Live the Cross Life

“The most radical teaching of Jesus was his total reversal of the contemporary notion of greatness. Leadership is found in becoming the servant of all. Power is discovered in submission. The foremost symbol of this radical servanthood is the cross. (He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on the cross, Phil. 2:8). But note this: Christ not only died a cross-death, he lived a cross-life. The way of the cross, the way of the suffering servant, was essential to his ministry. Jesus lived the cross life in submission to his fellow human beings. He lived the cross-life in total submission to the will of the Father. Jesus’ life was the cross-life of submission and service. Jesus' death was the cross-death of conquest by suffering.” (Richard Foster in Celebration of Discipline)