Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24, ESV)
To be a Christian is to be a disciple, a follower of Jesus. Of course, to define the term Christian, means much more than this, but not less. No one is a Christian who is not also a Christ-follower.
The key to discipleship is self-denial. Jesus has just told the disciples he will be going to the cross, and yet, Peter stands in opposition. This leads to the Lord’s famous words of condemnation when he says to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan.” You see, Peter was interested in only the things that could benefit Peter. Peter wanted the power and authority of the kingdom, but only on earthly and worldly terms. Peter wanted the prestige of being close to Jesus. In his mind there was no room for suffering, not for Jesus and not for himself. Peter wanted comfort, because ultimately Peter was seeking to serve his favorite idol which was Peter himself.
So, Jesus speaks these amazing words. Amazing because they are so counterintuitive to our sinful, fallen nature. He says that to follow him you must deny yourself. He then equates that self-denial to carrying a cross. Now the disciples were familiar with crucifixion. Living in ancient Galilee and Judea, the evidence of Roman occupation and crucifixion were everywhere. It would not have been uncommon for them to witness a crucifixion as Rome flexed its might over these occupied people. They would have observed the worst of criminals forced to carry their crosses to the place of execution. They were dead men walking. As they would carry their crosses from the place of judgment to the place of execution, they would endure the mocking, scorn, and shame on the way to their death.
The call to deny self and follow Jesus has not changed. We, too, are to take up our cross and follow him. We are to deny self. We are to consider ourselves dead to this world, its passion, desires, prestige, and power. We are to live, not to self, but for Christ. Paul recognized this as he writes to the Philippians. He knew that his life was for Christ only (Philippians 1:21). He knew that he must have the same sacrificial attitude as Christ and put the interests of other believers above his own (Philippians 2:3-5). He recognized that as a follower of Christ it meant suffering and to know Christ would involve this kind of self-denial (Philippians 3:7-10). Paul recognized that his true citizenship was not found here on earth, but in heaven, and those with their focus on earthly things demonstrate that they are enemies of the cross and their end is destruction (Philippians 3:18-20).
So, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus. “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” (Matthew 16:25–27, ESV)
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