Take up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

The teaching of “taking up your cross” is about understanding the cost of discipleship. In Jesus’ era, the cross was a tool of execution, signifying great suffering and sacrifice. So, when Jesus instructs us to take up our cross, He’s conveying that being His follower requires a level of dedication that might involve self-sacrifice or hardship.

The essence of this teaching is that as Christians, we’re asked to place our relationship with Christ above all other things. This might entail making challenging decisions that align with our faith, even when those choices might be difficult or counter to what society expects from us.

It’s crucial, however, to remember that taking up one’s cross is not a journey we undertake alone. As followers of Christ, we believe that God provides the strength and grace necessary to bear our crosses. We trust that the path of discipleship, while it might have its difficulties, leads to eternal life, which is the ultimate reward.

The central idea, then, is one of priority and commitment: that our devotion to Christ and His teachings is the most important part of our lives, even when this commitment challenges us. That’s the heart of what it means to “take up your cross.”

Matthew 10:37-39 WEB: He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me. He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. – Here, Jesus is preparing His twelve disciples for their mission in a hostile world. He warns them that they may face rejection and persecution. In this context, “taking up their cross” means being willing to endure suffering and hardship for the sake of Christ.

Matthew 16:24-27 WEB: Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds. – This passage follows Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ and Jesus’ prediction of His own suffering and death. Jesus tells His disciples that if anyone wants to follow Him, they must deny themselves and take up their cross. The context here ties self-denial and cross-bearing to the realization of Jesus as the Messiah who will suffer.

Mark 8-34-38 WEB: He called the multitude to himself with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what will a man give in exchange for his life? For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” – Just as in Matthew 16:24, Jesus gives this teaching after Peter’s confession and His prediction of His own death. The teaching is meant for both His disciples and the crowd. He explains that those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for His sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.

Luke 9:57-62 WEB: As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, “I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord.” Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce God’s Kingdom.” Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for God’s Kingdom.” – Again, this follows Peter’s confession and Jesus’ prediction of His own death. Here, He speaks to His disciples about the cost of following Him, which includes self-denial and daily cross-bearing.

Luke 14:25-33 WEB: Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple. Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross and come after me, can’t be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation and isn’t able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy and asks for conditions of peace. So therefore, whoever of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has, he can’t be my disciple. – This teaching is part of a larger discourse where Jesus talks to large crowds about the cost of discipleship. In this context, Jesus is clear that following Him requires total commitment—akin to carrying a cross.

In each of these instances, “taking up his cross” suggests a willingness to deny oneself, to face hardship and persecution, and to give up one’s life, if necessary, for the sake of Christ. This command underscores the self-sacrificial nature of true discipleship.

To sum up, all these passages have Jesus teaching about the cost of discipleship, self-denial, and the risk of gaining the world but losing one’s soul. The two accounts in Matthew add a distinct element of individual recompense, while Matthew 16:24-28, Mark 8:34-38, and Luke 9:23-27 add an eschatological note not present in Matthew 10:37-39. Finally, the unique element in Matthew 10:37-39 is the challenge of placing loyalty to Jesus above family ties.

The Rich Young Man

Another similar account is the rich young man found in the Gospels of Matthew (19:16-30), Mark (10:17-31), and Luke (18:18-30). This man refused to follow Jesus because he was too invested in this world. The teaching of the rich young man underscores several key spiritual principles:

1. The Challenge of Wealth: Material wealth can be an obstacle to spiritual progress because it can lead to an attachment to earthly things, making it harder to focus on God.
2. The Demand of Discipleship: True discipleship may require sacrificial actions, including giving up one’s possessions or comfortable lifestyle. Following Jesus isn’t simply about obeying commandments but also about prioritizing Him above everything else.
3. The Reward of Sacrifice: Sacrifices made for the sake of Jesus and the gospel will be rewarded in the kingdom of God, promising eternal life and spiritual abundance that far exceeds earthly wealth.
4. The Possibility of Salvation: While the demands of discipleship can seem impossible to meet, with God’s help, salvation is available to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.

The account begins with a rich young man approaching Jesus and asking him what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus first points him to the commandments. When the man responds that he has kept all these from his youth, Jesus gives him a further challenge: “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

The young man is disheartened by Jesus’ directive because he is very wealthy. His wealth is an obstacle to his following Jesus, indicating that he is attached to his material possessions more than the spiritual wealth offered by Jesus.

Seeing this, Jesus comments on how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, comparing it to a camel trying to go through the eye of a needle. This shocks the disciples, who then question who can be saved. Jesus reassures them that while it may be impossible with man, all things are possible with God.

He then assures his disciples that anyone who leaves houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or fields for His sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have observed all these things from my youth.” Jesus looking at him loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross.” But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into God’s Kingdom! It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.” They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus, looking at them, said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.”
Peter began to tell him, “Behold, we have left all and have followed you.” Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News, but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:17-31 WEB; cf. Matthew 19:16-30; Luke 18:18-30)

Despite these common themes, there are some differences in detail and emphasis between the three accounts:

Matthew 19:16-30 – In Matthew, the man asks, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” (NASB). Jesus responds that there is only One who is good, and to keep the commandments. When asked which ones, Jesus lists six commandments, including a command to love your neighbor as yourself. This account seems to emphasize that it’s not just about doing “good deeds”, but about a comprehensive love for God and others.

