Bearing the cross – a condition of discipleship

Great crowds were following Jesus. Then he turned around and told them bluntly the condition of being his disciples: “If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me” (Luke 14:26-27).

The cost of discipleship is a total commitment to Jesus Christ, a giving up everything for him (Luke 14:33), because of love! To carry our cross and follow Christ is to love him more than any other human being, even our nearest family members!

In his call to people to become his disciples, Jesus made bearing the cross a condition of following after him. Only when we give up our life for him, are we worthy of him!

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it (Matthew 10:37).

A willingness to sacrifice all

The expression “take up your cross” recalls the common practice of the condemned person carrying the cross beam to the place of execution, generally amid an antagonistic, jeering mob. Taking up the cross – stands for a shameful, painful road to a dreadful execution. To shoulder the cross, means a dying to our pride and personal ambition, a giving up of saving our reputation. A necessary part of discipleship is a daily willingness to sacrifice all and to suffer for the sake of Christ. The demand of Jesus Christ entails that all who follow him must be prepared for disgrace.

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose or forfeit your own soul in the process? If a person is ashamed of me and my message, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person when I return in my glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23-27)

The cross teaches us to put aside our selfish ambitions daily and be ready to become outcasts of society. In carrying the cross we are identifying ourselves with Christ, - we are not ashamed of him, we confess allegiance to Christ no matter what the consequences might be! The cross stands for self-denial, the giving up of our rights and embracing self-sacrifice as the standard of Christian life and service.

Follow in the steps of Christ

Suffering is all part of what God has called us to. Christ, who suffered for us, is our example (1 Peter 2:21). We are called to take up the cross and follow in his steps. He never sinned, and he never deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted. When he suffered, he did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. Christ personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. We have been healed by his wounds! Once we were wandering like lost sheep. But now we have turned to our Shepherd, the Guardian of our souls, and we safely follow his steps!

Unsefish service

The cross is the ultimate sign of unselfish service. Only through the cross we know what real love is, because on the cross Christ gave up his life for us. Therefore we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters. Following the steps of Jesus Christ is very practical. But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help, - how can he be carrying the cross - how can God’s love be in that person?

Let us stop just saying we love people; let us rather really show it by our actions. It is only by our actions that we know we are living in the truth of the cross!

Exercise:

Explain the cost of discipleship:

What is the practical implication of carrying the cross?

Continue to memorise these Bible verses:

Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. (Romans 6:6-7)