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Mark 8:34 - "take up their cross"

Eddi

Agnostic
Premium Member
In Mark 8:34 Jesus says:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me..."

What was he thinking when he said "take up their cross" - isn't that a reference to his crucifixion - which had not yet happened when we get to Mark 8?

Or was it a common saying at that place and time?


In Mark 8:31-32 Jesus says that in the future he will be killed and rise again...

So, when he was speaking in Mark 8:34 was he demonstrating specific knowledge regarding his own fate, i.e. knowledge of the exact method of his own execution?
 

eik

Active Member
In Mark 8:34 Jesus says:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me..."

What was he thinking when he said "take up their cross" - isn't that a reference to his crucifixion - which had not yet happened when we get to Mark 8?

Or was it a common saying at that place and time?


In Mark 8:31-32 Jesus says that in the future he will be killed and rise again...

So, when he was speaking in Mark 8:34 was he demonstrating specific knowledge regarding his own fate, i.e. knowledge of the exact method of his own execution?
Absolutely so. As you have already pointed out in the passage immediately preceeding Mark 8:34 he was predicting his own death. Matthew 26:1-2 discloses that he was aware that the method was crucifixion. This came from Deuteronomy 21:23 ("anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God").
 
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