Knowing The Word in Luke 9:23-27

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

Comments

Immediately after declaring his own suffering, Jesus told his disciples they would also suffer. While his cross and atoning death are literal, his disciples’ crosses are metaphorical with some notable exceptions. To deny oneself means not to be self-centered. These disciples had seen men taking up their own crosses and marching with Roman soldiers on a one-way journey in self-denial, leading to death. Following Christ means dying to an old life and living a new one, this time on a one-way journey to eternal life.

Paradoxically one can lose one’s life trying to save it! Trying to get the best out of life now for yourself means certain death. William Barclay writes, “The Christian must realize that he is given life, not to keep it for himself, but to spend it for others; not to husband its flame, but to burn himself out for Christ and for men.” Life lived for material gain means one is following and worshipping a false idol.

Jesus spoke of his return and the breaking in of a new order in saying some would “not taste death until they see the kingdom of God. This is a mysterious saying and not clear about what the kingdom of God is in this context. It could be referring to the resurrection. Perhaps Jesus is referring to Pentecost. It could be the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Or, it could be in reference to the Transfiguration, which we will look at next week.

Application

How do you pick up your cross daily and follow Jesus? Write down as long a list as you can to reflect on your discipleship.

Prayer

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(BCP, p. 219)