Then Jesus said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23; Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34.
What did Jesus mean when He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me”?
Let’s begin with what Jesus didn’t mean. Many people interpret “cross” as some sort of burden they must carry in their lives: a strained relationship, a thankless job, a physical illness. With self-pitying pride, they say, “That’s my cross I have to carry.” Such an interpretation is not what Jesus meant when He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”
When Jesus carried His cross to be crucified, no one was thinking of the cross as a symbol of a burden to carry. To a person in the first-century, the cross meant one thing and one thing only: death by the most painful and humiliating means human beings could inflict. The Romans forced convicted criminals to carry their own crosses to the place of crucifixion, bearing a cross meant carrying their own execution device while facing ridicule along the way to death.
Christians today view the cross as a cherished symbol of atonement, forgiveness, grace, and love. But is that the ultimate message Jesus was seeking to convey in His words... “Take up your cross and follow Me? Most importantly... what does it mean to “take up your cross daily?”
“Take up your cross and follow Me” means being willing to “die to self” in order to follow Jesus. It’s a call to absolute surrender. After each time Jesus commanded cross bearing, He said, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:24-25). Although the call is tough, the reward is priceless.
Wherever Jesus went, He drew crowds. Although many of these multitudes often followed Him for selfish interests, those who did see Him as Messiah, had a distorted view of who He really was and what He would do. They thought the Christ would usher in the restored kingdom of Israel. They believed He would free them from the oppressive rule of their Roman occupiers. Even Christ’s own inner circle of disciples thought the kingdom was coming soon through armed conflict (Luke 19:11). When Jesus began teaching that He was going to die at the hands of the Jewish leaders and their Gentile overlords (Luke 9:22), His popularity sank. Many of His followers who heard such talk rejected Him. Truly, they were not able to put aside [put to death] their own ideas, plans, and desires, and exchange them for His.
Following Jesus is easy when life runs smoothly. Our true commitment to Him is revealed during life’s challenges and trials. Jesus assured us that trials will come to His followers (John 16:33). Discipleship demands sacrifice, and Jesus never hid that cost.
In Luke 9:57-62, three people seemed willing to follow Jesus. When Jesus questioned them further, their commitment was half-hearted at best. They failed to count the cost of following Him. None was willing to take up his cross and crucify upon it their own self-focused interests.
Therefore, Jesus appeared to dissuade them. How different from the typical Gospel presentation you may hear today. How many people would respond to an invitation that sounded something like this... “Come follow Jesus, and you may face the loss of friends, family, reputation, career, and possibly even your life”? There is one benefit to this blunt honesty... the number of false converts would likely decrease. Such a call is what Jesus meant when He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”
If you wonder if you are ready to take up your cross, consider these questions: Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing some of your closest friends? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means alienation from your family? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means the loss of your reputation? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your job? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your life? Are YOU willing.......?
In some places of the world, these consequences are a daily reality. But notice the questions are phrased, “Are you willing?” Following Jesus doesn’t necessarily mean all these things will happen to you, but are you willing to take up your cross? If there comes a point in your life where you are faced with a choice... Jesus or the comforts of this life, which will you choose?
Commitment to Christ means taking up your cross daily, giving up your hopes, dreams, maybe your possessions, even your very life if need be for the cause of Christ.
Only if you willingly take up your cross may you be called by HIM on of His true disciples (Luke 14:27). The reward is worth the price.
Jesus followed His call of death to self (“Take up your cross and follow Me”) with the gift to us of a life in Him: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25-26).
There is no greater or clearer teaching anywhere of the meaning of being a disciple. This is how our Master lived, so this is how His disciples must live. We must live our lives in complete and total submission to the will of God. Reaffirm your commitment daily, and you will actually prosper in the Lord, even though your choice to serve Him may from time to time bring you trials and hardships.
