Today's Bible Reading: MARK 8:22-9:36; MATTHEW 16:13-17:13; LUKE 9:18-27
Luke 9:23
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Jesus pinpoints the foundational elements essential for those who would follow Him. He sets forth these as the dynamics for His disciples. He states that one must have a deep desire to come to Him. That those who follow Him must deny themselves, die daily, and have undying devotion to Him.
Many are intrigued by Jesus. They are enamored by His love. They are enriched by His teachings. Yet the will not come to Him. They listen but do not latch on. Some are appalled by His audacity. They despise His selfish claims, His intolerance, His demeanor, His exclusiveness, and His God complex. They oppose Him and will not come to Him.
Still others are warmed by His words. Their hearts are drawn to Him. They connect with His teachings. They are compelled by His compassion. They are eager to enter into a relationship with Him. They abandon all and devote their lives to Him. These are those who desire to come to Him.
But desire is one thing and dedication is another. So Jesus clarifies the criteria for coming. He says His followers must cancel self “deny himself”, carry their cross daily “take up his cross daily”, and commit to comply “follow me”
Canceling self or as the text says, “deny himself”, is the first of the criteria for coming after Christ. It is the yielding of the rule and reign of your life to Him. It is surrendering self-authority to the Savior. It is a total abandonment of your direction, desires and delights. It is a disassociation with self. It is removing me. It is forsaking all that I am that I might become like Him. This is essential in that I can only truly run after him when I am not running after me. Only one can reign me or the master.
The second condition is carrying ones cross daily, as the text reads, “take up your cross”. The cross was an instrument of death. Its sole purpose was execution. Crucifixion was final. No one survived. It was the symbol of immense suffering, pain and death. Jesus here is saying that only those willing to suffer and if need be die must come after Him. It is complete and total commitment to Him. Pressures and persecutions await those who come to Jesus. Suffering follows His followers. To take up ones cross daily is to embrace the hardship that will be the way of life for people of the way. There is no avoiding the cross.
Finally, those who come after Jesus commit to comply. A follower follows. What Jesus says, they willingly commit to do. They comply. There is no second guessing. They comply. Obedience is their objective. And when they might stray off course, they do not jump ship, but recalculate their course. They humbly comply. Their commitment is solid.
So consider before you come. Count the cost to come to Christ. If you are willing to cancel self, carry your cross, and commit to comply, you are ready to come. So come to Jesus.
If you have already come to Christ but you struggle with self, have put down your cross, or find your faithfulness fizzling, then turn back to Him. Cry out for His help. He will help you. He will reestablish you. He will restore you. So you come too!
Today ask Jesus to help you cancel self, carry your cross and comply with His commands.
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