I once heard a man refer to his wife as “his cross to bear.” I’ve heard people refer to other things as their “cross to bear.” Most of those references were about petty things, those small annoyances of life that everyone has. I don’t think that is what Jesus meant when he said to the crowd in Luke 14: “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” [v27]
Earlier in Luke Jesus also spoke of picking up our cross. “If anyone comes after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” [9:23]
It must be important for Jesus to mention it twice. Look at the words Jesus used in those two instances, and you’ll find a depth of meaning. First one to consider is simply “the cross.” The cross was an instrument of death. It had no mercy. Everyone who went to the cross died.
Second, Jesus said that we are to carry our cross “daily” as we follow him, meaning this is an everyday experience, not a sporadic one. The last thing we must consider is that little phrase “deny himself.”
Putting those thoughts together, we get a glimpse what Jesus intends for His disciples. Each day we put our own will and desires, our self, to death. Hanging on our crosses are all our “self” words, attitudes, and actions. Self-pity. Self-centeredness. Self-glory. Self-determination to name but a few.
Instead of “self” we live for Him. His desires are our desires. His will, our will.
Father, that is our desire today. To put to the cross self and to live for You. Amen.
