I am making my own little notes, I will study and uncover the word, I am just trying to help and spread the gospel, and I have studied the bible and am trying to show it to the world. This subject is: taking up your cross
Taking up your cross by Akwasi Tandoh
Are you willing to take up your cross? What does it actually mean to take up cross? Many people say that want to fellow Jesus and take up their cross but what does it actually mean; the saying is too loosely used and has become almost a phrase or pep talk without the right term and understanding being implemented. In the chapters of mark 8 and mark 10 Jesus talks about taking up your cross, the fact that he mentions it twice in mark shows the importance of it. He uses the term in three of the gospels , some are in different scenarios and it slightly differs from each, but he is saying the same things but with thee perspectives that should or could be made into one. He altogether talks about taking your cross in Matt. 16:24-25, Luke 9:23-24, mark 8:34 and Mark 10:21.
In mark 8 :34 “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” he then goes on to talk about riches and profit, and says how they cannot compare to your soul. The second time he uses it, in mark 10: 21 “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” It goes on to say the man was upset as he had a lot of wealth and was not prepared to give it up. Jesus says that when you leave everything, you will receive it hundredfold. I will analyse and explain it in more detail. The passage in mark 8: 34 - 38 “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me 35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. 36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels”. In the first part verse 34, he says let him deny himself. Denying yourself means: to Say No! The starting point is to "deny" ourselves. You want more of a spiritual relationship with Jesus? It starts just denying yourself. It starts by saying "NO" to yourself. The word Jesus uses for 'deny" actually means "to say no." This verse does not always mean to deny ourselves something we want to eat, wear, or view. It means to say no to yourself! This is a complete denial of self in favor of Jesus. In the earlier verses Peter had objected to Jesus dying. Jesus told Peter and His disciples simply that they must be willing to die to themselves in every way - including death. Denying self requires us to give up anything that we would want or seek that would hinder our doing the will of God. This does not mean that, if we want something, it is necessarily wrong. It means we must take our wants and desires down from our throne and place it, in front of Jesus and His will as the governing power in our lives. There is room in each life for only one master (Matt. 6:19-24). If God is to rule in our lives, then our will must be made subservient to His. We must be willing to give up anything that is ungodly or taking us from Jesus in life in order to please God. Rom. 12:1-2; Matt. 6:33; Luke 14:25-33; 2 Cor. 5:14-15. In Luke 9:57-62, three people seemed willing to follow Jesus. When Jesus questioned them further, their commitment was half-hearted at best. They failed to count the cost of following Him. None of them was willing to take up his cross and crucify upon it his own interests. Truly, they were not able to put to death their own ideas, plans, and desires, and exchange them for His. Denying yourself also mean giving up sin, procrastination, your own thoughts and emotions.
In second part of verse 34, taking up your cross and follow means we are to take up our cross and try to leave it there. Jesus did not say to take His cross. We are to take up our crosses - our struggles. The cross symbolized pain and suffering. What a contrast! We are to say "NO" to ourselves and to be willing to suffer - He did! How are we doing with denying ourselves the pleasures of this world? Are you willing to suffer insult for Jesus? How regular is your attendance at church? Or, are there more enjoyable things to do? Are you willing to suffer? Even to die?
The last part is to follow; Following is not a separate activity. We are not following Jesus if we are not saying no to ourselves and being willing to suffer with Him. Jesus says it is not possible to really follow Him if you are not denying yourself. Also taking up cross can mean an issue or problem that you may be facing and concerning it like Jesus done in three days. It can mean helping and perusing God, God’s will and his kingdom. The rest of the chapter, tell us how possessions cannot compare to anything, the message that is being shows is that all the money, cars, fame, worldly glamour’s, cannot compare to your soul and you doing god’s will. I personally feel best when I’m pleasing God and doing his will, I’m sure you do too. Many people nowadays have sold their souls for profit, money, fame, popularity people in our media like drake, jay z, riahhna, lil Wayne, Kane west, lerbron James, many u.k artists, etc. some of them not really knowing they are doing and some do but just crave too much for “high life”. They have signed contracts and deals, they sold out or as I like to say “souled” out, get it!!! Lol but on a serious note the world and all it riches will not and cannot compare to the lord. If you do take up your cross and life your life righteously, after your judgment your be greatly rewarded , also the joy and fulfillment you get from doing God’s will is better than what will feel with these worldly stuff. Then Jesus talks about people being ashamed of the gospel, I’m sure a lot of Christians have or will face this dilemma, it does not specifically mean not shouting out the gospel but it for example knowing someone you can help or benefit from saying God’s word but you are too concerned of their reaction so you don’t do it or maybe, your friends are sinning and as you don’t want to be labeled or look like an outcast you disobey or neglect the gospel and its teaching to seek approval from your friends. I’m sure the majority of people have done this at one point, I have at times. But I think to myself how can I or anyone be ashamed of the gospel; the good news, the message that brings salvation unto all mankind and brings deliverance from pain, hurt, sin, etc. it says if you will be ashamed of the gospel, when Jesus come down from heaven in his father’s glory, he will be ashamed of us, none of us want Jesus to be ashamed of us, it is found in Luke 9: 26.
