What Does It Mean to Take Up Your Cross?

This phrase gets thrown around a lot in Christian circles, usually when someone is going through something hard.

“That’s just my cross to bear.”

But when Jesus told His followers to take up their cross, He wasn’t talking about inconvenience, discomfort, or even suffering in general. He was talking about death. Public, humiliating, Roman execution.

So when we soften that language or use it to talk about frustrating coworkers or annoying responsibilities, we miss the gravity of what Jesus actually meant.

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”
Matthew 16:24 (ESV)

This wasn’t metaphorical for the people hearing it. They had seen crucifixions. They knew exactly what Jesus was referencing. The cross was a tool of torture and shame. So for Jesus to say, “Take it up and follow Me” was a call to complete surrender. Not just in theory, but in lifestyle, obedience, and even suffering.

Taking Up Your Cross Means Death to Self

That’s the starting point. Following Jesus means dying to your pride, your plans, your preferences, and your sin. It means laying down your rights to pick up His call.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

We don’t get to follow Jesus and stay exactly the same. The call to take up your cross is a call to let go of self-rule. It’s the death of the idea that life is about you. The cross exposes the lie that you can serve God and still live for your own glory.
→ If you’re unsure what’s actually biblical and what just sounds spiritual, this post will help you test it.

Taking Up Your Cross Means Daily Surrender

Luke records Jesus as saying:

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 (ESV)

That word “daily” matters. This isn’t a one-time decision. It’s not just about big dramatic moments of faith. It’s about the slow, unseen obedience that happens in the ordinary. Saying no to sin. Saying yes to the hard thing. Forgiving again. Choosing integrity when no one’s watching. Letting go of control when you really want to take charge.

Taking up your cross isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a lifestyle of humility.
→ If you’ve struggled to trust the Church after being hurt, here’s how I’ve wrestled with that without walking away from Jesus.

Taking Up Your Cross Means You Don’t Get to Pick the Path

Jesus never said, “Take up your cross and I’ll give you the life you always dreamed of.” He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” Which means He leads. You follow. And sometimes that path goes straight through suffering, loss, or waiting.

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)

If your version of Christianity never costs anything, you’re probably not carrying a cross. The call to follow Jesus has always been a call to die. Not just to sin, but to comfort. To reputation. To cultural acceptance. Even to safety. Jesus doesn’t call us to ease. He calls us to faithfulness.
→ Here’s how to navigate doubt and hard seasons without losing sight of the gospel.

Taking Up Your Cross Is Not About Earning God’s Love

This is important. The cross isn’t about proving yourself. It’s about responding to grace. Jesus isn’t asking you to suffer so you can be accepted. He already secured your acceptance on His cross. He’s asking you to surrender because you’ve already been set free.

“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.’”
Luke 9:23–24 (ESV)

The world says cling to your life. Protect your peace. Chase your dream. But Jesus says let it go. Die to it. Because real life is only found in Him. And you can’t follow Him while clinging to everything He’s calling you to leave behind.

If You’re Ready to Carry the Cross, Count the Cost

Don’t romanticize it. Jesus didn’t. He told people to count the cost before following Him.

If you want to live a life that matters, you’re going to have to die to one that doesn’t. Carrying your cross means you may lose things the world celebrates. But you’ll gain what the world can never offer: intimacy with the One who carried a literal cross for you.
→ This breakdown of Philippians will give you deeper context on what it means to suffer well and still rejoice.

“And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
Matthew 10:38 (ESV)

This is the call. Not to comfort. Not to status. But to Jesus.

And if you want to keep learning what this walk really looks like—not watered down, not overcomplicated—join my Weekly Bible Study. We dig into the hard truths and walk them out together.

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