Demand #8 — Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me
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. (Matt. 16:24-5)
Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. (Mark 1:17)
I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12)
Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead. (Matt. 8:22)
If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. (John 8:31)
Following Jesus means Fulfilling Jesus’ Mission.
Jesus came to “seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). And he did this ultimately through his suffering on our behalf on the cross. Jesus’ mission was “to gather a people in allegiance to himself for the glory of his Father” as Piper puts it. And following Jesus is joining Him in that mission, or helping Him fulfill that mission. This is why Jesus said “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17)
Following Jesus is Painful.
Jesus promised us, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (Jn. 15:20) Jesus did not promise us a rosy life. He promised us suffering. This is why he calls his followers to first “take up their cross” and then to “follow” Him. In Matt. 16:24 “Jesus put the emphasis on self-denial and cross-bearing”.
The suffering we are called to endure creates ruptures in our relationships with people, wealth, and our occupation. We are to hate our most intimate family members, even our own selves, in comparison to our devotion to Jesus (Luke 14:26). And we are to “renounce all that [we have]” if we want to be a true disciple (Luke 14:33). This results in a liberal approach to giving, such that Jesus can say to the rich young ruler “sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me”. (Matt. 19:21) Piper points out that many of the disciples had to leave their occupations, and many times Jesus will move his people to leave their good jobs, pack their bags, and head off to Africa or Asia, or go into ministry here in America. Not everyone will be called to leave, but all are called to follow which will change your perspective on your job, your money, and your family.
Following Jesus is “Worth It”.
The suffering we are called to endure as we follow Jesus will be worth it. Jesus promises that if we hold on to our life we’ll lose it, and if we lose our life we will save it. (Mk. 8:35) And He constantly declares that following Him is a wise and exceedingly beneficial choice. Consider Jesus’ stress on our eternal reward to be received through this suffering/following in the following verses Jn. 12:25; Matt. 19:27, 29; Luke 14:14; Matt. 5:12. So while the suffering is only temporary the pleasure is eternal.
Yet the pleasure is not only future. Following Jesus brings joy now. It can make the persecuted “leap for joy” (see Demand #10 and Luke 6:22-23). This kind of faithful following even through suffering—the kind that rejoices to suffer for Jesus’ name—brings great glory to our Savior. A sad, somber, doleful “suffering for Jesus” will not necessarily glorify Him. But the kind of triumphant joy which smiles in the midst of tragedy, that points to the incomparable worth of Jesus Christ and properly displays His value to a watching world. Consider Piper, finally, on this point.
If you follow Jesus only because he makes life easy now, it will look to the world as though you really love what they love, and Jesus just happens to provide it for you. But if you suffer with Jesus in the pathway of love because he is your supreme treasure, then it will be apparent to the world that your heart is set on a different fortune than theirs. This is why Jesus demands that we deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow him. [emphasis added]
—See all posts on, the Demands of Jesus
∼striving for the unity of the faith for the glory of God∼ Eph. 4:3,13 “¢ Rom. 15:5-7
The area of giving is certainly an area in which my doctrine and practice could use a little improvement in relation to “the demands of Jesus.” In my “previous dispensation” as a fundamental Baptist I had always been satisfied to consider giving as they taught it: tithe ten percent of my gross income and then pray for God to give us an impression of how much to offer about that amount, constituting my “tithes and offerings.”
But then, after I underwent a little reformation, my wife and I joined a Southern Baptist church, which convention shares the IFB’s emphasis on tithing ten percent gross, but my pastor, being a avid follower of MacArthur, and who holds other views not officially sanctioned by the convention, teaches that tithing is not a “New Testament” teaching, so we are not obligated to “ten percent gross” but that the Old Testament tithe actually encompasses “23 1/3 percent” of an Israelites’ “gross income.” When I press him on this, I get very little detail in defense of the assertion, but rather, he falls back on saying it’s an issue he studied years ago and has come to this conclusion but has forgotten much of the details.
