What Would It Look Like for You to Take Up Your Cross and Follow Christ?
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After writing about Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the Messiah, Mark adds, “from that time on Jesus began to explain” some things to His disciples. In the process of preparing them for His coming crucifixion, He also spoke to them about their own cross.
He left no doubt what discipleship meant: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me’” (Matthew 16:24). The disciples were part of the “crowd“ that followed Jesus, and it was to all of them that the Master spoke those words.
Jesus gave them all a word picture that they likely understood better in those ancient times than Christ-followers do today. No doubt many in the multitudes — even the disciples — believed Jesus was about to bring a glorious and powerful kingdom to earth. Some in the crowds had already drifted away; they were only following Jesus for the miracles and meals anyway, and His teachings grew more puzzling. But those who remained misunderstood God’s timetable for prophecy, so they were likely shocked to hear Jesus’ words.
What Does Matthew 16:24 Mean?
Was “cross-bearing” different in Jesus day than today? Why did Jesus use such a tough metaphor to describe discipleship?
Two thousand years ago, Romans forced convicts to carry their rugged, wooden crosses to their own place of execution. As they bore the crosses of crucifixion, crowds laughed and ridiculed them. Today, except perhaps in rare cases in some third-world countries, people do not carry wooden crosses to their death; but Jesus’ meaning went beyond that tool of execution anyway. His statement to the disciples involved three actions: self-denial, surrender, and servanthood.
1. Self-denial
Jesus said we must first deny ourselves. In today’s terms, it’s called “dying to self.” Many Christians only vaguely understand the concept, but know the “self” can cause problems. Some believe that simply by denying ourselves material goods, accomplishments, or meaningful things, this will make us better recruits for discipleship. Maybe, but it’s more than that.
By “self,” Jesus wasn’t referring to a person’s personal identity. God created each of us and we are beautifully and uniquely known to Him. The “self” Jesus referenced is the sinful, rebellious, unredeemed self — the fleshly and corrupt “old self.” Paul recognized this “self” when he said, “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh” (Romans 7:18). At salvation, we are clothed in the “new self” of righteousness (Eph. 4:24), but there is still no goodness in ourselves. Self-denial includes rejection of self-sufficiency and self-will.
Jesus calls us to crucify — to put to death — our own plans and desires. We’re to stop trying to gratify the flesh. Jesus further calls people to face the potential loss of family, friends, reputation, material goods, career, and personal dreams in following Him — perhaps to even face martyrdom. Jesus didn’t say we would face all these losses or death, but only that we sincerely needed to be willing to lose all things for His sake. It wasn’t, and still isn’t, a popular message.
2. Surrender
Jesus said we must take up our cross. Our taking up is really a matter of bowing down. Jesus never hid the cost of discipleship. He calls us to bow in absolute surrender to Him. This isn’t a mystical deeper life activity for some spiritual super-elite; it’s for all who desire to follow the Lord. It’s for anyone willing to count the cost of bearing His reproach.
Surrender is easy when life is running smoothly, but surrender to God’s will can be more difficult during struggles and trials; and Jesus said we will face many troubles (John 16:33). We will likely suffer in some way as we follow in His steps.
Taking up our cross means sacrifice, laying everything on the altar. It’s not half-hearted commitment; it is full surrender to God’s terms of discipleship. It’s a choice to live out the truth that we are “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20) even if it means shame, rejection, or persecution. It means being willing to share in the sufferings of Christ — and it’s a choice to be made daily.
3. Servanthood
Jesus said we must follow Him. The disciples were all individually called, and they left family, friends, and occupations to follow Jesus. No doubt in the crowd as Jesus spoke that day, there were those who had still not come to Him for salvation. In calling people to salvation, Jesus called them to a life of loyal obedience and service. He made the terms clear: if we don’t deny ourselves and carry our cross and follow Jesus, we cannot be His disciple (Luke 14:27).
There is no such thing as a no-cost, no-sacrifice form of discipleship. The hymnist wrote, “Must Jesus bear the cross alone, and all the world go free? No, there’s a cross for everyone, and there’s a cross for me.” Discipleship requires service to the Master and obedience to His will. The Lordship of Christ becomes the daily reality of the believer’s life. It’s clear cut in Scripture. The true disciple will live like and ultimately resemble the Master, and those who do not desire to do the will of the Father cannot rightly call Him “Lord” (Matthew 7:21).
What Is the Context of This Verse?
Jesus deeply loved His disciples, and He knew they would soon become sorrowful and confused with the events leading up to His crucifixion. He wanted them to get a glimpse of kingdom living, which He had already taught them about in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). He warned them about the legalistic teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees too (Matthew 16:6-12).
Jesus also wanted to ask how much His disciples understood about Him. In Caesarea Philippi, He asked them, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Whether the others understood or not, Simon Peter did. He said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus then announced something new was coming — the building of His church.
