INVITATIONS: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TAKE UP YOUR CROSS?

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Matthew 16:24–26 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

1. Giving up to grow up

vs 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

• Many people wanted to follow Jesus, but most wanted to do it on their own terms. Jesus said that only those who followed on his terms could be disciples. And they would be rewarded for their loyalty.”[i] – Stuart Weber
• This is a great description of current culture, even within the church!
• Jesus made it clear if we are to be called followers of Christ, we must fully embrace the meaning of the term.
• “follow” – (akoloutheõ = to go after, to obey, total devotion, to be shaped by their example)
• Jonathan Edwards stated, “The great Christian duty is self-denial, which consists in two things: first, in denying worldly inclinations and its enjoyments, and second, in denying self-exultation and renouncing one’s self-significance by being empty of self.”[ii]

2. Giving up to gain more

vs 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

• Jesus is referencing the importance of living within the will of God for our lives to find all God has for us
• Oswald Chambers said, “We talk about the joys and comforts of salvation; Jesus Christ talks about taking up the cross and following him.”[iii] 

3. Giving up to gain it all

vs 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

• Only when we recognize our purpose in life, which comes from God, do we truly experience the fullness of life
• Craig Blomberg – “Without surrendering one’s present life to Christ, one cannot have eternal life with him.”[iv]
• Tony Evans said, “What good is it to gain worldly stuff while losing spiritual blessings and the peace that make life worthwhile.”[v]
• One example from the Bible can actually seem more like a look in the mirror:

Mark 10:17–22 (NKJV) Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 18So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” 20And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 21Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

• Christ’s two approaches to life:

The point:

1. Following Jesus is not simply a decision made now for a future destination. It is a decision made now to start walking a different path.
2. Following Jesus is the recognition that the greatest accomplishment we can ever achieve is not something the world holds out as valuable. It is in living as a child of God.
3. Following Jesus is the only way to accept the hard things of life as a bump in the road rather than consider them a roadblock in our faith. 

[i] Stuart K. Weber, Matthew, vol. 1, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 256.

[ii] Mark Water, The New Encyclopedia of Christian Quotations, Alresford, England: John Hunt Publishers, 2000).

[iii] Edythe Draper, Draper’s Book of Quotations for the Christian World, Q. 2838, (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992).

[iv] Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 260.

[v] Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 895.

[vi] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 60.