Assuming you share his distinctive Baptistic views on “New Testament” church practice (as opposed to other Reformed teachers that all of Scripture should inform the practice of the church), can you summarize for me this teaching in more detail, if indeed you share this interpretation? I know I need to dig in the Old Testament and read up on the tithing practices of national Israel, but can you point me to some good online resources which teach on giving from a Reformed perspective so that we may line up our giving habits with the demands of Jesus?
I find it fascinating how extensively the prospect of suffering is covered in the New Testament, considering our society’s current level of affluence. Apparently a lack of suffering seems to be a mixed blessing: relief from physical threat to our religious liberty combined with the spiritual and moral danger of temptation to the idolatry of our money and possessions.
I have a share of your pastors point of view. I am carefully studying the thithing principles and as for my personal conviction, I am definite that thithing is in the Old Testament (malachi 3:10), but what was it all about? The issue is disobedience of the israelites. Prophet Malachi urge them to bring the “thithes” which is the 1/10 of their crops or income. During those days they have storehouse because it is for the Lord’s offering.
During those days of Israel in the Old Testaments, the mosaic law is strongly implemented, being extremely clean and a conservative offering of Lambs or Rams.
In the New Testament (OT) we claim that Jesus is the greatest sacrifice. Through the spillings of the blood all the sins of mankind has washed away.Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament( Matthew 5:17). But Jesus did not mention or reiterated the preaching of Malachi instead Apostle Paul in 2nd Corinthians that each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Not under compulsion. What does this mean? If in the Old Testament prophet Malachi told us strongly/ mandatorily that we bring our thithes to the storehouse, Apostle Paul encourage us to be not reluctant and not to be pressured in giving to the church “for God loves a cheerful giver”.
As for me, thithing is in the old testament, 1/10 of our gross salary is by God and for God, this is as per the perspective of Israelites. But as a gentile salvage by God’s grace and now a spiritual Israelites we are commissioned to give our thithes on the basis of the following:
a. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
b. Apostle paul encourage us to give to the needs of the church.
On these basis, i believe in the modern church, since apostle paul gives us liberty and with grace in giving to the church. church gives basis on the 1/10 of our gross income to give to the church.
God bless us all.
Thanks Ian. I’ve been so busy I haven’t had a chance to let you know I agree with your thoughts here on tithing. That being said, most of us can afford to give more than a tithe. We should want to give and give much, but we don’t have to give from compulsion and we aren’t bound by the OT law in that way. Plus in that day and age, it was like a tax and it helped support the poor too….
Take your Cross, or rather accept your suffering. So simple and still so profound
Mathhew 11 : 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.â€
this denying self to me means……our carnal nature and thinking or character defects that all christians have. “the spirit wars against the flesh and the flesh (self) wars against the spirit. 90 % of the time the devil didn’t do it. It was me! Christians are really dishonest about this area and always come up with the externals.
Who can equal Jesus on the :love scripture I love what He said:
“He that overcomes”. To suffer in the flesh is to cease from sin.
i need more teaching books about take thy cross do a favour or any other material relate to it. thanks for God services.
I recommend going to desiringgod.org and their store and either email someone there or try to learn more about their whatever you can afford policy. They also donate books to foreign missions situations too.
jesus is talking to himself,coz for him all the world is he,and his father…he is just talking abt what he is seeing…
its very simple statement if seen from self,without taking jesus or god into account.
if one follows jesus he’ll get what jesus promised,
if one does what jesus himself did,he/she’ll get what
jesus himself got.
jesus talks not like a god or godmen he talks more like a
bother to brother,asking his brother not to follow him,but his
footsteps as guide…if one looks at jesus for the path he’ll always rely on jesus and miss the path…the path of god is already there,with or without jesus,it was even before jesus came,jesus’s coming is great ‘coz it revealed again what was lost…but again we get caught in who found it.
jesus was true,forgive them ‘coz they dnt know what they are doing.
jesus never asked for disciples.he just asks u to find ur self.
