TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

Summary: “Taking up your cross” signifies a daily commitment to self-denial, sacrifice, and following Christ’s teachings, even when facing hardship or opposition. It’s a metaphor for a life of discipleship, where one willingly embraces the burdens and challenges of following Jesus rather than prioritizing one’s own desires or ambitions.

In preparing them for His coming crucifixion, Jesus talked to His disciples about their cross.  He left no doubt what discipleship meant: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Jesus was speaking to the disciples, to the crowd that followed Him, to all the people who have lived from that day to today and us.  He laid the groundwork for us to understand what it means to be a disciple following Him. We need to live crucified lives.

Jesus gave them all a word picture that people in those ancient times understood very clearly but were still probably shocked at those words. Undoubtedly, many people— even the disciples — believed Jesus was about to bring a glorious and powerful kingdom to earth. Many had already drifted away, and now this statement. What He was saying to them and saying to us is to crucify — to put to death — our plans and desires. We’re to stop trying to gratify the flesh. Our taking up is 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.

Surrender is easy when life is running smoothly, but surrendering to God’s will can be more difficult during struggles and trials. Jesus said we would face many troubles (John 16:33). We will likely suffer in some way as we follow in His steps. We do not need to think about this once a year. Instead, we must choose to live dead to yourself every single day. We constantly need to mentally, emotionally, and spiritually see that our old sinful nature has been nailed to the cross.

And while this seems like a lot to ask of us, we can’t forget that the cross can set us free, even now. We are set free because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. We need to stay in that position of dying to self, dying to what we want, and dying to what we want to happen.

To die daily is just another way of saying, “Lord, help me see the opportunities to follow you.”

Discussion Questions:

1. What does “take up your cross and follow Jesus” mean? 
2. How does the concept of “taking up your cross” relate to denying yourself and sacrificing your own desires? 
3. What are some concrete ways that we might be carrying our crosses in our daily lives?