What Jesus Meant by “Take Up Your Cross”

Whether you’ve spent a day or a decade around Christian circles, you’ve probably heard the phrase, “Pick up your cross.” Maybe you’ve even heard someone say, “Oh, well, that’s just my cross to bear.”

It can leave the impression that following Jesus feels like hiking up Mount Everest with a 90-pound backpack.

But the words Jesus Christ spoke in the Bible hold more depth—and much more hope—than most of us might realize.

Taking up our cross means owning our decision to follow Him. It means letting go of our pride and our limited perspective and instead letting God lead our plans day by day, just as Jesus did (Luke 22:42).

Let’s dig deeper into these New Testament Bible passages to discover:

• What Jesus said
• The context of what He said
• What He meant by His words
  • What He didn’t mean by them
• And how picking up our cross transforms us

Let’s start with a quick review of what Jesus said.

Jesus’ words in the Bible about “taking up your cross”

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When Jesus spoke the words, “take up your cross,” He was with His 12 disciples and a crowd of other followers. He’d been miraculously healing and feeding multitudes of people (Matthew 14:13-21). So in that season, following Jesus probably felt like living the high life.

Jesus drew such a crowd that the disciples started to treat their society as exclusive. And they began looking down on those they felt were inferior (Mark 10:13-14, Matthew 15:22-23).

As we’ll see more of in a minute, Jesus’ disciples were even arguing over who in their group was the greatest (Mark 9:33-34).

But Jesus didn’t aspire to be a charismatic leader or to start an exclusive group. And He hadn’t come to Earth to wield His power over others.

Instead, He used His power to serve others (Matthew 20:28). And He empowered others to follow His example.

That’s why Jesus said, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35).

Right up until His death, Jesus tried to teach His disciples to follow His example of humility (John 13:14-15).

And no moment paints a more vivid picture of what it means to follow Christ than this:

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?’ ” (Matthew 16:24-26, ESV, emphasis added).

Jesus gave similar instructions in Mark 8:34-36 and Luke 9:23-24. But Mark notes that Jesus called the crowd around Him to listen, along with His disciples (vs. 34). And Luke notes that Jesus said to take up your cross daily (vs. 24).

And later, Jesus reminds His followers, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27, ESV).

Jesus’ words would’ve had a big impact on the people listening at that particular point in history. Let’s talk about why.

The biblical context behind Jesus’ words

During Jesus’ lifetime, the Jewish people were under Roman rule. But they were hungry to take back their power and become an independent nation again. And this seemed justified based on their interpretations of Scripture.

But few understood His true mission. And that Jesus’ victory was rooted in love, humility, and sacrifice (Zechariah 9:9). Not in flexing His power to overthrow the Romans.

Old Testament prophecies spoke of a “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). He would rule on “the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice” (Isaiah 9:7, ESV).

Prophecies like this caught their attention.

But they overlooked or misunderstood prophecies describing this Prince as, “despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3, ESV). And as one who would suffer and die before this promised kingdom would appear (Isaiah 53:5, 7, 9).

It was also prophesied that Jesus would first come as a baby and later die for the sins of the world (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 2:34-35). These things had to take place before Jesus could return to Earth in the clouds as a victorious King (Daniel 7:13-14).

But the misconception that Jesus would establish an immediate and physical kingdom made Him popular at first. After all, His miracles showed He had the power to overthrow the Romans and rule as the Prince of Peace.

In the disciples’ minds, they were on track to serve the next King of Jerusalem. Their focus was short-sighted—all about immediate glory for a small set of people.

So, they argued about who was greatest and who would sit beside Jesus on His throne (Matthew 20:20-21, Luke 22:24-27).

But Jesus was planning a bigger victory: an everlasting kingdom of peace for the entire world (Revelation 11:15). And it meant short-term sacrifice for Him and His followers.

It’s even hard for us to grasp that Jesus had to live a perfect life on Earth in our place to prepare us for His future Kingdom. He died for our sins so we can accept His sacrifice on our behalf. And that prepares us for the perfect, physical Kingdom He’ll return to establish one day (Romans 5:8-9).

No one, including the disciples, could live in a sin-free kingdom if Jesus hadn’t first come to justify us.

Even after Christ’s resurrection, the disciples hoped He would take the throne on Earth (Acts 1:6). The last thing they expected from their conquering Hero was for Him to submit to a criminal’s death.

In Jesus’ time, the Romans used crucifixion to punish criminals of the state. Those convicted had to carry their own cross to the outskirts of town. There, they hung nailed up and naked for as many hours or days as it took for them to die.

According to the National Library of Medicine, it was, “one of the most brutal and shameful modes of death.”¹

People in Jesus’ time would’ve seen the cross as a dreaded symbol of humility and death. It painted a picture opposite of the immediate victory they hoped for.

Jesus understood their misconceptions about His mission. That’s why He asked the disciples who they thought He was (Matthew 16:13-16, Luke 9:18-20). He goes on to affirm that He is the son of God they’re waiting for. But He must suffer, face rejection, and death to gain the ultimate victory (Luke 9:22).

