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Originally Posted by OBW
On "taking the cross," I'm with CMW. I'm not sure what that means. I realize that there was the imagery of the accused being required to carry their own means of execution. But while I'm sure that the intent was to suggest a significant burden, were the references by Jesus really about heading toward death in that sense (or any sense)?
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In the last couple of years, I have been reading/studying the scriptures not only as it pertains to me & us Christians. Somewhere along the line, it dawned on me Jesus mostly preached to the Jews (Salvation to everyone who believes..to the Jews first, remember ? Romans 1:16..then to the rest of us.
It only makes sense that was God's plan as Jesus was not born in China or India.
Once I began to see that God through Jesus, His Spirit & even in the epistles He was addressing the JEWS first for they were the first to be converted to Christ, the Holy Spirit began to open the eyes of my understanding of a lot of things spoken of in the scriptures.
So we have the Jews who were adhering to the Law of Moses, the Torah, the Tanach, hearing Jesus tell them to take up their cross. I am sure their reaction was
"HUH??? Do What???"
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Is it about the "crossing out" of one's self? I believe that there is some truth in that kind of thinking. But I'm not sure that it is at the level that most who talk about it take it. It is not some kind of annihilation of the self.
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It is not the annihilation that the RCC taught & poor Francis of Assisi took that teaching to the extreme. Talk about WORKS ??? ARRGH!!
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Now when I read Galatians 2:20, ...It seems that in this passage Paul is providing facts, or reasons, that they don't need to be turning to the OT ritualistic law (especially of circumcision). They don't need to be circumcised.
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Oh this is scary Mike. Not only am I understanding what you are writing but I agree with you. 
The Lord Jesus was preparing the Jews to 'take up their cross' by learning to walk in Spirit. Something they had no clue of for He had not even spoken of the Comforter He would be sending on Pentecost.
Bringing it closer to home, I had the darnest time figuring out Galatians 2:20 meant when I was in the LC back in the 70s. Remember, we did not watch TV, listen to the radio, read only newspaper headlines, went to meeting after meeting, called 'on the Lord' repeatedly, perpetually, incessantly, and monotonously. AND we dressed alike.
So what was the need to teach Galatians 2:20? We had left everything far, far behind us.
Finally after I returned to my Heavenly Father with a humble, repentant heart, I began spending a LOT of time praying, reading, studying and getting to KNOW THE LORD in the scriptures and via my walk with Him.
I was not pressured by anyone to seek and know the LORD. Then one day, the Spirit turned the Light switch in me. OH!!! Now I get Galations 2:20. It wass simply spending time, a LOT of time with the Lord letting HIM renew my mind, purifying my thoughts & my heart in Christ Jesus.
I experienced real freedom. If I was listening to oldies but goodies on the radio, while the tune was catchy, the Lord would have me listen closely to the words. Suddenly, I realized the catchy tune with the polluted words were making me sick to my stomach. So I changed stations. Same thing with TV shows. There are some really funny sitcoms but my spirit is weighed down with the immoral but 'funny' storylines.
I am not under 'the law': Do not watch TV. Do not listen to secular music! Nope. But
my Love for the Lord and His Word is 'naturally' crucifying the flesh. Simple as that. So it is no longer "I" that lives but Christ Who lives IN me....changing my taste buds to love what He loves & hate what He hates.
Blessings all,
Carol