“Then He said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23. Jesus’ words are familiar. We’ve heard them quoted in sermons, devotionals, and Bible studies. But what does it actually mean to take up your cross? Is it simply enduring a hardship? Managing a difficult relationship? Carrying a heavy burden with grace? Or does Jesus mean something deeper?
If we want to understand what it means to take up our cross, we must step back into the moment when Jesus first spoke those words. Because to His original listeners, this was not poetic language. It was shocking. Radical. Even unsettling.
And it still is.
What Did “Take Up Your Cross” Mean in Jesus’ Time?
In the Roman world, a cross was not jewelry or decoration. It was an instrument of excruciating execution. To carry a cross meant walking to your death- publicly and without turning back.
So when Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow Me,” He was calling His followers to complete surrender. Not partial obedience. Not occasional devotion. But wholehearted commitment.
This wasn’t about inconveniences or mild discomfort. It was about dying to the old self in order to follow Jesus fully. That’s why the verse begins with “deny yourself.” It’s about making a conscious decision to follow Him, no matter the cost.
Deny Yourself: The Heart of Discipleship
Before we can carry anything, we must first release something.
To deny yourself means letting go of:
- Your need to be right
- Your desire for control
- Your personal agenda
- Your pride
- Your comfort
It means saying, “Lord, not my will, but Yours.” This is not self-hatred. It is self-surrender. There is a difference.
Jesus is not asking us to diminish our worth. He is inviting us to exchange self-rule for His loving leadership. When we deny ourselves, we are choosing:
- Obedience over impulse
- Faithfulness over feelings
- God’s approval over people’s approval
That’s where the cross begins.
Taking Up Your Cross is Not Just a “Hard Thing”
Sometimes we hear someone describe a frustrating circumstance as “my cross to bear.” But Biblically speaking, the cross is not just life’s burdens. Everyone experiences hardship- believer or not.
The cross Jesus describes is different. It is the daily decision to follow Him even when it costs you something. It may look like:
- Forgiving someone who hasn’t apologized
- Speaking truth when it’s unpopular
- Refusing to participate in gossip
- Choosing integrity when compromise is easier
- Serving when you’re unnoticed
Taking up your cross is obedience when obedience feels uncomfortable. It’s dying to selfishness so Christ can live through you.
It’s important to note that denying ourselves doesn’t come naturally. Our sinful nature often leads us into selfish desires. But the good news is that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can experience growth in our spiritual journey.
What Does It Mean to Take Up Your Cross Daily?
Jesus adds an important word to His command: we are to take up our cross daily. This is not a one-time declaration of faith, but a daily decision and lifelong journey of transformation.
We don’t just decide once to follow Him, surrender to His will, and then go back to our old ways.
Each morning presents fresh choices:
- Will I react in love or irritation?
- Will I trust God or lean on my own understanding?
- Will I honor Him in this conversation?
- Will I surrender this worry?
Daily cross-bearing looks ordinary. It happens in your kitchen, office, carpool, in quiet prayers and in unseen sacrifices. And often no one applauds it.
But God sees.
The Cross Leads to Life, Not Loss
Here’s the beautiful paradox. Jesus says in the very next verse:
“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will save it.” Luke 9:24.
Surrender feels like loss at first. Letting go of control feels uncomfortable. Choosing humility can feel costly. Obedience sometimes looks like weakness to the world.
But Jesus promises something extraordinary. When we lose our lives for Him- when we surrender self- we actually find the life we were created for.
Taking up your cross isn’t about walking in defeat. It’s about walking in freedom. Freedom from:
- Ego
- Fear
- Selfish ambition
- The exhausting need to control everything.
How to Take Up Your Cross in Everyday Life
If you’re wondering what this looks like in practical terms, here are simple ways to live it out:
- 1. Start Your Day in Surrender
Before the day begins, offer it back to God. Pray, “Lord, guide my words, my reactions, and my thoughts today.” - 2. Catch Selfish Impulses
When irritation flares or pride rises, pause. Ask yourself, “Is this my old self or the Spirit leading me?” - 3. Choose Obedience in Small Moments
Big spiritual gestures aren’t always required when taking up your cross. Faithfulness in the small, unseen moments is cross-bearing too. - 4. Extend Grace When It’s Undeserved
This is one of the clearest ways we deny self. Grace reflects Christ. - Release Outcomes to God
You may not control results, but you can control obedience.
Most days cross-bearing is not dramatic. It’s steady, quiet, and intentional.
Why Taking Up Your Cross Brings Peace
At first glance, surrender doesn’t sound peaceful. But here’s what happens when you truly yield your life to Christ:
You no longer carry the weight of managing everything
You are free from performing for acceptance
You stop striving for control and begin trusting the One who holds everything in His capable hands
When Jesus carried His literal cross, He did so out of love and obedience to the Father. When we take up our cross, we walk in the same spirit of trust. And trust brings rest and peace into our lives.
Reflection Questions
- Where in my life am I resisting surrender?
- What “self” tendencies (control, pride, approval-seeking, criticizing, perfectionism, etc.) need to be laid down?
- What would daily obedience look like for you right now?
A Prayer for Surrender
Lord Jesus,
You remained obedient even when it cost You everything.
Teach me what it means to take up my cross daily.
Show me where I am holding too tightly to my own way.
Give me courage to surrender control and strength to obey in small things.
Help me reflect your humility, Your love, and Your faithfulness.
May my life point to You- not to myself.
Lead me one step at a time.
Amen.
Final Thoughts: Following Jesus Is Worth It
To take up your cross is to choose Jesus over self. It is surrender over striving. Faith over fear. Obedience over comfort.
It may not always feel easy, but it is always worth it. Because the cross is not the end- it leads to resurrection life!
Blessings in the journey,
AnnMarie
All Scripture is taken from the New International Version unless specified otherwise.
Photo Credits: AnnMarie Anderson, Canva