Costly Discipleship: What Jesus Meant by “Take Up Your Cross”

Luke 9:23

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. (NIV)

His words are curious. Jesus is effectively asking, “Do you want to be my disciple?”

The word ‘disciple’ shares the root word for ‘discipline.’ To be a disciple of Christ is to exert discipline, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to be like Christ more and more. It is to discipline ourselves to do the same work He did, to love as He loved, to love those He loved. It is to forgive even as He forgave those who crucified Him, to honor God by saying nothing but what the Father allowed. It is to give up everything just as He gave up Heaven to obey the call of God. And the question is, ‘Do you want this?’

In Hebrews 12, we are reminded that no one likes discipline. It is initially unpleasant. Our sinful nature makes us crave comfort, ease, and pleasure. Our instinctive reaction is to reject anything that delays these. To be a disciple of Christ, comfort, ease, and pleasure are no longer the priority. To be a disciple of Christ, we must stay the course, doing the work of God, even as it requires painful sacrifice. And the question Jesus asks, “Do you want to be my disciple?”

At first glance, it seems nonsensical to choose a life characterized by crucifixion, yet this is the offer He gives us.

To be His disciple is to choose a painful path, but it is also the choice to abide with Him. Those who choose to be His disciples are committed to His presence. They are blessed by His love, compassion, and tenderness. They witness miracles that delight and amaze. They learn wisdom that produces a better life. This is why Proverbs 12:1 teaches that those who love discipline also love wisdom because wisdom is a consequence of discipline. Following Christ allows us to see and experience a different, but far better, way than our instinctive reactions to life.

We may not want the hardship of following Christ. Our natural desire is not to sacrifice our comfort, ease, and pleasure to follow Him. But the benefits are well worth the sacrifice. No one will love you like Jesus. No one will teach you like Him. No one will lead you into a better way than Him. Do you want to be His disciple? To find the things of God we hunger and thirst for, we must choose discipleship. We must deny ourselves and pick up our cross. It is costly discipleship but the benefit far outweighs the struggle.

Prayer: Lord, let my eyes be opened to the wisdom of Your discipline on the other side of my hardship as I choose to be Your disciple. Amen.