What did Jesus mean when He said, “Take up your cross and follow me?”

A Christian Defined, Affliction / Suffering, Christian Walk, Church community, Doctrine / Theology, NEW CHRISTIAN ORIENTATION, Salvation, SANCTIFICATION, Self-denial / Obedience, Spiritual Warfare Comments Off on What did Jesus mean when He said, “Take up your cross and follow me?”

The following 5-minute video is from the YouTube site, Got Questions Ministries; their video-page link is as follows:  https://www.youtube.com/@gotquestions/videos

Highlight points follow video:

Highlight points:

What Jesus did NOT mean:

  • “Cross” is not symbolic for some burden such as a strained relationship; illness; affliction
  • Many people, with self-pitying pride take up such a cross
  • To first century believers, the cross only meant one thing: death by the most painful and humiliating means known
  • Modern Christians cherish the symbol of the cross and view it as representative of atonement, forgiveness, grace and love
  • In Jesus’ day the cross symbolized torturous death
  • He used it in the gospels to indicate that one be willing to die to self; to surrender such that your own goals… are exchanged for His
  • Following Jesus can be easy when life goes smoothly
  • One’s true commitment to Him is revealed in how trials are faced and dealt with
  • Only those willing to take up their cross can be His disciples