The word “cross” points to suffering, trials, tortures, and even death, while “crown” symbolizes victory, rejoicing, success, joy, etc.
In the previous article, we learned that we are all called to be disciples of Jesus, which means to follow Him always.
In this article, we will examine what Jesus meant when He said, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23. True Christians must be disciples, and true disciples are those who deny themselves daily. This verse mentions two main things: denying yourself, and taking up your cross and then following Christ. In the previous article we examined to “follow”; in this article, we will examine what it means to deny ourselves and take up our cross.
THE EXPERIENCE OF JOHN AND JAMES’ MOTHER
Among the 12 disciples, there were the brothers John and James. “At every possible opportunity, John took his place next the Saviour, and James longed to be honored with as close connection with Him.
“Their mother was a follower of Christ, and had ministered to Him freely of her substance. With a mother’s love and ambition for her sons, she coveted for them the most honoured place in the new kingdom. For this she encouraged them to make request.
“Together, the mother and her sons came to Jesus, asking that He would grant a petition on which their hearts were set.
“‘What would ye that I should do for you?’ He [Jesus] questioned.
“The mother answered, ‘Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on Thy right hand, and the other on the left, in Thy kingdom.’
“Jesus bears tenderly with them, not rebuking their selfishness in seeking preference above their brethren. He reads their hearts, He knows the depth of their attachment to Him. Their love is not a mere human affection; though defiled by the earthliness of its human channel, it is an outflowing from the fountain of His own redeeming love. He will not rebuke, but deepen and purify. He said, ‘Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ They recall His mysterious words, pointing to trial and suffering, yet answer confidently, ‘We are able.’ They would count it highest honor to prove their loyalty by sharing all that is to befall their Lord.
“‘Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with,’ He said; before Him a cross instead of a throne, two malefactors His companions at His right hand and His left. John and James were to share with their Master in suffering; the one, first of the brethren to perish with the sword; the other, longest of all to endure toil, and reproach, and persecution.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 548
CROSS BEFORE CROWN
“If we hope to wear the crown, we must expect to bear the cross. Our greatest trials will come from those who profess godliness. It was so with the world’s Redeemer; it will be so with His followers. . . . Those who are in earnest to win the crown of eternal life need not be surprised or disheartened because at every step toward the heavenly Canaan they meet with obstacles and encounter trials. . . .
“The Saviour knows what is best. Faith grows by conflict with doubt and difficulty and trial. Virtue gathers strength by resistance to temptation. The life of the faithful soldier is a battle and a march. No rest, fellow pilgrim, this side the heavenly Canaan…. But John in holy vision beholds the faithful souls that come up out of great tribulation, surrounding the throne of God, clad in white robes, and crowned with immortal glory. What though they have been counted the offscouring of the earth? In the investigative judgment their lives and characters are brought in review before God, and that solemn tribunal reverses the decision of their enemies. Their faithfulness to God and to His Word stands revealed, and Heaven’s high honors are awarded them as conquerors in the strife with sin and Satan.” –Our High Calling, p. 361
TO DENY ONESELF
“‘If any man will come after Me,’ He says, ‘let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’ Matthew 16:24. Yes, follow Christ. Let every dear soul who desires to obey God walk in the footsteps of the Redeemer. We must be meek and lowly in heart. We are to bring forth fruits of righteousness according to the capabilities God has given us.” –The Upward Look, p. 329
Christian discipleship is not simply a theoretical promise without a practical commitment. To follow Jesus requires the denial of one’s personal interests and pursuits and fully engage in the Master’s service. Sadly, many Christians are unwilling to deny themselves. They prefer to continue living their own way. Not all are prepared to dedicate everything they have and are to the Lord. Today is the time for God’s people to know and understand what true discipleship is, to put their own interests in second place, and to follow the Master, as Jesus said: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23
“Jesus bade His followers take up the cross and bear it after Him. To the disciples His words, though dimly comprehended, pointed to their submission to the most bitter humiliation,—submission even unto death for the sake of Christ. No more complete self-surrender could the Saviour’s words have pictured. But all this He had accepted for them. Jesus did not count heaven a place to be desired while we were lost. He left the heavenly courts for a life of reproach and insult, and a death of shame. He who was rich in heaven’s priceless treasure, became poor, that through His poverty we might be rich. We are to follow in the path He trod.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 416
It is to be clearly taught that Christianity is a life of self-denial, however, that does not mean a life or sorrow and sadness only. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:11–15. Praise God! We have hope. Be happy.
Self-denial is sacrificial and can be painful as is the life of a successful athlete. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:24–27
All that is in the world is not of our Lord Jesus and must be hated. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15–17
Lust of the eyes: Our eyes see things we want. We are to cover our eyes and deny ourselves when faced with improper sights.
Lust of the flesh: Our flesh craves things we want. We are to starve our fleshly desires and deny ourselves.
Pride of Life: Our pride wants to promote ourselves. We are to choose His service above our own.
Human nature has a natural bent to evil therefore we must deny ourselves. We must put off the old man and every sinful thing associated with him (Ephesians 4:17–
32). If you try to save your life by clinging to your cherished sins, you will lose your life both now and in the world to come. Remember that no man has given up anything for Jesus Christ who is not rewarded richly in both this world and the world to come. (Matthew 19:27–29; Mark 10:28–30; Luke 18:28–30; 2 Corinthians 4:16–18).
