After we learn how Self was enthroned to rule in the hearts of mankind through the sin of Adam and Eve in Genesis, Jesus is very direct in telling His disciples about the animosity of Self with being His follower. He states this in Luke 9:23, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.’” This is the opposite of the choice that was made in the garden, which was a choice for Self-rule and pride. The choice for Self-rule was an act of rebellion and treason against God, and put man at enmity with God. That means that the Self-ruled man became God’s enemy. Reconciliation of man with God cannot be possible with man’s retention of treasonous Self-rule. Therefore, Jesus declares that if anyone wishes to come after Him, the first step is to deny Self – to dethrone, and renounce Self-rule.
But this is not a “one and done” act. The denial of Self continues with taking up your cross daily. When Jesus says we must take up our cross daily, it should cause us to snap to attention! This is an easy sentence to read and move past, but it is a crucial factor for living each new day in faith through Christ. As Christians in the West, our view of a cross is as a cherished symbol or icon of faith. The cross communicates the substitutionary death of Christ in atonement for our sins and symbolizes access through Christ to God’s grace, forgiveness, and love. While true, limiting our understanding of the cross to this symbolism is not helpful for understanding Jesus’ words here in Luke. The cross had one purpose: it was an instrument of torturous suffering, and its use always ended with an excruciating death. The convicted criminal who was condemned to death carried the cross upon his own shoulders. He suffered terribly as he was driven by whips to the place of death by crucifixion.
Self, given its life through pride, is that entity which must bear the cross to the place of its death. Self-denial is the most counter-cultural act you will ever observe, or in which you will ever take part. It includes crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24), saying “no” to ungodliness, and living a disciplined, godly life (Titus 2:11-13). Denial of Self values the interests of others and not just your own (Philippians 2:4-8), seeks what is best for others instead of what is best for yourself (1 Corinthians 10:24), and surrenders in the pursuit of status, power, and prominence over others (Luke 14:7-11).
This is a hard path to walk through life, and it is very costly. In Luke 14:27-33, Jesus again says everyone who wants to be His disciple must carry his own cross, and He advises the listener to “calculate the cost” before deciding to follow Him. He gives the example of deciding to build a tower, and, after laying the foundation, discovering there are not enough funds to finish the project (Luke 14:27-33). The second example Jesus gives is of a king who considers going out to battle against another king. He needs to evaluate if his army is strong enough to win the battle. If his army is not strong enough, he will instead need to negotiate a peace agreement.
So it is that Jesus says we must count the cost of following Him. What is that cost? It costs everything! Jesus says in Luke 14:33, “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.” This might sound harsh and unreasonable, but Jesus is making it clear that choosing to follow Him is an all-or-nothing endeavor. There is no allowance for Self to remain in charge of any area of one’s life. What part of your life is most important to you? Where do you feel you are the most accomplished, are the highest valued, and standing out above others. Do you relish the admiration of others, and take pride in your achievements? Are you proud of your Self? If so, Jesus may be calling you out today. Consider following Him. Deny your Self, take up your cross daily, and follow Jesus!
