Jesus bluntly taught, "Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:27). But what does it mean to "carry the cross"? To answer this question we must know what the cross meant to Christ.

Jesus was not ignorant of His mission on the earth. He knew that the reason he had come was to be lifted up to die that others might live. For Jesus the cross represented that moment when his submission to God's will would be manifested for all to see; it would take precedence even over his own desire to live. Jesus didn't want to die. Like us, he didn't want to give up his friendships, his mother, brothers, his disciples, and his life. But his love to God was greater than all of these things. In going to the cross Jesus demonstrated that his love and obedience to the Father took precedence even over his own life. And so he cried out in agony, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me! Yet, let not my will but yours be done” Luke 22:42.

Jesus’ call to the disciple to imitate his self denial is a call to allow God to reign supreme in our lives. A Christian can have no other god; there can be no other ultimate value (motivation/ love) in his life. Consider these verses:

• “If anyone wishes to become my follower, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me” Luke 9:23.

• “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. ...So therefore, everyone of you who does not give up all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26-27, 33.

• "Where your treasure is your heart will be also. ... No one is able to serve two masters; for he will either hate one and love the other, or he will despise one and hold to the other. You are not able to serve both God and worldly things." Matthew 6:21,24

• "Do not love the world neither the things which are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; because all of the the things of the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, are not from the Father but are of the world." 1 John 2:15-16

Anyone encountering the following situations will be tested if he or she is living for Self (idolatry) or carrying one’s cross in order to serve God.

1. A business man learns how he can make more money by cheating. He believes that chances are no one will find out. His actions will testify whether he has died to the things of this world in order to serve God.

2. A young woman is told that if she leaves the family’s traditional religion to become a Christian she will be shunned by the family and denied any inheritance. Her decision will show whether she ultimately loves God or her family.

3. A husband who feels neglected by his wife meets a beautiful and kind young secretary at work who enjoys his company. His decision whether to allow social encounters to take their inevitable course will proclaim whether he is living to please himself or God.

4. A mother who can not afford to buy new clothes meets her friends who have all recently purchased the latest styles. Her decision of whether she will go deeply into debt in an effort to have others think she is somebody based upon what she has will reveal much about where the treasure of her heart is.

5. A young man, who has a nice car and has been quite an achiever in athletic activities, goes to a new high school. Whether he decides to boast about what he has and what he has done will speak volumes about where the treasure of his heart is at.

Carrying my cross and following Jesus can also demonstrate itself more subtly than these examples. If in carrying his cross Jesus demonstrated his submission to God’s will, then carrying our cross also entails submitting our will to His revealed will. Hence, a husband living the way of the cross desires to be obedient to God’s command to love his wife as Christ loves the church. Having been instructed by God to forgive, a Christian lets go of the grudges and forgives. Another disciple overcomes his desire to dominate others by instead serving the interests of others.

Perhaps it is helpful to observe that the disciple interacts with others based upon his love and submission to God and not upon what he wants or how he can get more. Consider these wonderful promises for those who follow Jesus by seeking to do the will of God rather than their own. Jesus said, “Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:35. "The world and its desire are passing away, but he who does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17.

Barry Newton, Copyright © 2000

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