Why do we do that so much?
You know what’s one thing that still gets me to this day? The fact that Jesus didn’t die quietly. He was beaten, mocked, and crucified IN PUBLIC, fully seen, fully exposed, fully rejected by everyone, for me, for you, for everyone. He had US in His mind. Jesus Christ didn’t hide His love, noooo, He put it on full display in the most painful way possible. And yet, if we’re honest, we tend to do the opposite. We keep our faith low and private because of fear, because we’re scared of what people might think, how we’ll be perceived, or what it might cost us socially. I know right…
We’ll reject meat for a weekend, but won’t reject our flesh daily, won’t stop living a life of sin. We’ll choose small, temporary sacrifices, but struggle with full surrender. But He called us to deny ourselves and take up our cross, and that’s EVERY DAY, not just when it’s convenient or “more comfortable” for us, not just when it looks “good, or it’s “socially acceptable” (hint: it’ll never be “socially acceptable in this age) but EVERY SINGLE DAY.
But it doesn’t end there, and phew thank God it doesn’t. Jesus Christ rose again. HALLELUJAH. He defeated death, He paid the price in full, and now we get to live in that VICTORY with joy, with freedom!!, and please, with GRATITUDE. This walk isn’t meant to be heavy in a hopeless way, it’s meant to be full of life. But that joy should never make us forget the cost of what He did. Never grow so comfortable in the victory that you forget the cost of it. The cross wasn’t symbolic. The cross was very real, brutal, and it was LOVE.
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” -1 Peter 2:24
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” -Luke 9:23
So let’s celebrate, let’s live in His grace joyfully, let’s surrender our lives completely and entirely to Him who died such a gruesome death for US, for ME AND FOR YOU, but let’s not water down what it means to follow Him, take up your cross daily and follow Him for once and for all. He gave everything publicly, the least we can do is stop living for Him privately and do it publicly, boldly.
Thank you Jesus Christ for your sacrifice on the cross and your the victory you given us, thank you for your unbelievably beautiful and unconditional LOVE. ❤️
Reflecting on the powerful message of Jesus’ public sacrifice encourages me to reassess how openly I live my faith. Too often, fear of judgment or social rejection keeps many of us from boldly sharing what we believe. But Jesus’ example reminds us that our faith isn’t meant to be hidden; it’s a public testimony of love and redemption. He endured ridicule and crucifixion openly, demonstrating the greatest love possible, and calls us to take up our cross daily — fully and without reservation. In my own journey, I’ve noticed how small sacrifices, like giving up certain comforts temporarily, pale in comparison to the challenge of daily spiritual surrender. Taking up the cross means choosing righteousness over sinful habits each day, even when it’s uncomfortable or when society may not approve. It’s a continual commitment, a personal decision to live for Christ visibly and authentically. Moreover, the victory of the Resurrection invites us to embrace joy and freedom, not as reasons to become complacent but as motivation to deepen our faith. Living in gratitude for the wounds Jesus bore empowers us to heal and change from within. This lifelong walk with Christ becomes lighter and richer when we remember the cost He paid publicly—our salvation was never meant to be private. The OCR excerpt reinforces this by highlighting how Jesus’ healing and authority were also public acts that invited others to witness God’s power in everyday life. This transparency is a call to not only follow Jesus quietly but to let our lives be evident proof of His love outwardly shared. In practice, this could mean sharing your testimony openly, participating in faith communities, or simply living with consistent integrity and kindness as a witness to Christ’s transformative power. It’s about allowing the light of faith to shine through personal actions and conversations. By embracing this public and bold faith, we honor Jesus’ sacrifice and live boldly in the truth that through His wounds, we are healed. It’s a challenging yet beautiful walk that invites us to rely on His strength daily and share His love without fear or hesitation.