Lose Your Life and Pick Up Your Cross Daily

In Luke 9, Jesus is on his third tour of Galilee, when he withdraws into the regions around Galilee. Luke 9:18 finds Jesus in Caesarea Philippi, north of the Sea of Galilee. He is asking his disciples a very important question: “Who do the crowds say I am?” There are various responses and then Jesus asks, “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.” Peter was the spokesman for the disciples. I ponder, how would I have answered? Would I have been clear on who He is?

And then Jesus warned them not to tell. Why? People had false notions about the Messiah and He needed to teach more (Matt. 8:4). Jesus didn’t want to stir up popular, but mistaken expectations, that a wonder working Messiah would arise and deliver them from the Roman yoke. But unlike Jesus’ 12 disciples then, now we are to go everywhere and tell everyone about him (Matt. 28:18).

In Luke 9:22, Jesus gives his first explicit prediction of his death. He says “the Son of Man must suffer…” (This title is used 81 times in the gospels and is the most common title Jesus used for himself). He goes on to say they must take up their cross daily. To the people of that time, to follow Jesus meant self-denial, complete dedication and willing obedience. Daily meant a continued action. And the cross meant a slow death, the Roman crucifixion which they were all very familiar with. Jesus then continues with “whoever loses their life for me will save it” (Luke 9:24). There is a lot of emphasis on this; it is found in all four gospels and in two gospels more than once. 

Am I willing to lose my life daily for Christ? How is that evidenced? Not just by my daily quiet time, but also my daily walk in this world. Do I let my light shine, and do I share the good news that Christ is indeed risen from the dead and will come again!