The Meaning of Carrying Your Cross

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:27 (RSV)

As a child, I often heard people say they were "carrying their cross." When faced with difficulties, this expression seemed to bring them comfort. Although I knew it referred to Jesus' cross, I couldn't quite connect Jesus' situation with their own. I only understood, from their attitude, that life's problems symbolized the cross of Christ. I grew up with this idea in mind, but I never used the expression myself when I encountered obstacles. I knew it was my problem and that I had to rely on God.

It wasn't until I was finally able to study the Bible and understand the contexts that I realized that, while the expression brought them comfort, they didn't truly understand it themselves. If Christ bore the cross for our sins, if He suffered for our salvation, if He was rejected because He was doing His Father's will, then we who have accepted Him as our Savior must also suffer. That is the true meaning of carrying one's cross. Jesus wanted to prepare His disciples to be rejected, humiliated, beaten, and even to die for His name. It was like a revelation when I finally understood this expression.

The problems you face are the consequences of sin. You live in a fallen world where everything goes against God's word, a world where Satan reigns over all; it's normal that you encounter difficulties from all sides. While these difficulties may discourage you, they are not the cross you must bear. Your cross is when the world around you rejects you because of your faith, when you lose your job because you refuse to submit to a corrupt system, when your children turn against you because you try to teach them God's word. This is the cross Jesus was talking about. Are you ready to carry it to the end?

May the grace and peace of God be with you all.