No one could grasp the idea of a self-sacrificing King. One who would die to save all people and give them eternal life (Matthew 16:21-22).

By warning them about what was coming, Jesus braced them for short-term disappointment. But by His next statements about following Him, He invited them to join in His final victory. That is, His Second Coming—when He will establish His kingdom on Earth (Acts 1:11, Isaiah 65:17).

We’ve painted the backdrop behind what Jesus said. Now let’s talk more about what He meant by His slightly unsettling instructions.

What Jesus meant by the phrase “take up your cross”

Jesus wasn’t telling us to choose a life of misery. He was telling us to let go of our limited view of what we think is best and choose a life fully surrendered to God. It might mean losing some things we thought we couldn’t live without. But what we gain in the process leads to perfect joy, fulfillment, and peace.

At times, it means self-denial. But that doesn’t mean having to deny yourself everything you even slightly enjoy.

It involves trusting that the best things come from God. Not from our own plans (James 1:17, Proverbs 14:12, Jeremiah 29:11).

God loves us and wants the best for us (Psalm 139:13-16).

It’s like a parent-child relationship. God wants to provide for His children even more than the best human parents do (Matthew 7:9-11).

A good parent wants things that bring their children joy. But parents can understand things that children don’t yet. For example, a child might find joy in the thought of diving headfirst into a refreshing-looking pond on a hot day. But the parent knows the pond is only two feet deep, and tells the child to wade in carefully, instead.

Adam and Eve struggled with self-denial when God told them they could eat from any tree but one (Genesis 2:16-17). They didn’t trust that God was protecting them from sin and Satan (Revelation 12:9).

They had everything they needed for perfect joy. But they became tempted to desire more…and they did.

The Apostle Paul explains what it means to crucify self and become like Christ:

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

 

“As for me, may I never boast about anything except the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died” (Galatians 6:14).

Paul was on a dangerous path to worldly success until Jesus rescued Him. But he surrendered, or “died to,” his old self and became a new person in Christ.

And with that new life came new desires. He found fulfillment in showing others the way to eternal life (Galatians 1:11-16).

He believed that short-term success on Earth means nothing if we lose eternity.

(And often, the things we humans uphold as “happiness-deliverers,” like fame, success, wealth, etc., don’t end up fulfilling us anywhere near how much we thought they would.)

Even wise King Solomon recognized that everything we chase after in this world is “vanity and grasping for the wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:17, ESV).

When Jesus mentioned picking up the cross, He also said to do it daily. His words were symbolic, like when Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again (John 3:3-5). He wasn’t telling people to put themselves through a literal, daily crucifixion.

It’s a daily recommitment to Christ (1 Corinthians 15:31).

True discipleship means we no longer find our identity in anything (or anyone) of this world. Instead, we find our identity in Jesus Christ (Luke 9:57-62). We let God mold our characters to match Christ’s. And in the process, we grow to love and serve others as He did.

But to pick up our cross, we have to put down our pride and desire to control everything in our lives. We must trust God with our time, goals, money, careers, relationships—everything.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die… Only the man who is dead to his own will can follow Christ.”²

Like the disciples, we sometimes get focused on the here and now. And we struggle to let go of what we can see for the promise of things we can’t see. But as followers of Jesus, He asks us to follow His lead and trust Him for the long term.

Jesus came so we could “have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10b, ESV). He’s preparing us to become heirs of His glorious and everlasting kingdom (Romans 8:16-19).

What Jesus didn’t mean

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Jesus didn’t mean we should accept every inconvenience, heartbreak, or health problem as “a cross to bear.” That isn’t evidence of a heart fully committed to Christ. And that mindset can even prevent us from seeking the help we need.

To take up the cross also doesn’t mean God’s will for us is to always choose the hard things just because they’re hard. Or to always say no to what we enjoy.

That doesn’t reflect God’s character—especially if one of the fruits of the Spirit is “joy” (Galatians 5:22).

Jesus did say that we’re likely to experience difficulties because of following Him. But in that same sentence, He also said, “but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NKJV).

Joy, purpose, and contentment are things that God wants us to relish in as we follow Him (Psalm 16:11; Proverbs 17:22; Ecclesiastes 3:12; John 15:11; Philippians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 4:4-5; 6:17; James 1:17).
Think about when Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes for His followers. He didn’t only quench their hunger. Matthew says, “They all ate and were satisfied” (vs. 14:20a). And there were plenty of leftovers!

That’s not a God asking us to live miserable, stripped-down lives. Far from it.

Trusting God often involves hard seasons. But it’s always preparing us for something better. Even if we don’t see the end results on this fallen Earth (Hebrews 11:13-16).

So there’s no need for carrying our crosses to be akin to literal crucifixion or self-injury in the name of Christ. Sadly, some do this as a profession of faith. But it’s misguided, unfortunately. It puts the focus on what we can do instead of on what Christ already did for us.

The Scripture tells us to look to Jesus and live—not to ourselves. Jesus didn’t seek a miserable life. That’s why the Bible says:

“[Look] to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, ESV).

Jesus also wasn’t asking us to interpret what it means for others to pick up their crosses.

