What Does It Mean to Carry Your Cross? Understanding Jesus' Call to Discipleship

As parents, we dream about our children's futures. We imagine the paths they'll take, the people they'll become, and most importantly for Christian families, we hope they'll come to know Jesus personally. But what does it really mean when we talk about following Jesus? What are we actually asking of our children—and ourselves—when we encourage them to "take up their cross"?

The Moment of Realization

Every believer has a moment when Jesus becomes more than just a historical figure. It's that "aha moment" when the cross transforms from a tragic event in history books to something deeply personal and life-changing. Maybe you remember watching a movie about Jesus as a child and suddenly understanding why this "nice man" was being hurt. Or perhaps it was later in life when you had a fresh realization of what Christ's sacrifice truly meant.

This moment of understanding leads us to two crucial questions: Who is Jesus, and what does the cross mean to me personally?

Jesus' Command: Take Up Your Cross

In Matthew 16:24-26, Jesus gives his disciples a startling command: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." These words weren't spoken lightly. Jesus knew exactly what carrying a cross meant—he would soon experience it himself.

What Does the Cross Actually Represent?

To understand what Jesus meant by "take up your cross," we need to grasp the brutal reality of crucifixion. This wasn't just an execution method; it was designed to be the most torturous, humiliating death possible.

Before crucifixion, Roman law required flogging. The whip, called "the cat of nine tails," contained metal balls and sharp bone fragments that tore flesh from the body. Traditionally, 39 lashes brought a person to the brink of death—the 40th often killed them. Jesus endured this, leaving his back in ribbons and his body in shock from blood loss.

The Crown of Thorns and the Robe

Roman soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus' head, causing profuse bleeding and intense nerve damage. They put a robe on his wounded back, which helped the blood clot—not out of mercy, but to keep him alive for more suffering. When they ripped the robe off, the bleeding began again.

Why Couldn't Jesus Carry His Own Cross?

By the time Jesus was supposed to carry his cross, his body was in critical condition. The man who had worked as a carpenter, accustomed to handling heavy wood beams, was now too weak to carry the crossbeam of his own execution. This is why Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry it for him.

The Roman soldiers likely made this decision not out of compassion, but to prevent the crowd from developing sympathy for Jesus. They wanted to maintain the bloodthirsty atmosphere of the public execution.

What Does This Mean for Disciples Today?

Understanding True Discipleship

When Jesus said "come after me," he was using the language of discipleship. In Hebrew culture, a rabbi would choose the best students to follow him so closely that the dust from the rabbi's feet would cover his disciples' feet. They would breathe the same air, hear every word, and gradually become like their teacher.

But Jesus didn't choose religious scholars or the academically elite. He chose fishermen, tax collectors, and political zealots. He chose ordinary people and called them to extraordinary commitment.

More Than Just Saying a Prayer

Asking Jesus into your heart is just the beginning of the journey, not the destination. True discipleship means committing to a lifelong process of becoming like Jesus. This isn't easy—it literally means being willing to follow Jesus to the death.

What Does It Mean to Deny Yourself?

Jesus calls disciples to "deny yourself." This means saying no to your immediate desires, wants, and self-centered impulses. It's completely contrary to our culture's message of self-fulfillment and following your heart.

Denying yourself means:

• Saying no to immediate gratification

• Turning your energy from self to God and others

• Prioritizing God's will over your own desires

• Choosing what benefits others over what benefits you

What Does It Mean to Take Up Your Cross?

When Jesus told his disciples to "take up your cross," they understood exactly what he meant. They had witnessed crucifixions. They knew that condemned criminals carried their own crosses to the place of execution.

Jesus was essentially saying: "You need to die. You need to die to yourself, your desires, your dreams, and what you think you want." Taking up your cross means:

• Dying to self so you can surrender completely to God

• Making God's will your priority, no matter what

• Choosing the betterment of others over your own comfort

• Being willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of following Christ

The Complete Selflessness of the Cross

When we witness Jesus' crucifixion, we see complete selflessness in action. Jesus was stripped of his ability, his sense of self, his strength, and his self-sufficiency. He was emotionally and physically exhausted, yet he continued toward his death for our sake.

This wasn't just physical torture—it was complete emotional and spiritual anguish. Jesus experienced the full weight of human sin and separation from God so that we wouldn't have to.

This Is Not a Casual Commitment

Following Jesus isn't a fairy tale or a happy thought. It's not a religious fad you can casually participate in or something you do just to check church attendance off your weekly to-do list. The cross represents the most serious commitment possible.

Understanding the context of Calvary should make us realize that discipleship requires everything from us. It's more than we can reasonably fathom on our own, which is why we need the Holy Spirit to draw us into God's heart and help us walk as true disciples.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to identify one area of your life where you're prioritizing your own desires over God's will or others' needs. What would it look like to "die to self" in this specific area? Perhaps it's your time, your money, your comfort, or your plans for the future.

Consider these questions as you reflect on what it means to carry your cross:

• What desires or dreams am I holding onto that might need to die for me to follow Jesus more fully?

• In what ways am I still living for myself rather than surrendering completely to God?

• How can I practically deny myself this week to serve God and others?

• Am I treating my faith as a casual commitment, or am I truly willing to follow Jesus no matter the cost?

Remember, taking up your cross isn't about adding religious activities to your life—it's about fundamentally reorienting your entire existence around following Jesus, even when it costs you everything.