Take Up Your Cross

This comes right on the heels of Peter rebuking Jesus for saying He would have to die. Now Jesus is teaching that death is necessary—not only for Himself, but for anyone who desires to save their life. What is Jesus saying here? Is the only way to follow Jesus to die on a cross?

Many search to expose the great mystery of life: Why are we here? What are we supposed to do? What happens after we die? Jesus does not speak to this mystery with any degree of uncertainty. With absolute authority, He says that the way to life is to lose it for His sake.

The cross had only one function—death. In ancient times, you would never see a cross used as jewelry or decoration. The cross was the height of human suffering and the worst way to die. To carry one's cross was to head toward certain death. Jesus is inviting us into a completely different way of living—namely, dying.

Jesus gives us three radical commands: to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. All these commands must be rooted in having the reward in sight: knowing and being near to Jesus, and ultimately, having your life saved. Jesus tells us that the way to find life and be saved is not through self-protection and self-preservation, but through Him alone.

Jesus doesn’t offer a both/and situation—following ourselves or the world and Him. The level of devotion to Him must be marked by absolute authority. Jesus must be all. Jesus desires more for you and me than even possessing the whole world. He reveals that our souls are more valuable than all the riches of this world. We see a contrast between denying self and denying Christ. There will be a time for most believers when they are faced with the decision to deny Christ or to ultimately deny themselves and be associated with Him.

Thousands of Christians have boldly accepted the cross, stoning, and even death for the sake of Christ. I am certain that their faith aligns with this verse. They did not deny Christ, but instead gave up their whole lives that they might gain Christ.