What does it mean to bear our cross and follow Jesus?
It means we have to die. We must die to ourselves and live to Christ. We must lose our own life and walk forward in His. We must turn from going our own way and go the way He wants us to go instead. If we are truly believers, this is something that should work itself out more and more in our lives over time.
R. C. Sproul, in his online article “Willing to Die” on the Ligonier Ministries website, offers the following helpful comments: “The cross was a means of execution; thus, Jesus calls us to die. True discipleship puts our lives at risk–a foreign reality to Western believers, admittedly. Still, our values, goals, loves, and activities can and must paint the picture of a people who enduringly serve God’s kingdom, not the present world order. John Calvin says that self-denial is extensive, calling us ‘to give up our natural inclinations, and part with all the affections of the flesh, and thus give our consent to be reduced to nothing, provided that God lives and reigns in us.’”
There is a real and true theological sense in which the believer’s death to self happens positionally at salvation. When we trust in Christ we are crucified with Him. It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us! And the life we now live in the flesh we must live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us.
So this death to self is a moment of salvation thing. And it is an every-day-after-that thing as well. Jesus says in Luke 9:23 that we must take up our cross daily. We who belong to Christ Jesus crucified our sinful flesh when we came to Him for salvation, and because of this reality we must also continue to crucify our sinful passions and desires each and every day.
Jesus calls us to die to ourselves so that He might live in us. But as a dear friend of mine often says, “The flesh does not want to die. It rages within, it kicks, it screams.” We want to follow the Lord. But our flesh revolts. It whines. It complains. It kicks. It screams. It wants comfort. It wants ease. It wants its own way. It wants to be satisfied. And it doesn’t want to work hard. And so often we listen. It’s so hard not to listen.
But thanks be to God! He has not left us alone in this fight.
We have His Holy Spirit who enables us to say no to the flesh and put it to death.
In what ways are you still tempted to live according to the flesh?
In what areas have you perhaps put the cross down, feeling like it’s just too heavy to bear?
Confess these to God. He longs for us to be sorrowful and broken over sin so that we may find true rest and peace in Him, our Great Comforter. He will provide the solace and the strength that we need to move forward in Him.
Trust in the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within. And by His power put to death the misdeeds of the flesh.
Study Further Through Scripture:
“And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:27 NLT
“Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?”
Luke 9:23-25 NLT
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.”
Galatians 5:24 NLT
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20 NLT
“So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”
Colossians 3:5-6, 8-10 NLT
“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.”
John 12:24-26 NLT
“But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”
Romans 8:9-14 NLT