Mark 10:17-31 – Mark’s account is similar to Matthew’s but has slight differences in detail. Here, the man runs up to Jesus and kneels before him, showing his eagerness and respect. He asks, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (NASB) Jesus responds again that there is only One who is good. The exchange about the commandments is almost identical, but Jesus doesn’t explicitly include the command to love your neighbor as yourself in his list. Also, after the man’s departure, Jesus talks about the difficulty for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God.

Luke 18:18-30 – Luke’s account also largely parallels Mark’s. The man is referred to as a “certain ruler” who asks Jesus, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (NASB) Jesus responds with the same statement about only One being good. Jesus, again, lists the commandments to be kept but like in Mark, the command to love your neighbor as yourself isn’t explicitly mentioned here. A distinctive part in Luke’s account is when Jesus remarks “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”, which amplifies the point about the spiritual challenge posed by material wealth.

In summary, while all three accounts convey the same essential account, there are subtle differences in phrasing, detail, and emphasis that reflect the unique perspectives of each Gospel author. The Matthew account places a little more emphasis on love for others, Mark highlights respect and eagerness of the young man and trust in riches, and Luke underscores the inherent difficulty of wealth in relation to spiritual life.

The Grain of Wheat

Just before his death, Jesus Christ gave another example of the cost of discipleship, self-denial, and the true nature of life and death in a spiritual context. Here’s the passage:

John 12:23-26 WEB – Jesus answered them, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

The imagery of the grain of wheat dying to produce much fruit serves as a metaphor for the cost of true discipleship. Like a grain of wheat, a disciple must be willing to “die” — to deny oneself, take up their cross, and follow Jesus — in order to truly live and bear spiritual fruit. This “death” is not necessarily physical, but is a relinquishing of personal desires, worldly gains, and even relational ties, as emphasized in Matthew 10:37-39.

When related to the account of the rich young man, the message is even clearer. The rich young man’s reluctance to give up his wealth to follow Jesus symbolizes the resistance many feel to “dying” to their own desires and comforts in this world. Just as the grain of wheat must die to bear much fruit, disciples must be willing to make sacrifices — be it wealth, family ties, or any other worldly attachment — to inherit eternal life and produce spiritual fruit.

In the context of the discussion, the grain of wheat analogy serves to illustrate that the journey of discipleship, while demanding and requiring sacrifice, is also fruitful and fulfilling. It provides a deeper layer to the teachings, emphasizing that there’s a paradoxical gain in what seems like a loss, just as there’s life in what seems like death.

Old Testament Examples

The exact phrase “take up his cross” is unique to the New Testament and is directly associated with the teachings of Jesus. However, the broader theme of self-sacrifice, obedience, and steadfast faith in God, which underlie this concept, can be found in various narratives in the Old Testament.

Abraham (Genesis 22:1-19): One of the most striking examples is the story of Abraham, who is asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac. Even though this is the son that Abraham had been promised and had waited many years for, Abraham was prepared to obey God even to the point of sacrificing his beloved son. This is a profound example of total surrender to God’s will.

Moses (Exodus 3 – Deuteronomy 34): Moses gave up the comfort and security of his life in Midian to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He faced numerous challenges, including opposition from Pharaoh, doubts from his own people, and the hardships of leading a vast community through the wilderness. Yet, Moses remained faithful to God throughout his life.

Daniel (Book of Daniel): Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were exiles in Babylon, where they faced immense pressure to conform to the Babylonian culture and beliefs. Yet, they remained faithful to God, even when it led to persecution, like being thrown into a fiery furnace or a den of lions.

Esther (Book of Esther): Esther risked her life by approaching the King of Persia without being summoned—a capital offense—to save her people from genocide. She put the safety of her people before her own safety.

These Old Testament figures didn’t “take up their cross” in the Christian sense because they lived before the time of Christ, but their lives exhibited the principles of self-sacrifice, obedience, and dedication to God that Jesus later embodied and asked of his followers. Their willingness to follow God’s will, even when it involved personal risk or sacrifice, is a form of “taking up their cross.”

Discipleship in the Church

The self-sacrificial nature of true discipleship is a theme that runs throughout the epistles in the New Testament. Here are some examples:

Romans 12:1-2 (Paul): “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Galatians 2:20 (Paul): “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Philippians 1:21 (Paul): “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Philippians 2:3-8 (Paul): “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

1 Peter 2:21 (Peter): “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

1 John 3:16 (John): “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

Each of these passages, in their own way, communicate the essence of taking up one’s cross and following Christ. This involves self-sacrifice, living for Christ instead of oneself, seeking the interests of others, and following the example of Jesus’ suffering and sacrificial love.

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