2. Let’s begin with what Jesus didn’t mean.
Many people interpret “cross” as some
burden they must carry in their lives:
● A strained relationship
● A thankless job
● A physical illness
● And other life struggles
3. With self-pitying pride, some people
say, “That’s my cross I have to carry.”
Such an interpretation is not what
Jesus meant when He said, “Take up
your cross and follow Me.”
4. When Jesus carried His cross up
Golgotha to be crucified, no one was
thinking of the cross as symbolic of a
burden to carry.
5. To a person in the first-century, the
cross meant one thing and one thing
only: death by the most painful and
humiliating means human beings could
develop.
6. Two thousand years later, Christians view
the cross as a cherished symbol of:
● atonement
● forgiveness
● grace
● and love
7. But in Jesus’ day, the cross
represented nothing but
torturous death.
8. Because the Romans forced
convicted criminals to carry their
own crosses to the place of
crucifixion, bearing a cross meant
carrying their own execution
device while facing ridicule along
the way to death.
9. The rich and the kingdom of God
Mark 10:17-31 NIV
What are we willing to give for Jesus?
10. Mark 10:17-18 NIV
“As Jesus started on his way, a
man ran up to him and fell on his
knees before him. “Good teacher,”
he asked, “what must I do to
inherit eternal life?” “Why do you
call me good?” Jesus answered.
“No one is good—except God
alone.”
11. Mark 10:19-20 NIV
“You know the commandments:
‘You shall not murder, you shall
not commit adultery, you shall
not steal, you shall not give false
testimony, you shall not defraud,
honor your father and mother.’”
“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I
have kept since I was a boy.””
12. Mark 10:21 NIV
“Jesus looked at him and loved
him. “One thing you lack,” he said.
“Go, sell everything you have and
give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven. Then come,
follow me.”
13. Mark 10:22-23 NIV
“At this the man’s face fell. He
went away sad, because he had
great wealth. Jesus looked
around and said to his disciples,
“How hard it is for the rich to
enter the kingdom of God!””
14. Mark 10:24-25 NIV
“The disciples were amazed at his
words. But Jesus said again,
“Children, how hard it is to enter
the kingdom of God! It is easier
for a camel to go through the eye
of a needle than for someone who
is rich to enter the kingdom of
God.””
15. Mark 10:26-28 NIV
“The disciples were even more
amazed, and said to each other,
“Who then can be saved?” Jesus
looked at them and said, “With
man this is impossible, but not
with God; all things are possible
with God.” Then Peter spoke up,
“We have left everything to follow
you!””
16. Mark 10:29 NIV
““Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied,
“no one who has left home or
brothers or sisters or mother or
father or children or fields for me
and the gospel”
17. Mark 10:30-31 NIV
“will fail to receive a hundred times
as much in this present age:
homes, brothers, sisters, mothers,
children and fields—along with
persecutions—and in the age to
come eternal life. But many who
are first will be last, and the last
first.””
19. Therefore, “Take up your cross
and follow Me” means being
willing to give everything up and
die in order to follow Jesus.
20. This is called “dying to self.” It’s a
call to absolute surrender. After
each time Jesus commanded
cross bearing.
Luke 9:24
21. Luke 9:23-24 NIV
“Then he said to them all:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple
must deny themselves and take up
their cross daily and follow me. For
whoever wants to save their life
will lose it, but whoever loses their
life for me will save it.”
22. Luke 9:25-26 NIV
“What good is it for someone to
gain the whole world, and yet lose
or forfeit their very self? Whoever
is ashamed of me and my words,
the Son of Man will be ashamed of
them when he comes in his glory
and in the glory of the Father and
of the holy angels.”
23. He said, “For whoever wants to
save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for me will
save it. What good is it for a man
to gain the whole world, and yet
lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke
9:24-25). Although the call is
tough, the reward is matchless.
24. Wherever Jesus went, He drew
crowds. Although these
multitudes often followed Him as
Messiah, their view of who the
Messiah really was—and what He
would do—was distorted.
25. They wanted an militant Judas Maccabeus
● They thought the Christ would usher in the
restored kingdom
● They believed He would free them from the
oppressive rule of their Roman occupiers.
Many of the shocked followers rejected Him.
Truly, they were not able to put to death their
own ideas, plans, and desires, and exchange
them for His.
26. Following Jesus is easy when life
runs smoothly; our true
commitment to Him is revealed
during trials. Jesus assured us that
trials will come to His followers
(John 16:33). Discipleship demands
sacrifice, and Jesus never hid that
cost.
27. John 16:31-32 NIV
““Do you now believe?” Jesus
replied. “A time is coming and in
fact has come when you will be
scattered, each to your own home.
You will leave me all alone. Yet I
am not alone, for my Father is with
me.”
28. John 16:33 NIV
““I have told you these things, so
that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome
the world.””
29. The cost of following Jesus
Luke 9:57-59 NIV
“As they were walking along the road, a
man said to him, “I will follow you
wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes
have dens and birds have nests, but the
Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and
bury my father.””
30. Luke 9:60-62 NIV
“Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury
their own dead, but you go and
proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still
another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but
first let me go back and say goodbye to
my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who
puts a hand to the plow and looks back
is fit for service in the kingdom of God.””
31. Jesus appeared to dissuade them
from earthly matters.
How different from the typical
Gospel presentation!
32. How many people would respond
to an altar call that went, “Come
follow Jesus, and you may face the:
● loss of friends
● family
● reputation
● career
● And possibly even your life
33. The number of false converts
would likely decrease! Such a call
is what Jesus meant when He
said, “Take up your cross and
follow Me.”
34. If you wonder if you are ready to
take up your cross, consider
these questions:
● Are you willing to follow Jesus if it
means losing some of your
closest friends?
● Are you willing to follow Jesus if it
means alienation from your
family?
35. ● Are you willing to follow Jesus
if it means the loss of your
reputation?
● Are you willing to follow Jesus
if it means losing your job?
● Are you willing to follow Jesus
if it means losing your life?