The world seeks to ensnare us using our very own lusts. Carefully consider the following statements:
- While watching a little bit of wholesome television is ok, it can seductively destroy your soul if not carefully guarded.
- Are you too proud to confess your faults and apologize to those you have wronged?
- Is it hard to get up fifteen minutes early to read and pray before work?
- Is it easier to do yardwork than to read the Bible?
- Have you been coming late to church or not attending at all?
- Have you been disparaging the strict principles of health reform? Do you follow your own lustful desires?
- Have you not been supporting God’s work with a faithful tithe and offering?
- Do you think that reading the Bible takes too much of your time on a busy day?
- Do you to talk too much? Too little? Or use harsh words?
If any of these statements ring true in your life, it is time to seriously deny yourself.
Paul warned against false Christianity which esteems pleasure higher than God rejecting, the need for self-denial (2 Timothy 3:1–5).
TAKE UP YOUR CROSS DAILY
“And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23
Luke alone adds the word “daily” to this verse, teaching that we are to deny ourselves and take up our crosses daily. This cannot be done only weekly at our church meetings.
In Ancient Rome, a cross was used as an instrument of terrible suffering and slow death. Is taking up our cross to follow Christ as terrible as was done in Ancient Rome? For some, choosing to deny themselves those things that Christ condemns, can be a painful struggle. It may mean a life of suffering as it is death from worldly things. Choosing to endure the loss of all things that are contrary to Christ and to live for the pleasure of Jesus Christ at any cost is not easy but the rewards are wonderful.
Why does Christ not ask us to take His cross but our own? He said “let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me;” not “and take up My cross and follow Me”. Each one of His disciples has his own unique problems. My hardships are not necessarily yours. The cross for me may be the neighbours; for you it may be your work, your parents, your friends, or spouse, etc.
To fully understand the power of Jesus’ words “take up thy cross”, we must first examine what He is not saying. The cross is not just bearing the regular difficulties of life. Our cross is not a bad-tempered husband or nagging wife; it is not a rebellious child or any other problematic situation. We all have problems, both believers and unbelievers. That is a part of life.
When Jesus spoke of the cross He spoke of death—dying to ourselves that we might follow Christ wherever He leads us. He is our example; we literally give everything up for Him, even our lives if need be. Remember Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, “not My will but Thy will be done?”
When Jesus spoke of the cross the people knew exactly what He was speaking about as they had watched many poor souls sentenced to death by Roman soldiers, carrying their crosses.
Discipleship is not following our ministers or leaders, but following Jesus. His Divine authority, kingdom, and victory are serious matters to be considered. Jesus calls men to be His disciples and this may be a call of suffering (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23). We must accept Christ and reject the world. (Matthew 16:25–26; Mark 8:35–37; Luke 9:24–25).
DISCIPLESHIP WITH CHRIST HAS CONDITIONS
Jesus is not just a prophet, He is the Son of God and He gives conditions for His disciples. True Christianity is a choice we make to follow Christ and turn away from worldly ambitions. Following Christ comes at a cost(Luke 14:25–33). There is no other way to be a true Christian. The true Christian is not seeking worldly success, rank, and prestige, instead they prepare for possible suffering. Every idea of false Christianity that makes discipleship easy without cost is a lie. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24
To deny self is to:
- Put to death the old man. “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:11
- “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Romans 13:1
- Follow the example set forth by the Lord Jesus Himself in coming to this world. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5–8
- Live our lives as being alive to God, but dead to sin and to the world. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
“ARE YE ABLE TO DRINK OF THE CUP THAT I SHALL DRINK OF?”
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12. Jesus, the Majesty of heaven, suffered as a transgressor! Spotless purity and untarnished righteousness did not shield Him from falsehood and reproach. He meekly bore the contradiction of sinners against Himself, and yielded up His life, that we might be forgiven and live forevermore. Are we willing to follow in His steps? The only reason many do not suffer greater persecution is, perhaps their lives do not exemplify the life of Christ. If you walk as He walked, you will know at times what it is to be persecuted and reproached for His sake.
“All Christ’s followers have as deep an interest in this lesson as had the disciples who listened to His words. In the apostasy, man alienated himself from God. The separation is wide and fearful; but Christ has made provision again to connect us with Himself. The power of evil is so identified with human nature that no man can overcome except by union with Christ. Through this union we receive moral and spiritual power. If we have the spirit of Christ we shall bring forth the fruit of righteousness, fruit that will honor and bless men, and glorify God.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 230
“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:27. “The Word of God has not widened the narrow way, and if the multitude have found a path where they can wear a form of godliness and not bear the cross or suffer tribulation, they have found a way where our Saviour did not walk and they follow another example than that which Christ set before us. Is it not enough that Jesus left the felicity and glory of heaven, endured a life of poverty and deep affliction, and died a cruel, shameful death to provide for us the joys of holiness and heaven? And can it be that we, the worthless objects of so great a condescension and love, will seek after a better portion in this life than was given to our Redeemer?
“How easy would be the way to heaven if there was no self-denial or cross! How worldlings would rush in the way, and hypocrites would travel in it without number! Thank God for the cross, the self-denial. The ignominy and shame our Saviour endured for us is none too humiliating for those saved by the purchase of His blood. Heaven will indeed be cheap enough.” –Our High Calling, p. 288
“Those who have offered themselves to Christ to become His disciples must deny self daily, must lift up the cross and follow in the footsteps of Jesus. They must go where His example leads the way.” –Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 1, p. 45
Victor Shumbusho, DR Congo