the second time he says this in mark the passage of mark 10 : 17 – 31 , 17And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. 19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 23And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. 28Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 31But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. This very is powerful, here is a man that said he was willing to do God’s will , he obeyed all the commandments and seemed righteous but when it came to leaving everything he knows he could not bring himself, to it. This can be used today, you could be living as the bible says but if you are not willing to take follow Jesus and leave everything else, then there is no point. The disciples did laterally leave their family, friends, towns, etc to follow Jesus and build the kingdom of God. Even years later the apostle Paul formerly Saul left his wife and kids for God’s will. By doing this you may get persecuted, abused, etc but it worth it and surely is nothing to compare what our sinless savior went through for us. And also by this when are getting eternal life, which will be beyond what we know. The people that shall be persecuted and stamped on and killed, may be regarded at the least on this ungodly world but when new earth and heaven come they will be regarded as the first.
In Luke, there is an additional word: 23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. The additional word is daily ,this means that you should do it in your everyday life from waking up to going to sleep, taking your cross on a daily level may be just talking about God to non Christians or battling with sin, etc. it can be something small or big, it does not always mean you throwing away all your stuff, but just doing a god’s will every single day.
Think to yourself about what taking up the cross really means, giving you all for Christ, denying yourself and your wants, desires, emotions, thoughts, ideas, sins, will to do his will and purpose. Maybe leaving your family, friends , money, possessions, etc for God , it can mean getting persecuted for God , (which is already happening in some countries, so we should be grateful that we have liberty in our country, but in the end days and we will last day get persecuted and excecuted, will you be able to it then because it will be worse than ever, our friends, family, nearly everyone will betray us, Christians will be killed for our faith and will be treated worse than ever before, no money as we won’t get the mark of the beats , no food, no nothing, this will happen soon, so do you think you’re willing?
We must come denying ourselves and leaning on Jesus. We are not Christians if we did not give up on ourselves and give ourselves to Him.
If a person holds his life so dear to himself that he wants to use it to please himself, do his own will, and accomplish his own purposes, rather than denying self and serving God, that person will in the end lose his life eternally. But anyone who loses his life for Jesus' sake - gives it in service and sacrifice to God by denying himself, as described above - such a man will save his life by gaining eternal life.
There can be no greater or clearer teaching anywhere of the meaning of being a disciple. This is how our Master lived, so this is how His disciples must live. We must live lives of complete and total submission to the will of God.
If you wonder if you are ready to take up your cross, consider these questions:
• Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing some of your closest friends?
• Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means alienation from your family?
• Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means the loss of your reputation?
• Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your job?
• Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your life?
In some places of the world, these consequences are reality. But notice the questions are phrased, “Are you willing?” Following Jesus doesn’t necessarily mean all these things will happen to you, but are you willing take up your cross? If there comes a point in your life where you are faced with a choice—Jesus or the comforts of this life—which will you choose?
Commitment to Christ means taking up your cross daily, giving up your hopes, dreams, possessions, even your very life if need be for the cause of Christ. Only if you willingly take up your cross may you be called His disciple (Luke 14:27). The reward is worth the price. Jesus followed His call of death to self (“Take up your cross and follow Me”) with the gift of life in Christ: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25-26).
If you need help or anything from me, I will always be ready, I can pray for you, study the bible with you, whatever. People who have read this can I have some feedback, is it good or bad, positive things about it and negative. What should I write about next time? Any feedback is fine.
God bless.
