“take up your cross and follow me!” These are the words of Jesus reflected in Mark 8:34. In the previous verses (v. 31-33), Peter had just objected to the idea that Jesus would die.
It is claimed that Peter rebuked Christ (v. 32). Jesus, in turn, scolded Peter for objecting. Then Jesus tells us what must happen if a man or woman wants to follow him.
And he summoned the crowd with his disciples, and said to them: “If anyone wants to come after me, deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” In Mark 8:34. Jesus is saying that anyone who wants to follow him must take up his cross.
For Christians, the cross symbolizes salvation. Jesus knew that the cross was in his future. He told his disciples that to be his followers, they must “take up his cross.” What did Jesus mean when he said this, in this article we are going to examine what that means in practical terms.
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Take up your cross and follow me. Meaning
Next we will break down the phrase and explain what each fragment of it means:
take up your cross
Jesus was teaching the disciples about his impending death and resurrection when the impulsive Peter pulls him aside (pretty bold move!) and says, “Never, Lord! This will never happen to you!” Matthew 16:22 NIV. Peter meant well; he loved Jesus and could not bear to think of him suffering. He still did not understand the purpose of Jesus.
Jesus then continues in verse 24:
“If someone wants to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.”
This must have surprised the disciples. They knew what it meant to carry a cross. The crucifixion was for criminals. The nails, the torment and the agony were well known. When Jesus told his followers that they must take up his cross to follow him, it did not sound like a pleasant proposition.
Doesn’t sound like something anyone would willingly participate in. But Jesus had a deeper meaning in mind. He wanted them to “put to death” his own plans and desires and give their lives to him, doing his bidding. This would require self-denial and obedience.
What does this imply?
To be a follower of Jesus, He calls for 100% total dedication and not going back. No wonder we still rebel sometimes! He requires crushing our ego and putting God’s purposes, will, and thoughts in their place.
Jesus tells us that we have to deny ourselves and take up our cross, but it is not something that is imposed on his shoulders. “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24 NIV
It is a choice; something we do willingly, as Jesus did. We belong to Him, our old passions and desires are dead. When we take up our cross, our lives are centered on Jesus and reflect his attributes.
So carrying your cross meant that you were dragging it and you finally reached the place where the soldiers would crucify you. Therefore, Jesus’ point is that you must be as committed to deny yourself, to the point that you are willing to die for Christ.
And follow me!
Then Jesus added what must happen after a believer, or Christian, takes up his cross. If a believer is truly willing to die for Christ, he will follow Christ. An important illustration of the following of Christ occurred in Luke 5:1-11. On this occasion the disciples had already been asked to follow Jesus on two previous occasions. What happened on this occasion was so incredible that the disciples:
“They dropped everything and followed him.” Luke 5:11 (ESV)
When they brought the boats to land, they left everything behind and followed him. Note that they left everything and followed him. This is an excellent example of Jesus’ command of “deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me”. No one will truly follow Christ if he remains interested more in himself than in Christ.
Jesus does not give us the option of calling him our Savior and Lord while we continue to indulge our own desires and longings. We must deny ourselves, to the point of being willing to get death. This is the character of a true follower of Christ.
What does it mean to deny yourself
Christ says that the starting point is to “deny” ourselves. The Greek word for “deny” is aparneomai. It is a strong word that means that a person must refuse to think of himself. This is a strong statement. It is an image of the complete denial of one’s desires and longings.
Just the words “deny ourselves” sound like punishment. It seems that we have to get rid of all our comforts and carry a heavy load. But denying yourself is not the same as . On the other hand, when we deny ourselves, we make a choice to replace our desires, thoughts, and plans with God’s thoughts and purposes.
We live our lives centered on putting others first before ourselves. Jesus was the perfect example, and when we choose to follow him we agree to live as he did. This means accepting the call to do things he wouldn’t normally do!
Our lives then produce the fruit that shows our commitment to living our lives for Christ. But it is not easy to deny ourselves. Our sinful human nature gives in to temptations and we sin. The desire to express ourselves the way we want is strong. We will continue in this fight for holiness all our lives.
