How do we 'take up our cross'
and follow Jesus?

Q. What did Jesus mean when he said we are to take up our cross and follow him?

A. The phrase "take up our cross" is derived from Matthew 16:24 and Mark 8:34 with similar wording found in Matthew 10:38, Luke 9:23 and Luke 14:27:

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. . . ' " (Matthew 16:24, NKJV)

"When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, 'Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. . .' " (Mark 8:34, NKJV)

"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me." (Matthew 10:38, NKJV)

"Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. . . ' " (Luke 9:23, NKJV)

"And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:27, NKJV)

It is indeed remarkable that Jesus made this declaration to His disciples two years before He was crucified.

Now, what does "take up our cross" mean? The Amplified Bible renders Matthew 16:24-25 (with its commentary in brackets) as follows:

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave stedfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and if need be, in dying, also].

"For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting]."

To put it another way, when we decide to follow Jesus, we, at that point, take up a cross like He did. Taking that cross requires 100% commitment from that point forward. This commitment must be the primary focus in our lives. Each day we are aware of that cross and at times it can seem quite heavy. But we must carry that cross under pain, suffering, neglect, abuse and even death. This is the commitment we make when we follow Jesus.