That Old Rugged Cross
“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23–24, NKJV)
Do you know what Jesus meant when He talked about picking up our cross? I’ve pondered over that more than once trying to understand it. Obviously, since there’s something “not fun” about being stapled to a piece of wood, He’s implying suffering will be involved in the process. But what else does it mean?
I’ve heard people talk about difficult circumstances being “the cross I have to bear,” but was Jesus simply warning us we’d have to get used to the idea life was going to be tough? He certainly does that in some places. “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). But is hardship itself the cross He talked about in passages like Luke 9:23-24? I don’t think so.
The wording indicates an intentional act. “Let him … take up his cross.” The cross Jesus bore didn’t simply happen to Him. It was an outcome He chose. “I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:17–18, NKJV). He told Peter to put his sword away when the soldiers came for Him. He intended to walk straight into the situation, though He knew how to avoid it. “Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53, NKJV)
So, taking up our cross is something we do willingly. Though we have the power to walk away, we choose to endure the suffering our choice will cost us. The “why” of our choice is as important as the decision itself. Jesus didn’t take up His cross to prove how brave and macho He was. He gave up His own comfort and well-being to buy us something we couldn’t get on our own—forgiveness, freedom, hope.
Other passages tell us how to deal with trouble we can’t avoid. Picking up our cross means purposely walking into trouble to save someone else from it.
Can you describe an incident where you picked up your cross like this? Why did you choose to do it? Add your story to the comments below.
Terry is a writer and speaker who loves gathering clues about God from His Word and creation. She wants to help God’s people grow in wonder, appreciation and understanding of Him. She loves finding fresh ways to approach Scripture so we all expand our ability to both apply and share what we’ve learned.
It’s so interesting that I have been studying this question as well. And, have been asked to speak on the topic of The Cross soon. I remember one event like it was yesterday. After 9/11, my son enlisted in the military. Boy did I struggle! I cried, ranted, and shouted at God. “Yes, I dedicated him to you, but I thought that meant becoming a pastor or a missionary…”
Silly me.
But it wasn’t silly at the time. Then I read the account in the garden of Gethsemane. “Not my will, but yours be done” I knew I needed to surrender my son to Him. To trust in His plan. The story doesn’t end there, but my taking up His word and laying down my son started me on a journey of letting go and trusting God for my kids.
Letting go is so hard, isn’t it Jeanne? Especially when it involves our children. But I will walk somewhere with my kids I would never choose to walk for myself. Thanks for taking the time to share your story.