It was in this context that Jesus began to explain how He would go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and be raised to life (v. 21). When Jesus sent His disciples out earlier to preach to the lost sheep of Israel, He warned them they would be hated and persecuted, because “the student is not above the teacher” (Matthew 10:16-25) — so they had some concept of what was coming. They should not expect to escape the same treatment their Master did and would receive.
What Are Two Fallacies about This Verse?
First, taking up a cross does not mean the simple challenges of life.
All believers have problems, but that does not necessarily equate to taking up a cross. There are various levels of problems, including simple inconveniences, frustrations, or truly difficult trials. It’s not uncommon to hear people speak, with a pitiful sigh, of various life challenges. Regarding health struggles, problematic relationships, or other stressful issues, they might say, “Oh, it’s just my cross to bear.” Such thinking can become an excuse for a sinful pity party.
The cross of Jesus’ day was not a somewhat challenging burden to carry. Rather, it represented a horrendous, torturous death reserved for Rome’s most hated enemies or anyone who dared raise a hand against Roman authority. The cross on the hill of Golgotha was one such place of execution. Hundreds of Jews were crucified by Rome, experiencing terrible pain and humiliation. Zach McIntosh quotes John MacArthur as saying, “perhaps some 30,000 crucifixions occurred under Roman authority during the lifetime of Christ.” So as Jesus spoke, the disciples pictured a death march, not a simple challenge.
In spite of the beautiful metal crosses we wear, the real thing — the real cross — was ugly and violent. Nigerian spoken-word poet Fragile Dogubo knocks down the modern, romanticized version of the cross in her recitation, “Gucci Cross.” She says, “Jesus was not crucified on a Gucci cross. He did not have on a crown of Versace thorns, or Nike shoes on his feet when the nails pierced through.” We need to remember that when we think about taking up our own cross.
Second, being a Christian does not automatically make a person a Christ-follower.
Just as there is a difference between being a spectator and a player, there is a difference between being a Christian “fan” and a true follower of Jesus. Fellowship of Christian Athletes staff member Mark Long writes, “Many who call themselves Christians may have walked an aisle, said a prayer, read their Bible, listened to worship music, and perhaps been brought up in a Christian home, but are they Christ followers? Being a Christ follower comes at a great cost.”
What Does Obeying This Verse Look Like for Us?
Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth described what true discipleship does not look like: “Jesus called His followers to take up their cross and follow Him— to suffer for His sake,” she said. “By ignoring that calling, I’m afraid we’ve produced a generation of soft, flabby disciples who don’t have much stomach for the battles of the Christian life. When they encounter trials and temptations, they whimper and whine and make a dash for the quickest escape route.”
Daily death to self and bearing our cross should also not look like pride. Trevor Wax wrote that one of Satan’s most ingenious schemes is “to twist the call to self-denial into an occasion for self-righteousness, to deceive us into applauding how we’ve dethroned the self when instead we’re seated on the throne with a firmer grip than ever before.” It’s not about feeling better about ourselves as crossbearers, he said.
Billy Graham pulled no punches in describing what taking up our cross looks like. Jesus “meant that He was going to die as a criminal, and He wanted you to go with Him,” Graham said. “That means that you go back to your school, back to your home, back to your community, and you live for Christ even though they crucify you.”
All of that is true, but that does not mean we should be joyless disciples. The Bible says of Jesus, “For the joy set before him he endured the cross . . .” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus focused on the joy that was to come after the cross. As His followers, we focus on how we will be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29) as we become obedient disciples. “We die daily because we believe there is joy on the other side of the cross, life on the other side of this tomb,” Trevor Wax wrote, “. . . to die daily is just another way of saying, Lord, help me see the opportunities to follow you.”
We cannot imagine the tough “opportunities” many face every day. Some harshly-persecuted Christians in a foreign land were asked, “How can we pray for you?” They did not answer, “Pray we will be delivered” or “Pray we will have more food” or “Pray the beatings will stop.” They said, “Pray we will be holy, and pray we will not dishonor our Lord.” They took up their cross of following Christ no matter the circumstances — running their race with commitment, obedience, and perseverance like the saints listed in Hebrews 11.
Is Obeying This Verse Worth It?
Though it may bring us pain and loss, the reward of self-denial, sacrifice, and servanthood is totally worth it! Jesus says, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25-26). It’s no deal to get everything we want but lose ourselves. We find our true identity and purpose as we surrender all to Christ.
Jesus said, “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me” (John 12:26). Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow your Lord — and Jesus said there will be honor ahead in His Father’s presence!
Sources
Zach McIntosh – “Not Just Any Old Crucifixion”
YouTube - “Gucci Cross by Fragile Dogubo”
Hymnary – “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone”
FCA Resources – “Christian or Christ Follower?”
Revive Our Hearts – “Take Up the Cross”
The Gospel Coalition – “Lord, Help Me See the Ways to Die Today”
Decision Magazine – “Do You Scoff at the Second Coming of Christ?”
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/mbolina
