"I'VE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST..." (Galatians 2:20)

Crucified?  That's an old-fashioned word that signifies a barbaric time in history, an archaic method of punishment for crimes.  Historically, Jesus was crucified, along with thieves, murders and rebellious traitors.  The Romans had perfected crucifixion to an art.  The trained executioners knew how to maximize the pain and torture, stretching out the physical and mental suffering until the one being crucified begged to die.  We in modern western cultures cannot imagine such a form of justice, let alone that human agents would inflict this on another human! 

When we read Paul's letter to the Galatian church, how can we understand his statement "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer lie, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" ? Paul knew firsthand the practice of crucifixion and also understand capital punishment through the Jewish law of stoning those who had transgressed God's commands.  Putting a lawbreaker to death was common in that day.

Dying to self is not a common cultural practice for us today, especially in North America.  We are encouraged and persuaded that "I" am the most important person.  My pursuits should be for my own happiness and pleasure.   Although self-sacrifice is honoured, ( ie Mother Theresa and Ghandi, who denied their flesh and gave up worldly riches for great causes), the average person isn't recognized for the everyday sacrifices for the good of another.  

In fact, the opposite is true: self-preservation.  We would do almost anything to save ourselves, not kill our needs and desires.  And yet, Jesus asks us to choose the hard path to know Him.

Jesus said, "  (Matthew 16:24)  To be a true follower of Jesus, we must give up our comforts and choose to do what Jesus Himself has done.  He did not amass wealth; He did not pursue pleasures physically, emotionally or even socially.  The life of Christ was characterized by self-sacrifice, discomforts, homelessness, fatigue, hunger and thirst, giving of His time and energy for others, always for the sake of their souls. So when Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, says to be crucified with Christ, we are to follow that example!

Romans 6:4 gives us another word picture of dying to self:  "We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead...we too may live a new life."  The pattern of following the way of Jesus is to die.  Only then can we be raised up - like Jesus was - to a new, resurrected life.  There is no short cut to spiritual perfection and acceptability; the path of Jesus is death first, then being made brand new.

A choice is involved.  We cannot love the world and follow Jesus.  We cannot love sin and please the Lord.  We must choose to love Him more and actually hate the ways of the world (1 John 2:15-17).  In Romans 12:2a, Paul gives this instruction: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."   This verse is a command, an imperative.  This means we have a choice and our will must be engaged.  Our will is influenced by our mind; our mind needs a complete overhaul, a renewing.  

How can this be possible?  In Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul is writing to the believers in Ephesus with clear directions for their life as Christ's disciples.  "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self..." The old, former way of living is done with, finished.  To truly follow Christ is to deny the flesh, to say no to the old self and its desires.  Then the new life can be lived!  "...to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."  An act of the will - influenced by the mind that is transformed - is also required to put on a new self, a new attitude.  Again, you may ask, how?  Back to the letter to the Galatians:  "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh...Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:16, 24 & 25)

We die to ourselves.  As the selfish flesh is being crucified, the Holy Spirit is replacing, renewing all that is old and dead.  He brings fresh life by His presence to empower us to live for Christ.

As we approach Good Friday and Easter Sunday, let's consider our own crucifixion and our resurrected life as followers of the Christ!