Hello there, children of God,
Today, let us take a look at Jesus’ teaching on taking up one’s cross and following Him:
And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
— Mark 8:34
In this teaching, Jesus is presenting something completely opposite to what the crowd would have expected. The world teaches us to love ourselves, impress ourselves, and focus on ourselves. Yet here, Jesus teaches that following Him begins with self-denial.
Unlike the messages of self-love and self-help, Jesus’ teaching stands in complete contrast. He tells the crowd that if anyone desires to follow Him, they must first deny themselves, then take up their cross, and follow Him.
Self-denial means understanding that outside of Christ, we are led by the flesh—a flesh that is fallen and sinful. If we embrace ourselves in our sinful nature, it only leads to disaster. The antidote is not to embrace our fallen state, but to deny ourselves and instead embrace Christ.
Jesus had already hinted at this idea of self-denial in earlier teachings. For example, when He redefined His true family:
But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
— Matthew 12:48–50
Sadly, the world often equates self-denial with self-hate. But this is not what Jesus is teaching. He is showing us that the truest way to love ourselves is to see ourselves through the eyes of God. First, we recognize our fallen nature, but then we see redemption in Christ. That is where joy is fulfilled.
Therefore, self-denial becomes a crucial step toward finding true peace and joy in Christ.
When Paul wrote to the Galatians, he reminded them that living by the flesh only leads to sin. The solution is to walk by the Spirit:
But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you do not do the things that you want.
— Galatians 5:16–17
This is the most realistic solution Jesus offers: to truly follow Him, we must first deny ourselves and then embrace Christ.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
— Mark 8:35
The idea of self-denial is followed immediately by the teaching about saving or losing one’s life. Naturally, everyone wants to save their own life. But if one tries to do so outside of Christ, they will lose it. True salvation comes only when we deny our lives and embrace Christ.
The world’s solutions are completely opposite. The world says, “Take care of yourself first, pursue your desires, listen to your heart.” But Scripture tells us that our hearts are deceitful, our flesh is dead in sin, and even our righteous deeds are filthy rags before God.
In other words, true life begins only when we die to the flesh. When we let go of earthly desires and embrace Christ, we pass from death into eternal life.
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
— Mark 8:36
Jesus points out that while pursuing the world may profit a man temporarily, it does nothing for the soul. We must remember that our souls live on beyond our earthly bodies. This world is temporary, but eternity is forever.
J.C. Ryle once asked: “Have you found a home for your soul?”
If we do not have assurance of eternal life, then no achievement in this world ultimately matters. This is why Jesus directs His followers to store treasures in heaven:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.”
— Matthew 6:19–20
The most valuable possession we have is our soul, not the things of this world.
For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
— Mark 8:37
Sadly, many people today give little thought to the soul. We spend so much time on our bodies, health, money, jobs, and relationships, but very little time thinking about eternity. Even as Christians, we sometimes reduce spiritual health to “going to church” or “reading the Bible” rather than truly centering our whole being on Christ.
Even worse, some are ashamed of being Christians, hiding their faith behind identity in career, tribe, or nationality. Yet Jesus gives a strong warning:
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
— Mark 8:38
We are called to be salt and light. Jesus says:
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
— Matthew 5:16
Nathan W. Bingham once said: “Live in such a way that if you share the gospel with someone, they’re not surprised that you’re a Christian.”
My prayer is that as believers, we will embrace this call: to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Christ—without shame.
And if you have not yet placed your faith in Christ, let this be a sobering reminder: it profits you nothing to gain the whole world if, in the end, you lose your soul. This world is passing away, but eternal life in Christ endures forever.
Grace and peace.
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