What does it mean to take up your cross and follow Jesus?

TL;DR:

Taking up your cross and following Jesus means being prepared to suffer for the sake of Jesus, even unto death. Taking up your cross also means dying to your fleshly desires and wants for the sake of following Christ.

what does the bible say?

The Bible teaches that Jesus would suffer and so would His followers. Messianic prophecies, such as the “Suffering Servant” passage in Isaiah 53, show that suffering would be a hallmark of the Messiah. The cross, where Jesus knew He would die, was the symbol He used to express to His disciples the suffering they would endure through following Him (Mark 8:34; Matthew 16:24–25; Luke 9:23). Early Christian epistles in the New Testament reiterated that message of taking up the cross of Christ (Galatians 6:14; 2:20; Philippians 3:10). Jesus taught that suffering would be a part of the Christian life (John 16:33). The cross Christians must bear includes prioritizing Jesus above all—including family, wealth, or anything else (Luke 14:26; Matthew 19:21–22). This message is reinforced in several New Testament letters (Romans 8:17; 2 Corinthians 1:5; Philippians 1:29; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12–13). Though the Bible teaches that believers symbolically take up their cross to follow Christ, Scripture also shows that we endure this because of love of Christ and His promise of everlasting life (Matthew 16:24–25; James 1:12). Scripture indicates that those who become Christ followers will participate in His suffering, but it also encourages us that the reward is worth the price.

from the old testament

Isaiah 53 is a Messianic prophecy, often referred to as the “Suffering Servant.” The whole chapter describes Christ's suffering, rejection, and death: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3). Jesus suffered for us, and as His followers, we must anticipate suffering for our belief in Him.

from the new testament

In Matthew 16:24–25, Jesus uses the symbol of the cross to depict the suffering His followers would need to be prepared to face: “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.’”
In John 16:33, Jesus guaranteed His followers that trials would come: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
James 1:12 describes the joyful outcome of our suffering: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

implications for today

Do you know someone who wears a cross as jewelry, maybe a cross ring or a cross charm on a necklace? Maybe you wear one. That symbol proclaims to the world that the wearer is a follower of Christ. But jewelry isn’t what Jesus meant when he told His disciples they would need to take up their cross and follow Him. He meant we would need to deny what might be precious to us in order to follow Christ. This involves more than just enduring hardship; it means actively choosing God's will over our personal desires, surrendering everything that competes with His purpose for our lives. Many in the early church made those sacrifices for Christ. Like them, we should be willing to die or suffer anything, rather than deny Jesus. Most of us will face a choice one day—Jesus or the comforts of this life. Are you ready to choose rightly? If you have doubts, pray to God to strengthen you for the cross you must carry as a follower of Christ. Denying self isn’t just about what we give up, but about living for God’s will, not our own. Willingness to carry the cross is the only acceptable attitude of a true disciple (Luke 14:27). Scripture indicates that those who become Christ followers will participate in His suffering, but that the reward is worth the price.

understand

Believers should expect to suffer for Jesus, even unto death.
Taking up the cross involves surrendering personal desires to prioritize God’s will.
Though the cross involves sacrifice, the reward of everlasting life makes it worth the price.

reflect

What are some personal desires or comforts you may need to surrender to fully follow Christ?
How do you respond when faced with the challenge of suffering or sacrifice for the sake of your faith?
How can you actively choose God's will over your own desires in daily life?

engage

What does it look like to prioritize Jesus over other important areas of life, such as family, career, or wealth?
How can we support each other in following Christ, especially when facing trials or suffering?
What are some practical ways we can remind ourselves of the eternal reward that makes the cross worth carrying?