“TO BEAR ONE’S CROSS”

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Matthew 16:24

People have different views on the word “cross.” To some, cross-carrying means dealing with burdens in life, such as an unloving spouse, rebellious kids, a physical illness, or problems in general. But what did Jesus actually mean?

In this section of Matthew 16, Jesus demands an unwavering commitment from His followers. He tells the disciples plainly what is involved in being His disciple: to deny one’s self, bear one’s cross, and follow Him.

To deny self means to surrender one’s life to Jesus and share in His shame, suffering, and death. It is to submit to His control and let go of one’s personal ambitions.

To bear one’s cross symbolizes embracing pain and suffering in the name of Christ. It entails the possibility of death, both for oneself and for sin. The cross was a horrifying form of execution. The Romans compelled a criminal to carry his cross publicly to humiliate him and demonstrate their authority over the Roman Empire. Crucifixion was the most excruciating and inhumane method of capital punishment ever conceived by humans. Jesus’ words painted this picture of pain and suffering in His listeners’ minds.

To follow Jesus means to pattern one’s life after Jesus’ example, i.e., a life of humility, compassion, and love for all.

This command surprised the Twelve, who believed that Jesus was the religious and political leader destined to revive the Israelite government. It was deeply frustrating for them that the miracle-worker and teacher they had been following would endure the cruelty of men. Jesus had foreseen the kind of death He would face and informed His disciples that they would also follow the same path.

To bona fide Christians, the Cross is a beautiful representation of God’s amazing love and Jesus’ selfless sacrifice. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus was nailed to a cross for the forgiveness of our sins. We have hope of a better future in God’s Kingdom because the Son of God laid down His life for you and me.

Being a Christian means more than simply identifying yourself with a Christian congregation or denomination. More than anything, it is a willful abandonment of self, an embrace of suffering, and a choice to walk in Jesus’ path no matter the cost.

But if I asked you today, “Would you be willing to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Christ?”

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Roman Denisenko on Unsplash