Coming After Christ

Disciples follow their masters. Coming after a master certainly means following in his footsteps, learning what he has learned, experiencing the good, the bad, and the ugly that he has experienced.

Jesus fully expected that His disciples would come after Him. Matthew 16, Mark 8, and Luke 9 each record a lengthy statement from Jesus which deals with the disciples following Him. I want to deal with one sentence from Jesus charge to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23 NASU)

Many have explained this directive from Jesus to mean that Christians are to deny themselves various worldly pleasures. It can mean that and surely a penitent and prayerful Christian can derive benefit from fasting of any number of worldly pleasures. However, it seems to me that there is a more important point that Christ is making. Others have pointed to some trouble, pain, burden, illness, injury, etc. in their lives and said, “That is my cross to bear.” I am quite sure that is not Christ’s point in this passage.

Partly because Christ ends this passage by pointing out the future glorification of the disciples, I think a case can be made that redemption and sanctification are both pictured in this one sentence, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23 NASU)

“Wishing to come after Christ” is closely akin to repentance, for certainly as lost people we were walking or running away from Christ. Choosing to follow Christ necessitates a change in direction, which pictures repentance. Rather than denying worldly pleasures or things it seems that “denying self” refers to my admission that there is nothing within me that could bring about my salvation. I was absolutely guilty before God and His law. I was not capable of saving myself. I was dead in my sin. I had no spark of life in me. Even my faith was a gift from God.

Without His prompting and His revelation of Himself to me, I would never have chosen Him. This seems to be the point of “denying myself.” I deny any ability on my part to save myself.

Choosing to follow Christ sounds a lot like coming to Him in faith, accepting His gift of salvation. It seems to me that “taking up my cross” refers to appropriating Christ’s cross as my own. In other words, I accept His work on the cross as my own. His finished work is sufficient for my salvation.

“Taking up my cross” would also seem to include identifying with Christ in humiliation, suffering, and death. Philippians 3:9-10 puts it this way, “the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” (NASU)

Comparing some tribulation in my life to Christ’s cross seems offensive to me. There simply is no comparison there. Luke adds the word “daily” which Matthew and Mark omit. “Daily” gives an indication that there is an ongoing process to this “taking up the cross.”

The Christian is called to sanctification, which is an ever increasing process of being conformed to the image of Christ. “Daily” identifying with Christ of the cross is a sure way of being made like Christ. “Daily denying myself” by denying any power in my own strength, wisdom, etc. seems another certain way of being sanctified.

Does anyone want to come after Christ?

You can email Pastor Ellison at [email protected].