if one loves jesus to the core,he’ll feel that freedom to leave jesus even and find out for himself.jesus is not a bondage,but an indication to freedom.
take thy cross simply means,know ur dark side,know and love that part of you that says world is mad,full of theives,full of hatred,there’s something dangerous in the dark,around the corner,u might die,what will happen next,this is bad,
taking thy cross means to see with heart all that u r hiding,all means all,take thy cross means baptism by fire of hell,the hell that u have made in urself,the hell upon which,escaping which you will enter the heaven,its opposite.
take thy cross means to live that suffering that lies somewhere in you.
and when it has been seen,the need for heaven,hell,angles,jesus,and all that need is immediately achieved…u become a new jesus yourself….but first the pain of self seeing…pan of leaving old,pain of not seeing money as something to buy cold drinks and sandwhich for food,but the pain of letting all go,and being in the flow of whatever is being offered as holy,pain of crying…
when all this hearing abt pain living it,is done…whatever lies beyond which one hasn’t grasped by now will immeditely show forth,co there’s no fantasy of heaven hell or the fear of pain anymore to stop you,when u go through that phase of taking thy cross,u might be even get crazy…just like a living jesus will look carzy in out world today….he wont be dressed in the aprons of fathers of church or arranging publik speaking lectures in hall,he may even be in a new face,u won’t recognise…its all uncertain….if one faces that uncertainity…the certain is bound to reveal…but not before…
till then it is avisable to read the bible by heart as much as you can….bible is just the indication a guide book for traveling,not the travel itself….it helps as much as the person is willin to be helped….
may god bless u,may jesus give you the courage to face yourself,and rediscover yourself…
(if u r same as yesterday how will you change? and if u stop that change,u’ll stop ur on growth…allow yourself to be taken…nothing is promised as a result…promioses of result are for the needy and weak,for those u desire kindoms of heaven…if u desire god…then leave his hell and heavensof honey and desire him only…that alone will guide u enough…)
godspeed and love…ttake care…
Boris,
I don’t think you can read whatever you want onto Jesus’ sayings. He claimed to be Lord and makes demands of his followers. The New Testament is united in affirming that worship of Christ is essential for followers of God.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
In Christ,
Bob
bob,
i am convinced that sayings of jesus must be interpreted by
jesus only. nothing more should be said over it by people
who followed him or wrote the bible.jesus never mentioned once the testaments,its other way round,what he said became the testaments.
bible is not jesus.its just a minute part of his wholeness.
when even the lepers,dumb,mute and dead could hear his call,what
prevents us today to hear him.reading the bible and working upon it is good beginning.but not the end.entering the world of jesus
what we’ll say,that we have read this book bible.
jesus would surely refute that he ever ordered a bible
to be written,in fact christian as a term is irrelevant for jesus.the followers of jesus are christians.what was christ then ? a christian ? i hope not.he/it” ” was for everyone,still is.
even a christian is a christian till he follows christ.
too much emphasis on sayings will ruin the result that christ
would have wanted.he would have never liked it,that people repeat
his sayings over and over again verbatim without understanding
why he spoke so.christ dies daily and is resurrected daily,every
ant is the brother of the nazrene.he always brought the masses
together,even those cursed him…the bible shows nothing of this
magnificence of simplicity…what have we got now is words,paintings and movies of his,a memory…how hard it will be till he rises again…god is the shepherd,but only when we dont act like a sheep…
not following the bible,is not an option coz the heart will not flourish,butonce it has,then too sticking to bible will result in effort wasted…the best bible which describes jesus was never written,it can’t be…
with lots of love and regards for the reply,
take care,
boris
There are not many who wish to talk about the suffering that goes along with following Christ. Peter told us we are to suffer in the flesh and “cease” from sin, yet many are teaching to continue in sin that grace may abound. If we don’t suffer with him, we won’t reign with him as found in scripture. We are to cease from sin and walking in the flesh. If we do so, there is a crown of righteousness for us. We are then Kings and priests unto God through Christ.