This is a familiar Bible verse. I hear this verse spoken of frequently, and so do you. This is one of those verses we tend to get excited about. We've taken up the cross of the Gospel and we're following Christ. Or, are we?
We tend to blow right through the phrase, "let him deny himself", and move right into taking up the cross. We're following Christ, or so we think we are. Do we fully comprehend what this verse is saying to us?
The word deny literally means to surrender ownership, or to disown oneself. This verse is telling us we must surrender total control to God to follow Christ. My friends, this is very black and white. Total surrender means letting go of everything we are, everything we own, and everything we want and give it to God.
What is taking up our cross? Jesus didn't say taking up his cross. The his in this phrase refers to you and me. The cross we're to take up is ours. The literal translation of the word cross means a stake or a pole, hence a cross. Dig a little deeper though and this gets interesting.
The Greek word for cross is derived from a Greek base word which means to take a stand, exposing ourselves to death. The figurative meaning of cross used in this verse means to stand. Jesus is telling us if we're to follow him, we're to surrender ownership to him and take a stand.
Let me finish with this. You will not take a stand to the death for something without relinquishing complete control of self. This is the message Jesus is giving when he says to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him. Following Christ is giving complete control of our lives to God, giving our lives to take a stand for his kingdom. God bless...
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