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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

People have different views on the word “cross.” To some, cross-carrying means dealing with burdens in life, such as an unloving spouse, rebellious kids, a physical illness, or problems in general. But how do Christians understand it?

To believers, the cross is a beautiful representation of God’s amazing love and sacrifice. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus was nailed to a cross for the forgiveness of our sins. We have hope for a better future in God’s Kingdom because the Son of God laid down His life for you and me.

However, during the Lord’s time on earth, the cross was a horrifying form of execution. The Romans forced a criminal to carry his cross to shame him publicly and prove that he was under the rule of the Roman Empire. Crucifixion was the most torturous, inhumane way of death sentence ever devised by people.

In this part of Matthew 16, Jesus is demanding an absolute commitment from His followers. This command came as a shock to the Twelve because they thought that Jesus was the religious, political leader who would spearhead the resurgence of the Israelite government. It was quite frustrating for them that Jesus, the miracle worker and teacher they have been following, would suffer at the hands of cruel men. He predicted the kind of death He was going to experience and told His disciples that would travel the same road.

To deny one’s self means surrendering life to Jesus and sharing in His shame, suffering, and death. It’s quite easy to be identified with Christ in the absence of persecution, but when you begin to lose friends, family, jobs, or possessions for Jesus, will you still follow Him? We may not see the reality of these scenarios, but they do happen in many places in the world, particularly in areas where Christianity is considered illegal.

To carry one’s cross means being willing to suffer for Christ, plus the possibility of death. True enough, the disciples willingly died for the Lord as they went to different places in the world, proclaiming the Gospel. This may or may not happen to you and me, but the question is, “If it ever comes to choosing between life and death, would you prefer to be identified with Jesus and suffer or abandon Him and preserve your life?

We should be thankful that we are not persecuted the way many of our brothers and sisters are—we are not being physically harmed because of our faith. We live in a generation where Christianity is accepted in most places, and being called a Christian, for the most part, has no life-threatening consequences. This is why we should all the more seek to serve God and tell the people about the hope found in Christ.

Besides, Jesus made it clear that if we try to save our life, we would lose it; but if we disown ourselves for Him, we would find it. So, are you willing to give up your life of comfort, take up your cross, and serve Jesus Christ to the end?

Pursue the Saviour today!