Luke 9-23

And he said  to all," If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
   I am afraid for far to long we have used self preservation for our own humanistic views. Instead of asking God to call us out. We ask God what can he do for us or "well God would never ask me to do that". So many saying I've encountered in this brief journey into the world of God. The truth of the matter is if God would call his own beloved son to the cross why would we expect any less. His son never saw his 33rd birthday yet in his 3 1/2 years that the disciples got to spend with him he spent every moment fully alive and always putting his father first. Now this part is important no matter what the cost he put his father FIRST.
   Even at the end of his journey as they staked him  to the cross he utters. Father please forgive them for they no not what they do. The truth is they knew exactly what they were doing, yet Jesus could see a much greater picture for the fullness of time was at hand and knew that no one could fully see what was coming to fulfillment in him.
   Then Luke 23 (39-43), Jesus even as he was preparing to rest he offers a last chance to the 2 men being crucified with him. The point being it was never about him, Jesus never made it about him it was always to save souls and leading others to the father.
   One of the questions I ask believers is what was the greatest pain Jesus suffered at the cross. The sakes being drove through his hands or the fact that no matter how great the sacrifice it would never be enough to stop people his beloved from choosing hell.  Jesus Wept. (John 11:35)