Behind or In Front of the Cross?
I am pleased that a number of folks have engaged in follow up conversations about the language I used in my last sermon about living “behind” vs. out “in front” of the cross. What does it look like after all to head Jesus’ call to “take up our cross and follow him?” I’m excited here to expand and further try and develop this behind vs. out in front distinction. I have also wanted to get back to writing as with all the “adds” during COVID-19 pandemic, writing has dropped off the plate. Hope this helps.
What defines you?
Behind the cross, you are relying completely, and when I say completely, I mean entirely on the cross and resurrection for the basis of how you understand yourself and your status before God. In Romans 4.24, Paul beautifully sums up the meaning of cross and resurrection by saying, “He died for our trespasses and was raise for our justification.” Note Paul does not say, he died to set us a good example on how to behave. To get behind Jesus and follow him is first and foremost not something we do but rather a position of trust. Therefore, when it comes to Jesus’ call to get behind him and deny ourselves, it is actually to disavow that we can do anything to contribute to Jesus’ forgiving, reconciling, and justifying work for us in those 3 days. Living behind the cross is solely trusting in Jesus name. Living behind the cross and following Jesus means his work makes us right and whole and his work defines what is true for us. Getting behind the cross is receiving and trusting his sacrificial work to make us ok, right, somebody, loved, and at peace. When we get behind the cross, we say there is nothing in us or anything we have done to help Jesus take on our sin, death, and the devil. He does it all for us. Our experiences don’t define us. Our feelings don’t define us. Our accomplishments don’t define us. Our education doesn’t define us. Our jobs don’t define us. Behind the cross Jesus’ work and love for us defines us. Jesus defines us as “child of God” and “friend.” (Lk 20:36, John 1:12, Lk 12:14, John 15:15)
However, getting behind the cross is offensive to our old self, our old Adam and Eve, because there is nothing more our old self hates than to be left out. We want a partnership with God at least when it comes to our Justification. “There has to be something I do!” says the old self. “After all, Jesus said to take up one’s own cross and follow.” Yes, old self, but what cross is that? Ours or his? Our culture, driven by our turned in-ward nature, wants to be in charge and out in front of the cross, we at least get a say in our self-understanding and identity. But be careful what you ask for.
Now let’s get more concrete and look at some faith practices in light of this distinction.
Worship: When out in front, worship contributes to our justification – we are doing it with some sense of self-gain. Behind the cross, we worship out of a hunger to hear God’s Word and in joyful gratitude for all God has done for us. We need the Word and Sacrament because these are the lifeblood of our relationship and they deliver the work of Christ for us but our worship isn’t, in and of itself, advancing our position. Worship does make us holy not because we do it but because in our worship God acts on us. God’s gift in Christ is delivered and given to us in worship.
Prayer: Does our prayer make us more holy before God? Out in front we think so. But behind the cross prayer is motivated by our love for Jesus and completely relational. Prayer is about our relationship and not trying to prove anything. Behind the cross we freely pour out our longings to God who promises to hear. Out in front, our prayers are mixed up with needing to prove something.
Service: Out in front of the cross, our acts of service in some way contribute to our status and advance our holiness. We feel better about ourselves. Out in front our motives are mixed up with pride and self-satisfaction that we are doing well. Behind the cross, we serve and love in gratitude for what God has done for us but our love of neighbor actually just flows out of us. Service and stewardship of God’s blessings become automatic and unstoppable!
Finally, I want to mention a question that came up in one of my conversations about this distinction. “Is it achievable?” Perfect question! Can we really deny ourselves and follow Jesus? Out in front of the cross, the honest answer is “no.” Our self-denial is never enough and is a weight that will either make us hypocrites or make us despair. Behind the cross, relying solely on Jesus’ Name, self-denial is already “achieved” because the cross we carry is what Jesus has done for us. How else could Jesus say, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [1] Perhaps a quote from Luther’s Heidelberg Disputation says it best, “The law says, ‘do this,’ and it is never done. Grace says, ‘believe in this,’ and everything is already done.”[2] When we get out in front, following Jesus really isn’t following, it is law. Behind the cross, following is savoring grace and the gift that everything is already done.
[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Mt 11:30). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
[2] Luther, M. (1999). Luther’s works, vol. 31: Career of the Reformer I. (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald, & H. T. Lehmann, Eds.) (Vol. 31, p. 41). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
