The Crucified Life (The power of fruitfulness)
Text: “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the CROSS, and follow me. (Mark 10:21)
One essential characteristic of any living is the possibility to bear fruit under certain conditions. The plant life and animal life give a handout on the irresistible power of fruitfulness that is embedded in every life.
A farmer will not hold seeds in his hand and expect a harvest, he has to bury the seed to see the harvest. A Christian should not expect fruitfulness from the life of God he has received in Christ Jesus without crucifying the old life (self).
Mark 20:17-30 gives an interesting illustration about a wealthy man who wanted to be a disciple of Jesus. He saw the strange possibilities in Jesus and longed for them. But when he was told he has to crucify his old life, he frowned and went way bittered.
The man acted the way many believers will do today, but what he didn’t realize is that he was being offered abundance in this life and the next to come.
Because the cross represents shame, weakness, and death people don’t seem to notice the great power it wields. When Jesus asked the man to dispose of his belongings to the poor and take up his cross and follow him, he said that in an exchange for eternal life.
Conclusion
Every time we embrace the cross we may look weak, despised, and foolish from the world’s perspective but then we activate the resurrection power of God for hundredfold fruitfulness.
Mark 10:29 says, “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, there is no man who hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, who shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”
