Scripture

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.”

Observation

Jesus begins to tell His disciples that he is going to Jerusalem to be crucified, but on the third day he will rise again. Peter rebukes Jesus, but Jesus says to Peter, “Get behind me satan!”

Jesus tells His disciples that following Him means to turn away from our sins and to take up our cross. If we try to hold onto our life, we will lose it, but if we give it up for his sake, we will save it.

Jesus is coming to judge all people according to their deeds. Some standing there will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.

Application

To be a follower of Jesus means that we must die to ourselves.

Firstly, we have to turn away from our selfish ways. We can’t be a follower of Jesus on our own terms. We must be prepared to change our way of life to conform to Him.

Secondly, we have to take up our cross. That means literally dying. The only people who took up crosses in Jesus’ day were condemned criminals on their way to a nasty death.

To take up our cross means that we let go of every form of ownership, every ambition, every plan. Jesus owns it all. This is very liberating.

Finally, we are to follow Jesus. This is the positive aspect of repentance.. We exchange self-serving for Jesus-serving, selfishness for love, and so on. We learn to live as Jesus lived, applying every action and word of Jesus in the gospels to our own life.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, there is no way I can do this by myself. Thank you for the Holy Spirit, who makes it possible to live for you. Amen.