This week, we have been exploring what it means to anchor to the cross. It is one thing to say that we want to anchor to the idea that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but it’s a different thing entirely to say that God wants us to die in some way. Scripture talks about us dying to self or taking up our cross. Doesn’t it sound like part of what it means to be anchored to the cross, is that we die? That is a pretty difficult invitation. But here is the thing: the first step to resurrection is death. If you want your life to be resurrected, if you want your soul to be resurrected, if you want your relationships to be resurrected, then the only way is to die in some sense first.

One of the reasons we can anchor to the cross is that we know there is resurrection on the other side of that. We will rise again one day. 

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”  Matthew 16:25 (NIV)


It sounds strange, but the key to life is death. This can’t be a literal thing, of course, so in what sense does this teaching work? Followers don’t simply die to self for the sake of it or surrender for no reason. Instead, we surrender as a means to an end. It is through the practice of surrender that we discover the power of resurrection. 

… I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, … that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;   Philippians 3:8, 10


This week, ask yourself if there is any area of your life that you have been trying to solve through effort alone. Ask God what it might look like to change tactics. Could it be that some surrender or self-sacrifice is what is required for you to change?  Is there a metaphorical death that might bring resurrection to that issue? I don’t know what that looks like for you, but ask the Spirit for what it may be.


by Aaron Bjorklund