I was speaking with my 6-year-old about death (his grandfather had recently died). I asked him, "How does one get to heaven?" to which he responded simply, "Die."

Pretty good theology. The greatest of lives opens up to us after we die. The happiest day in the church year follows two days after the darkest day as we see God doing His best after humanity has done its worst.

It need not surprise us. We see the rhythm of death and life in night and day, winter and spring, seedtime and harvest, labor and birth. So we need not be caught off guard that death precedes new life -- but we usually are. The disciples were, even the most believing ones, and so are we.

When we discover that what Jesus really means is that we also are to take up our cross and die, we find that hard to believe. "He died so I might live," we reason. Yes, but He also died so we might die -- die to personal ambition, to success, to happiness, to personal rights, to freedom of opinion. No one is as free as the person who has said "yes" to death and now walks in resurrection living. If you really want to live -- try dying!

Dying Precedes Resurrection Living

Joan fought with her sister throughout their childhood years. Nothing changed in college as they continued to fight for their father's affection and for the number one place. Joan came to the Lord at a campus Christian meeting. Convicted about her rivalry with her sister, she decided to die to the need to be first, to be unconditionally understood. It opened up a new relationship, not only with her sister, but with her parents as well. Joan could tell us that if you really want to live -- try dying!

The disciples enjoyed following Jesus until He started talking about dying; then it got difficult. Peter tried adjusting the plan and received a hard rebuke: "Get behind me, Satan." The devil's theology offers a resurrection life without dying first, and he has marketed his teaching in the church today.

Instead of telling people to deny themselves, some preachers encourage them to affirm, enjoy, improve, and assert themselves. The prophets of success are modeling their message with multiple homes, extravagant life styles, and promises of unlimited opportunity. The cross is barely given honorable mention.

Jesus neither taught nor modeled this gospel. His passion and death were public and painful, slow and shameful. Those who follow Him will experience some of the same. When we take up our cross, it is for one purpose -- to die on.

And we do not carry out the crucifixion -- others crucify us. The pain is caused by the injustice and we become resentful. We lose sleep thinking about it. If we are being wrongfully accused, unfairly sued or deceitfully taken advantage of, we find how painful death can be.

Look at the suffering of Jesus. The creation placed its Creator on trial, an absurdity beyond description. Six mock trials, marked with spitting, beating and slander were not something to look forward to. Neither was the tortuous death that followed.