He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. Luke 9:23 WEB

In the preceding two verses of Luke’s gospel, Jesus predicts his suffering, rejection, and death. Here, Christ entails the denial of self required of his disciples. Also, the Lord foreshadows the method of his death as crucifixion on a cross. In this, he prepares his disciples in such a way that upon his resurrection there will be no doubt that he was in fact the Messiah. 

Jesus underwent great distress and persecution in this world. He taught his disciples in John 15:20, “A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. WEB” And so, as each genuine disciple takes up his cross, they deny themselves in obedience to Christ in order to do the will of our heavenly Father. 

Take Up His Cross

The Lord taught in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. WEB” The message here is to deny one’s own interest in favor of the interest of God. As Jesus teaches his disciples in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commandments. WEB” One of the Lord’s most stark commands is that each disciple “take up his cross.” 

For a disciple to take up his cross, he follows in the footsteps and example of Jesus. The cross symbolizes death and punishment for sin as Christ overcame sin and death on the cross. In addition, taking up the cross means living in obedience to the word and will of God. As a disciple takes up his cross, he or she puts away the old sinful self, dying to the flesh. We forego the desires of the flesh to act in accordance with God’s commandments.

Yesterday’s Devotional: Rejoice in the Lord