{{2017_03_13_t1.jpg}} {{2017_03_13_t2.jpg}} {{2017_03_13_t3.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2017_03_13|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_ix|| Topics Collection ix ]] ======Discover Life ...====== Monday, March 13, 2017. What is life about? When you ask yourself - what is it that comes to your mind first? Is it holidays, nice images of landscape, beaches, fun and sports? Or is it suffering and destruction, which we experience in so many places of this world? {{2017_03_13.jpg }} **Jesus and the Cross ...** Several times during his ministry Jesus had a discussion about life with his disciples. It was a very special discussion. He talked about his death - and his disciples were discussing life and power and perspective. Jesus tried to teach them important things, but they were still on another track. Listen to the following passage of the gospel of Luke: 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. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? (from Luke 9) Jesus draws a direct connection between his cross and our way to live. He compares it. In our life, we need to lose our life, to find it. What does he mean? {{ 2017_03_13_2.jpg}} **What does it mean? ...** > How can you loose your life daily? The word indicates that it is not about the physical death as such. It is about our lifestyle, about how we live and how we deal with other people. It is about the meaning of the cross of Jesus. The cross is a symbol, pointing us to how Jesus lives. His death is creating purity for us, it is creating justice, it is creating forgiveness. He tells us: life every day by creating purity for the people around you, create justice, create forgiveness! His cross is a sign of deep love. It is a sign of life which gives itself completely for truth and love, it is mercy and forgiveness, new life, new perspective. Take up YOUR cross daily, live truth and love, mercy and forgiveness. Give up your old life, to create new life for the people around you. Put them into the center of your life, not yourself. Give and live mercy and forgiveness, love and joy deep in your heart and in your mind! Take up your cross .. (Roland Potthast) [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/doku.php/topics_collection_ix|... more texts]]