Hi CWB34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Jesus says this several times but what does it really mean? Does it mean different things to different people at even different times? Thoughts?
You've quoted Mark 8:34
This reminds me of Mathew 5:11-12
There are 3 parts to what Jesus said in Mark 8:34
First of all, He called the people unto Him. If you don't hear Jesus telling you to do something, you will not be able to do it.
1. "He must deny himself"
To me this means that I must think of the other person before I think of myself. It means to do what is good for that other person. When possible, of course.
2. "He must take up his cross"
A cross is not a pleasant thing to pick up. A cross means that there is suffering. He wants us to pick it up, even though it may cause suffering.
3. "And follow Me"
Jesus is Lord. So we must follow Him.
Where will He lead us? Only to green pastures? No.
We live here and our life will not always be easy. But we're to follow Him anyway and trust that whatever happens to us is in God's will. Just like Jesus prayed in the Garden.
I remember learning when I was a new Christian that when we do something in service --- it could be anything, driving our kids to school, making dinner, caring for a sick person, anything --- we should not think we're doing it for the person because some things will become difficult to do.
We should always consider that we are doing it for God and in this way everything will seem easier for us.
It seems to me that when we think of others, we find more satisfaction in living in the Kingdom and what we do seems to turn out better.
So even when others think we're wrong (Mathew 5:11) we should still do what we believe is from God. The secular man gives us wrong advice.