The good news for believers is that we will see a progression in our lives to deny Christlike thoughts and actions. Following the guidance of the Holy Spirit helps us on our way.
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Romans 8:5 NIV.
What does the cross represent?
The cross represents the prophecy fulfilled. God apparently had his plan to defeat Satan and give us salvation through Jesus in Genesis! (Genesis 3:15). The cross in the days of Jesus symbolized the brutal and shameful death of a slave or criminal.
The cross represents the suffering that Jesus endured. Psalm 22 records David’s despair and anguish over his own suffering. It is an amazing and accurate description of the suffering that Jesus would later endure.
For Christians, the cross represents the most incredible gift we have ever received. It is a gift that we cannot truly comprehend, that we would never have asked for. We also know that there is nothing we can do to deserve it.
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What does the Cross mean to you?
Have you ever heard someone talk about a test or load as a “cross” they have to carry? It can be a physical illness, a misfortune or a difficulty in your life. It is true, we can suffer painfully and we need God’s help to get through the day. Using this phrase in these situations alludes to the cross of Christ, but it is not what Jesus meant when he spoke of taking up our cross.
Ways to take up your cross
So what has to happen to take up our cross and follow Jesus? Pay attention below:
1. Obedience to God
“He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:8 NIV. When Jesus took the cross from him, he did it with great humility and obedience to his Father. He put God’s will and his love for us above himself, even to the point of death.
Taking up our cross means putting aside our selfish desires and following God’s will for our lives. This does not crush our personality or our happiness. Incredibly, the opposite happens. We find fulfillment, contentment (even in trials), and “unspeakable joy” in our lives.
“Although you have not seen it, you love it; and although you do not see it now, you believe in it and are filled with an ineffable and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8 NIV.
2. Take care of your thoughts
The things we think about can determine what our words and actions result in. Here is some excellent advice from Paul regarding our thoughts:
“All that is true, all that is honorable, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is beautiful, all that is praiseworthy, if there is any excellence, if there is anything praiseworthy, think of these things.” Philippians 4:8 IS V.
When unpleasant, dissatisfied, complaining, and critical thoughts enter our minds, we have a choice. We can let them rule us, or we can deny them further access and refuse to insist on them. Deny these thought processes; refusing to give in to them is a way to “take up your cross”.
This takes practice and self-control, but as long as we are consistent, it will be easier to recognize them for what they are, put them aside, and fill our minds with the positive things Paul mentioned.
3. Get the new you
Paul wrote to the Colossians from prison and gave them practical and workable ways to take up their cross and show the love of Christ. (Colossians 3:5-17). He gave them a list of sins to avoid and explained the harm they cause. He followed that up with a list of ways we can live for Jesus in our daily lives:
- Show compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness.
- Choose the peace of Jesus to rule your heart, not conflict, fear, jealousy, among others.
- You must be thankful. Make gratitude a priority and a daily practice and watch your focus shift towards the many blessings we receive.
- Let the word of Christ “dwell abundantly in you”, completely fill your life. Paul and the early Christians didn’t have New Testaments to read like we do, so they retold the stories, sang them, prayed together, and shared their wisdom. We have many more opportunities to abide in his Word!
4. Let the race run
When we take up our cross, we keep our eyes on Jesus. We let go of our love for our possessions, our pride, and our accomplishments. We leave anything that prevents us from working for his kingdom. His goal for us as followers is to tell others about Him, whatever the cost.
This will look different for each of us. But for most of us, the cost will not come close to what the early believers endured. It can mean that we feel uncomfortable, or that we don’t feel comfortable trying to defend our faith.
But keep in mind the furious rejection that Jesus experienced in his life. Did this make him stop telling the truth? No, he remained faithful to his Father’s mission. Whatever the cost here on earth to us pales in comparison to what lies ahead.
“Let’s get rid of all weight that slows us down”, especially of the sin that so easily causes us to stumble. And let us run with patience the race that God has set before us. Let us do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2 NTV.
Take up your cross every day
Jesus willingly went to the cross and took away our sin and…