Matthew 16:24 English Standard Version

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Do not answer the question posed yesterday until Jesus asks.

What happened in all the passages before these Disciples of Christ were asked this very question?

Matthew 9:9 English Standard Version

Jesus Calls Matthew

⁹ As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

It would appear that Matthew understood what Jesus was saying to him in that moment. There was no debating over what was to come next or what it would cost Matthew to leave his job. We do not know what was going on in Matthew’s life at that time. We can gather from the scriptures how people felt about Jews who were tax collectors. We can only imagine what stirred Matthew to get up and leave his job.

The larger point here is that Jesus said follow me. There was no historical significance for Matthew in what was to come next. He just obeyed.  We have the sayings, deeds, conflicts, observations, teachings, parables, conclusions and consequences that occurred before Jesus got around to asking this question in Matthew 16:24.

These men followed Jesus for some time and endured many things before He ask them the question “If anyone would come after me”. Note that Jesus did not say if anyone would follow me because they were already following Jesus. Coming after Jesus has a meaning that is more substantial than simply following Jesus. We should consider that before we answer the question and we should definitely wait on Him to ask it of us.

Matthew 16:24 English Standard Version

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

What do you see here?

If we begin with Jesus, then what we see here should begin with what He says. It is extremely important to listen. Here Jesus said this statement to His disciples.

Are we disciples of Christ? If we answer yes, then ask ourselves earnestly if we truly understand what that means. Are we students? If yes, who is our teacher? Those 12 disciples sat at the feet of Jesus and knew Him face to face? Do we know Him face to face? Can we see Him, listen to Him, believe Him, obey Him, or are we relying on some human entity to tell us what to think and how to act?

Is being a disciple a personal identity or is it a discipline? Have we explored our personal identity in Christ adequately enough to know if we are even asking the right questions? A student that does not ask relevant questions is not participating in their own education.

The second question here is a personal challenge. Would we come after Jesus? While it is a choice, what do we see in that choice? Do we see Him as our teacher, our Lord, our Savior, our friend, or connection to a better life? He said He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The first Christian were called Way followers, is that what we are in following Christ? Do we understand the Way? Do we know the Way?

The same goes for Truth and Life? Before we make this choice, do we know what we are asking of ourselves? Have we understood what is being asked of us in the quest to follow Jesus?

Do we know what we are getting ourselves into by saying yes?