Jesus often spent time alone, seeking God’s will for His life (Luke 5:16). In the same way, we can each reflect on Jesus’ words during personal time with God.

And that leads us into our next point—how to apply what we’ve learned to our own lives.

Take up your cross and let Christ transform you

We’re in a world full of sin and hurting people. But Jesus’ death on the Cross is our way out of this mess. When we accept His sacrifice, we become like Him. And one day, we’ll emerge victorious from this world like He did (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

But if taking up your cross still sounds stressful, think of it this way:

Anything we devote our time and effort to involves a “cross to carry.” It all involves some sacrifice, commitment, and dedication. But also payoffs.

Let’s look at some common examples in everyday life:

• Getting married
• Deciding to have children
• Devoting yourself to a job you’re passionate about
• Volunteering for a cause you believe in
• Getting a college degree
• Donating or investing in something you support
• Taking care of an elderly family member
• Saving up for a big vacation, a new house, or a new car
• Learning a new hobby, skill, or language
• Eating a plant-based diet
• Becoming a minimalist and living off the grid

Every choice has crosses to carry—things we’ll have to deny ourselves to stay committed.

And some “crosses” we carry don’t have great payoffs. These could be things like:

• Holding a grudge or refusing to speak to an old friend or family member
• Becoming fixated on status, recognition, or appearances
• Clinging to toxic relationships
• Nurturing envy or resentment instead of gratitude or contentment
• Going into debt because of impulsive spending

The point is this: Whatever we choose to carry as our priority sets our direction, and regardless of what it is, it means that we’ll always have to say “no” to other things that we don’t have (or

So picking up the cross that Jesus offers isn’t an issue of “carry your cross” versus “carry nothing.”

It’s a choice between which “cross” (or combo of crosses) you decide to carry. And also, which “cross” gets the main focus in your life.

So, how do you know where to focus?

Jesus spent regular time staying attuned to the will of the Father (John 5:19). That’s how He understood His mission on the Cross.

To follow Jesus, we need to seek God’s will for our lives through personal prayer, study, and reflection. Every day.

The decisions we make will differ from person to person. But it’s about letting God guide our choices with the help of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16).

To pick up our own crosses and follow Christ means we claim Jesus Christ as our Savior. There’s no hiding a cross—just as there’s no hiding a life fully committed to Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16).

When we put our focus on Jesus and lift Him up, we become more like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18). More loving. More self-sacrificing. More humble. More in tune with God’s will for our lives.

And we light the way for others to find Jesus (Matthew 5:24-16).

Without God’s leading, our desires lead to destruction (Proverbs 14:12, Matthew 16:26). God only asks us to give up what’s not in our best interest. That’s why He says,

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30, ESV).

God still wants us to have joyful relationships, dream jobs, and success. They may not look the way we initially imagined. But we can trust God to meet those desires with beautiful and fulfilling things (Jeremiah 29:11).

It doesn’t mean taking up our cross will feel easy—especially at first. It might mean we say no to things we used to pay attention to that aren’t honorable, pure, or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8-9). Or we choose to avoid environments and relationships that draw us away from Christ.

But it all comes down to allowing God to transform our lives and plan our steps. Day by day.

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Imagine a caterpillar that’s not yet a butterfly. The caterpillar could remain a grubby creature crawling around on earth. That’s the life it knows.

But God built within it a desire to pause its life, build a cocoon, and undergo transformation.

It might not feel comfortable. And it even involves some danger as it sits vulnerable inside its cocoon. But it submits itself to the process. And it undergoes transformation into something beautiful.

And one day, it emerges to fly free—an entirely new creature.

Like the caterpillar, we can’t always see what the transformation will bring. So, it can seem intimidating and make us hesitant.

It feels risky to change our habits or let something go when we can’t see what’s on the other side. Especially when so many other things in the world are made to look so easy.

But when God transforms us, it’ll be “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20, ESV).

God created us in His image (Genesis 1:27). And though we now live in a fallen world, we all have the potential for transformation (Philippians 2:13).

But it’s our choice. We have to choose to pick up our crosses and allow transformation. But God won’t leave us to carry our cross alone (Matthew 11:28, Psalm 55:22).

God says, “I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV).

The process begins here, in your Christian life on Earth. That’s what taking up your cross to follow Jesus means. We live as Christ lived—following God’s will through life’s ups and downs.

And it’s a daily transformation, too. Picking up your cross “daily” means starting every day by asking God to help you follow His will and His plans.

And we can look forward to the joy ahead, knowing that Jesus is transforming us (2 Corinthians 5:17). And one day, He’ll raise us up brand new, ready to live with Him forever (Hebrews 12:2, 1 Corinthians 15:52).

Picking up your cross to follow Jesus doesn’t mean you need to have it all figured out. Like the butterfly in its cocoon, it’s a process. So head over to our next post to learn more about Christian growth.

1. Retief FP, Cilliers L. The history and pathology of crucifixion. S Afr Med J. 2003 Dec;93(12):938-41. PMID: 14750495. [↵]
2. Bonhoeffer, Dietrich . 1965. The Cost of Discipleship. New York: Macmillan Co. p. 99. [↵]

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