What Does it Mean to “Take Up Your Cross?”

The command to “take up your cross” is given in the Gospels at least five times. Generally, I find that if God repeats something several times in His Word, it is a good idea to pay attention! But what does it mean to “take up our cross?”

One account of Jesus giving this command is shared in Luke 9:23-25:

“Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”

Remember, when Jesus was speaking these words to His disciples, He had not yet gone to the cross. Certainly, the disciples were familiar with the cross as a gruesome form of capital punishment, but it did not bear the spiritual significance that we associate with it today. It would be akin to someone saying, “Pick up your electric chair or guillotine and follow me.” You would probably say, “Umm.. no thanks!”

The significance is even stronger when you think of the process of crucifixion. Often, the criminal receiving the punishment was made to carry their cross to the place outside the city walls where they would be killed. We see this process fulfilled in Jesus’ story just a few chapters later.

Carrying your cross meant carrying the device that would lead to your earthly demise. To willingly pick up and carry a cross was the ultimate picture of forfeiting your life – literally putting yourself to death. Once Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross, we understand the deeper meaning of complete sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel.

But what does “carrying your cross” mean, practically? Just a few verses later in Luke 9, Jesus gives us three examples of how not to take up your cross to follow Him.

Luke 9:57-62 reads, “As they were walking along the road, a man said to Him, ‘I will follow You wherever You go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.’ He said to another man, ‘Follow Me.’ But he replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Still another said, ‘I will follow You, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.’ Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’

Mr. Too Hasty

The first man Jesus and His disciples encounter was a teacher, perhaps a teacher of the Law, which we learn from the corresponding account in Matthew. Jesus rebuffs His halfhearted commitment because He knew the man would be unwilling to relinquish his comfort and control over His own life and trust Jesus for everything. He would not turn over his life to Jesus and endure the hardships and rejection that come with following the Savior. He had not taken the time to count the cost and he had not fully committed his heart and life to Jesus, and that was his barrier to following Jesus.

Mr. Too Hesitant

The second man requests to go and bury his father before following Jesus. The language used in this request indicates that his father had not yet perished and may not have even been sick or on the verge of death; rather, the man wanted to stay until his father passed away so that he could collect his inheritance. This is an example of someone who wants to come to Jesus, but only on his own terms. He’s willing to follow, but only his way. He will not put Jesus above his own wants and is too hesitant to leave behind his earthly desires. It’s worth noting that what he wants to do – bury his father – is not a bad thing. In fact, in Jewish culture, it was a central obligation of a child to see to the burying of their parents. Jesus is telling him no obligation, tradition, desire, or want can come before Jesus, no matter how honorable. Jesus, the God of the Universe was right there in front of him, and he was not willing to follow Him.

Mr. Homesick

The last man wants to follow Jesus – He just wants to say goodbye to His family first. Jesus responds by telling him that you can’t plow while looking back. Once you turn to Jesus, you must fully turn from your past life, and you cannot look fondly or wistfully back at your old attachments. We must put Jesus first, and then all our other relationships will fall into place. Jesus doesn’t tell us not to love our families, but we must love Jesus more. I have often encountered people who struggle to follow or commit to Jesus alone for their salvation because of what their family or parents will think or say. We cannot have reservations about following and committing to Jesus. We must let go of our old life and traditions to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Taking up our cross is a lifelong process that begins anew each and every day. When you arise each morning, think, “What things am I holding on to? What things am I not letting go of that are preventing me from experiencing a growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ?” When we are taking up our cross, there isn’t room for us to hold onto anything else. Our hearts need to be focused only Him (obeying Him, honoring Him, seeking His will, serving Him, and bringing glory to Him rather than ourselves). Where are you saying No to Jesus?

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