs broken. From a typological perspective, Jesus is our paschal lamb. You may recall how the scripture says water and blood came out of Jesus pure side. I believe that speaks to the fluid in and surrounding his lungs and contained in the sack around his heart. The likely ruptured and released blood. Can you see it? Can you see what Jesus went through for you and me? I find Psalm 22 to be very interesting. It definitely evokes considerable thought and emotion. It's a Davidic Psalm. David shared his thoughts and feelings during what appears to be an extremely difficult time in his life. As you may know, David was a foreshadow of Jesus. He spoke prophetically about him on multiple occasions. I believe that unbeknownst to David, that is precisely what he was doing in this chapter. I encourage you to read it in its entirety. I will go over a few verses with you. Before I do, bear in mind that David lived between one thousand thirty five and nine seventy BCE. Crucifixion was invented around the 6th century BC. David had no knowledge of crucifixion because he lived hundreds of years before it was invented. He certainly wasn't privy to the specific details surrounding the one whose crucifixion possesses a potential to save humanity when individuals believe in him and receive him. I'll read for you Psalm 22, 14 through 18. The passage reads, I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a pot sherd, and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws, and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have come past me, The assembly of the wicked have enclosed me, they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones, they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them and cast lots upon my vesture. Doesn't that sound like what I just described in detail? David was prophesying specific details of Christ's crucifixion hundreds of years before it happened. Now let's go back to verse six of the same chapter. I believe you will find it very interesting. It reads, But I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men and despised of the people. Jesus was a man. He wasn't a worm. What did the Psalmist mean in this prophetic statement? The Hebrew word translated worm in this verse is Talahath. According to Strong's dictionary, it is defined as a maggot, as voracious, specifically the crimson grub, but used only in this connection of the color from it and cloths dyed therewith crimson scarlet worm. The crimson worm is found in the Middle East. This worm produces a crimson dye that was used for dyeing the curtains of the tabernacle and the garments of the high priests. Understanding the life cycle of this female worm lends to a better understanding of what the author meant and what occurred during Jesus' death on the cross. The female crimson worm only lays her eggs or starts a family once in her lifetime. In preparation for laying her eggs, she climbs a tree and attaches herself to it. She is secured so firmly to the tree that she can only be removed by tearing apart her body. Obviously that would kill her. Wasn't Jesus' body torn apart in various places with a flagrum? Wasn't Jesus crucified on a cross from a tree? Wasn't he attached to it with nails? Once attached to the tree, the worm develops a hard shell that is crimson in color. Isn't blood crimson? At the appointed time the female worm lays her eggs under her body or protective shell. When the larvae hatch, They remain under the protective shell of their mother for three days, feeding off her. Didn't Jesus remain in a tomb for the same length of time? After three days came Jesus' resurrection. Don't we, like the hatched crimson worm larvae live because of their mother, have eternal life as a result of Jesus' resurrection? After the three days have expired, the mother crimson worm dies, and her body excretes a crimson dye that stains the tree and also her babies. They are identified by their crimson color. Didn't Jesus' blood stain the cross? As Christians, isn't Jesus' blood applied to the doorposts of our hearts, so to speak? Aren't we known to be his because of the blood? On the fourth day the tail of the mother worm draws towards her head, creating a heart shaped figure. Her body is no longer crimson, but changes to a white waxy patch that resembles wool. Eventually it flakes off and drops to the ground like snow. That is used as a shellac to protect wood. That might remind you of Isaiah one eighteen, which reads Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Jesus, our perfect example, did all that because God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.

Jesus did all that because he loved God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, and subsequently. obeyed him in every aspect of his life. Furthermore, his obedience to God was demonstrated by him loving his neighbor as himself. He gave of himself and loved wholeheartedly in life and in the ultimate sacrifice death to prove it. With all that said, do you see why I firmly believe I owe him? Do you understand how the cross had a very different meaning to Jesus and his disciples than it does to us? If you could use one word to describe what the cross meant to Jesus when he informed his disciples that anyone wishing to follow him must take up their cross, what would it be? In one word, the cross to Jesus and his disciples was an instrument of death, a horrific death. If that is the case, was Jesus saying, Take up death and follow me? I am convinced that is precisely what he meant. So, how do we apply that to our lives? Jesus is quoted saying, If any will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. As sincere, committed followers of Jesus Christ, we are to deny ourselves. That suggests we are to renounce ourselves fully or abundantly and continually. When Jesus said to deny oneself, To whom or what is he referring? I propose Jesus was referring to the carnal man or our carnal nature, the flesh, our carnal affections, lusts or desires, and the selfish self centeredness that the carnal nature epitomizes. We are to deny the primary impetus behind all we do that is contrary to God. Doesn't the Bible tell us that the carnal mind is an enmity against the Spirit of God? It will inspire us to do everything that is in opposition to God. That being said, it makes all the sense in the world that Jesus would flat out tell us to deny our carnal nature and to take up our cross in respect to our carnal nature if we wish to follow him. In other words, Jesus was saying, die to or crucify your carnal nature continually by his spirit. In a word, the cross meant death to Jesus and his initial audience. The carnal human nature brings spiritual death. Take up the instrument of death, the cross, as it relates to your carnal nature or submission to your carnal nature will result in your death. It will kill you spiritually. Romans eight thirteen provides a vivid picture of what I have strongly stated. It reads For if you live according to your human nature or carnal nature, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death your sinful actions, you will live. Take up your cross. Did you notice Jesus didn't mention this being a part-time effort? If we wish to follow him, it will be a perpetual task throughout our Christian journey. We will not lay our crosses down until we ultimately disrobe of carnality at the moment we rise to meet our Savior in the air. Maybe you have some doubts about what I'm saying. Maybe you believe the cross is representative of something altogether different. Check out Matthew sixteen twenty five. It reads for

whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. The life we live here outside of Christ is a life dedicated to the flesh and our carnal desires. It is about the temporal, what we can get for ourselves right now. A life with Christ is one dedicated to him, others, and what awaits us in eternity. You could say this, the one who wishes to save their temporal life, driven by their flesh or carnal nature, will lose a life in eternity with the Lord. On the other hand, the one who dies to the carnal nature, the temporal and those securities of life that are central to it will find eternal life with the Lord. Save the carnal and temporal, and you will die. Die to the carnal and temporal, and you will find eternal life with the Lord. Further support of what I'm saying can be found in the passage preceding the statement Jesus made about the cross. Matthew 16, 21 through 23 reads From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples how that he must go into Jerusalem. And suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord, this shall not happen unto thee. But he turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan. Thou art an offense unto me, for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Peter's rebuke of Jesus was motivated by the affection he maintained for him. He did not wish to see him die, much less crucified. Jesus' comments about his death likely gave rise to some questions and confusion for Peter and the other disciples, because it was contrary to what the Jews believed about the Messiah. How could Jesus establish an earthly kingdom if he was dead? The proper translation for Satan is adversary. Jesus knew the motivation behind Peter's comments and behavior. Certainly Jesus didn't intend for us to believe he called Peter devil. Basically, Jesus was saying, Get behind me, adversary. Your way of thinking is a stumbling block. It will impede my grand design. You do not relish the things that are spiritual, eternal, and are of God, but rather you You are focused on the carnal, temporal, and worldly. That speaks volumes about why Jesus then said If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. In essence, this is what Jesus was saying to Peter and the other disciples Deny your carnal less, crucify your flesh continually and follow me. For the kingdom I have come to establish is not of this world. It is not carnal and temporal, but rather spiritual and eternal. Walk after the spirit and not after the flesh. The cross is representative of one thing death. We must die to our carnal nature in order to live for Christ. And we can only do that through the power of His Spirit. It's not easy. It certainly isn't convenient. An atheist I know once told me that Christianity is not for her. She sees it as a crutch. To me, that suggested weakness. But if she fully understood that Christianity in a nutshell is loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, loving your neighbor as yourself, and taking up your cross and following Jesus, she might experience a change of opinion. That's not weak at all. It requires determination, devotion, and a willingness to submit to the unrivaled power of the Holy Spirit. Failing to do those things that comprise Christianity in a nutshell is easy. It's natural. Striving to follow them can prove a challenge at times. It requires complete and perpetual surrender and reliance on God. It can be difficult to maintain our focus on those three things, particularly when you consider the fact that we may endure the same humiliation, scorn, despising, and rejection. As the malefactors who carried their burdensome cross means to the location of their execution. Carrying our crosses can be burdensome. Carrying our crosses may result in us suffering persecution, rejection, ostracization, and betrayal, even by family members. As recorded in Matthew 10, 21 through 22, Jesus informed us: Brother will hand brother over for execution, and a father his child. Children will rebel against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. We might be hated, ridiculed, rejected, and denied for being a cross-carrying follower of Jesus Christ. It's probable that someone listening to this message has experienced rejection by a friend or family member because of their belief in and dedication to the cause of Christ. There is a flip side to this. As Christians, we are also required to do some denying outside of denying ourselves. We must also deny everything except Jesus Christ and him crucified. He must rest at the pinnacle of our priorities and on the altar of our affection and attention. In Matthew ten, thirty-seven through thirty eight, Jesus is quoted saying. The one who loves his father or mother more than me isn't worthy of me, and the one who loves a son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of me. The one who doesn't take up his cross and follow me isn't worthy of me. Check out what Adam Clark said in his commentary about verse 37. It reads, He whom we love the most is he whom we steady most to please, and whose will and interests we prefer in all cases. If in order to please a father or mother who are opposed to vital godliness, we abandon God's ordinances and followers, we are unworthy of anything but hell. Wow, that is straight up. In closing, I want to be a better man. I want to hear Jesus say, Well done, my good and faithful servant. I say it and I pray for it a whole lot. I've been in pursuit of the keys to it. I believe a few years ago Jesus laid this message on my heart because it is that for which I had been searching. It gives me and will provide for you a narrower focus on. A focal point upon which to direct our energies and our prayers. Christianity in a nutshell. The main or central focus, the crux of it all for every Christian, should be loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, loving our neighbors as ourselves, and taking up our crosses and following Him. Interestingly enough, the word crux is Latin for cross. Love vertically and horizontally and carry your crux or cross, and the rest will fall into place. You will ultimately hear Well done, my good and faithful servant. I'll leave it there. God loves you and I love you. God bless you and have a great week.