The Cross

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” — Matthew 16:24

The story is told about a man who went to the Lord and complained that his cross was too heavy to bear. The Lord showed him a room where He stored the crosses and told the man to choose the cross of his liking. The man searched and searched all around the room but all of the crosses were large and cumbersome. Finally, completely dejected, he spotted a small cross near the door where he had entered. Hurrying over to it he exclaimed, “Lord, I’ll take this one!” “My child,” the Lord said gently, “that is the cross you brought in.” Author unknown

By its very definition a cross is cursed. It is difficult. It is cumbersome. It is hurtful. And we will bend under the load of it unless we are following our Lord. Reread what Jesus said, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” The cross then, is the denial of our self, the denial of anything and everything that prevents us from following Christ. How difficult that is unless we die to self—daily (I Corinthians 15:31).

In the context of the verse, Jesus had just told His disciples He was going to die, and Peter had taken Him aside and rebuked Him. Peter loved Jesus and he didn’t want Him to suffer. Peter was trying to get Jesus to bypass the cross and choose the easy way. But Jesus chose the cross, and Hebrews 12:2 tells us He endured it with joy—just for us.

So, if Jesus endured the cross for us with joy, should it not be our joy to endure our cross for Him? What then does that look like walked out in shoe leather? It is the denial of our self. When someone hurts us, we deny our self the quick retort that immediately springs to mind. We allow others to go before us. We think of others before we think of ourselves. We think how they will feel if we do or say what we are thinking—and we deny ourselves—and love them in return.

Simply put, we walk through life with a gentle spirit. We settle our spirit down so that our outward walk manifests the quiet spirit that is within. This does not come overnight nor does it come easily. It comes with prayer and practice. When we fail, we ask forgiveness and begin again in the strength of the Lord.

Denying ourselves and taking up our own cross is admitting that we are no longer our own person. We now belong to Christ. We are a gift from our Father to His Son (John 17:6). We were bought at a very high price—God’s only Son. Since we no longer own ourselves, we are not entitled to defend ourselves. We have no rights. Everything we have belongs to God. Indeed, all of our being belongs to God. We “follow after Christ” and it is up to Him to take care of us, give us strength to carry our cross, feed us, clothe us, and provide all that we need for today (Matthew 6:25-34).

For the joy that is set before you, pleasing your Father, take up your cross today and follow after Christ. And tonight take anything that has hurt you and everything that you have overcome, and offer it up to God as a wonderful sacrificial bouquet. And then, lay your head down on your pillow and rest, knowing that your life today has been a pleasing aroma to your Lord (Exodus 29:18).

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
— Matthew 5:3

Recommended Reading
Matthew 10:37-39
Romans 8:5-11; 12:1-2
Philippians 2:1-11; 3:7-14
Revelation 22:12


Copyright © 2009 by Peggy Britt. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.