Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

If we think of training soldiers for war, one of the first things I think about is boot camp. This training program has at least these objectives: 1) to weed out those who are not fit physically, mentally, or emotionally for the future assignments, 2) to set the standard of performance high, and 3) to ingrain into their minds the rules under which they commit to live.

When Jesus picked his twelve apostles, some were called and some were recruited by those who were called. After this, many followed him. In all groups, there were some who would remain disciples and others who would fall away, turning from the truth to never return.
This passage clearly lays out the expectations of a disciple: 1) deny yourself, 2) take up your cross, and then 3) follow him.

These sound simple, but to implement them daily requires discipline and effort. How do I deny myself when I live in my own body? Isn’t it natural to please myself? Yes, for all animals it is. But to live the elevated life God desires for us we must arise out of the base living, and seek to please him and help others first. The first response of selfishness is based on natural instinct. The second is a response of someone who awakens their soul and seeks to understand God’s purpose and plan for them in this life and into eternity. The selfish ways of the world lead to sin and death. The selfless ways of Jesus and his followers lead to true joy in life and an incredibly massive hope for eternity in relationship with Jesus.

“Taking up your cross” is a reference to the cross criminals had to carry to their crucifixion site. This was a part of their punishment. It was the burden they must carry to pay for their sins. In a twist, we must take up our figurative cross, meaning set aside our will to run our own life and to be on the throne. Then we mus repent of our sins, and lay them at the feet of Jesus each day. We must continue to daily separate from and kill in our hearts the evil practices of this world and its temptations and desires. And we must follow Jesus. Following Jesus was probably what most of Jesus’ disciples were trying to do in this passage, without doing the first two steps. It is what we try to do as well — follow in our own strength and in our weighted-down sinful hearts.

Jesus does not want us to try and follow him this way. He wants us to follow him free of the entanglements of this world. The author of Hebrews says it well: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us THROW OFF everything that hinders and the SIN THAT so easily ENTANGLES. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, FIXING OUR EYES JESUS, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2, emphasis mine‬)

So, do I want to follow Jesus while entangled by sin and the trapping of this world? NO! Then I must deny myself and take up my cross first every day. It is so simple and yet so tempting to skip these steps, to our own demise.

Lord, continue to build in me a faithful heart that is honest about my propensity to sin and is willing to deny myself and pick up my cross daily. May I be daily prepared to follow you unencumbered and full of your Spirit!