Luke 9:23 (NKJV)
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
The phrase “take up his cross daily” was used by Jesus when describing the costs of following Him. Jesus actually borrowed from the prevalent verbiage in His day. A cross was a well-known instrument of cruel punishment, used by the Greeks and Romans. It was an emblem of suffering, shame and persecution.
So, when Jesus says, “…let him take up his cross,” He is saying “let him withstand persecution (i.e. difficult times).” This is the price to pay for following Jesus faithfully — trials will come at you and you are to withstand these trials.
(For a detailed study on this subject, get the sermon on “Faithfulness” by Pastor Josh Banks)
© Josh Banks Ministries. 2021.
