The Cost of Discipleship: "Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me"
The call to follow Jesus Christ is often presented as a simple invitation to receive salvation, a free gift offered by grace through faith. While this truth stands paramount in the Gospel, the Lord Jesus Himself frequently emphasized a deeper, more demanding aspect of becoming His follower: the cost of discipleship. It is a summons not merely to believe, but to commit one's entire being, to embark upon a path that requires radical self-denial and unwavering devotion. The stark phrase, "Take up your cross, and follow me," encapsulates this profound truth, challenging superficial understanding and inviting a true reckoning of what it means to be a disciple of the Son of God.
The Call to Self-Denial: Losing Your Life to Find It
Jesus' words concerning taking up one's cross are found in multiple Gospel accounts, consistently linked with the necessity of self-denial. In Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, and Luke 9:23, the Lord sets forth a clear prerequisite for true discipleship:
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
To "deny himself" is not a call to asceticism for its own sake, but a profound renunciation of the autonomous self that seeks to live independently of God. It means dethroning self from the center of one's universe and enthroning Christ. It is a daily crucifixion of the fleshly desires, ambitions, and comforts that war against the Spirit (Galatians 5:17). This self-denial extends to our own will, our personal agenda, and even our perceived rights. It is an acknowledgment that our life is no longer our own, but has been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20).
To "take up his cross" evokes the image of a condemned man carrying his instrument of execution. In Jesus' day, the cross symbolized public shame, excruciating suffering, and ultimate death. For the disciple, it signifies a willingness to embrace whatever reproach, hardship, or suffering may come as a result of following Christ. It is a commitment to die to sin, to the world, and to one's own ego, so that Christ may live through us (Galatians 2:20). This is the paradox of the Gospel: that by losing our life for Christ's sake, we truly find it.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
This means surrendering our comfort zones, our reputations, and our selfish desires. It demands a posture of humility and obedience, allowing God's will to supersede our own in every area of life.
Renouncing Worldly Affections and Possessions
The cost of discipleship also involves a reordering of our affections and a detachment from worldly possessions. Jesus did not shy away from challenging the priorities of those who sought to follow Him. Consider the rich young ruler in Matthew 19, who, despite his apparent righteousness, was unwilling to part with his great possessions to follow Christ. Jesus told him:
If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
This passage reveals that true discipleship often requires a willingness to surrender material wealth, not because wealth is inherently evil, but because it can become an idol that competes for our ultimate loyalty. The Lord is not always calling us to literal poverty, but He is always calling us to absolute spiritual poverty, acknowledging our complete dependence on Him and holding all earthly things loosely, as stewards rather than owners.
Furthermore, Jesus' words in Luke 14:26 are perhaps the most jarring in their demand for supreme allegiance:
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
This is not a call to literal hatred, which is contrary to the spirit of Christ. Rather, it is a Semitic idiom signifying a love for Christ that is so profound, so absolute, that all other loves – even the most cherished familial bonds and self-preservation – pale in comparison and appear as "hatred" when placed alongside the preeminence of Christ. Our love for Christ must be so singularly devoted that if our family, friends, or even our own desires conflict with His will, we choose Him without hesitation. This underscores the exclusivity of Christ's claim on our lives; He demands first place, always.
Counting the Cost: The Parables of Commitment
Lest anyone enter discipleship lightly, Jesus provided parables to illustrate the necessity of carefully counting the cost. In Luke 14:28-33, He speaks of a man building a tower and a king going to war:
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
These parables are not meant to discourage discipleship, but to ensure that those who embark upon it do so with full awareness and resolute commitment. Discipleship is not a whimsical decision but a weighty covenant. It requires forethought, understanding, and a willingness to see the journey through to its completion, no matter the obstacles. The concluding statement, "whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple," reinforces the radical nature of this call. It is an all-or-nothing proposition, a full surrender of our lives, our possessions, and our future to Him.
The Paradoxical Reward: True Life and Eternal Glory
While the cost of discipleship is undeniably high, the rewards far outweigh any earthly sacrifice. Jesus promised that those who lose their life for His sake will find it (Matthew 16:25). This "life" is not merely eternal existence, but a quality of life characterized by divine purpose, peace, and joy even amidst tribulation. It is a life lived in communion with the Creator, empowered by His Spirit, and directed by His divine will.
The disciple gains:
- Intimate Relationship with Christ: Walking daily with the Lord, knowing His voice, and experiencing His presence.
- Spiritual Riches: Treasures in heaven that moth and rust cannot corrupt (Matthew 6:19-20).
- Divine Purpose: Participating in God's eternal plan and bearing fruit for His kingdom (John 15:8).
- Eternal Life: The promise of everlasting fellowship with God in glory (John 3:16).
The temporary sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). The cost of discipleship, though demanding, is ultimately a small price to pay for an eternity with Christ and a life of profound meaning and purpose in the present.
A Daily Commitment: The Narrow Way
Discipleship is not a one-time decision but a continuous journey. Luke's account adds the word "daily" to the command to take up one's cross (Luke 9:23). This signifies an ongoing commitment, a daily surrender, and a persistent pursuit of Christlikeness. It is the "narrow way, which leadeth unto life," and "few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:14). This path requires perseverance, self-discipline, and reliance on the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance.
The cost of discipleship is high because the prize is invaluable. It is a call to radical abandonment to Christ, a life lived not for self, but for the glory of God. It promises not ease, but purpose; not comfort, but character; not worldly acclaim, but eternal reward.
Conclusion: Are We Willing to Pay the Price?
The call to "take up your cross and follow me" remains as challenging and uncompromising today as it was two millennia ago. It is a call to a life of complete surrender, daily self-denial, and supreme allegiance to Jesus Christ above all else. It demands that we forsake our own agenda, our worldly affections, and our self-preservation instincts for the sake of the Kingdom of God. The cost is high, but the alternative—a life lived apart from the will and presence of God—is far more costly in the eternal scheme of things.
As believers, we must honestly evaluate whether we are truly willing to pay the price. Are we ready to deny ourselves, bear our cross daily, and follow Him without reservation? For in doing so, we not only fulfill the true meaning of discipleship but also discover the abundant, eternal life that Christ alone can offer. Let us, therefore, with sober minds and resolute hearts, embrace the cost, knowing that our labour is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).