The Power of Taking Up Your Cross

What does it take to be a disciple of Jesus?

Do you consider yourself a follower of Jesus? I would hope that you do! To be a Christian does not mean to be a philanthropist, although it may include that. It does not mean you are a person who goes to a religious institution every first day of the week, although that is certainly a huge function of it. Being a Christian does not mean you are a politically conservative, guns, guts and glory, staunchly patriotic, lover of individual liberty, although I know many, many who are. Being a Christian, if you really peel it back to its inner most layer, means simply that you are a follower of Christ. His desires are your desires, his passions are your passions, his love is your love. And Mark records a conversation Jesus had with his disciples and other followers about what it really meant to be a Christian.

As many of you are aware, it takes certain requirements to be in the military. Not just anyone can serve. The requirements get even stricter when you wish to join a specialized branch such as the Navy Seals or the Rangers. You need to be at a proper weight, have proper vision, have proper hearing. Aside from the physical requirements, there are heavy mental requirements as well. You must be willing to push yourself beyond what you think you can handle. You must be willing to give up being in close proximity with those that love you, sometimes with the realization that you may never see them again. Anyone considering being in the military must ask themselves, “do I have what it takes to do this?” One inspirational military quote goes like this: “You’ve got what it takes, but it will take everything you’ve got.”

I consider this quote to be especially accurate in describing the Christian experience of following Jesus. You see, God has given us everything we need to succeed. We have the precious blood of Jesus Christ which washes away our sins. We have the blessed Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth, and the strengthen us in time of need, and to intercede for us before the Father’s throne. We have the church, the unified body of likeminded believers who can carry us on their shoulders to help us move forward with the kindest and truest of support. We have the holy scriptures which reveal God’s word to us and are a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. God has empowered us to have what it takes to be a Christian, a follower of Christ! So, why are there so many weak Christians? Why are there so many unbelievers? Because although we’ve got what it takes, it’s going to take everything we’ve got, and many people, sadly, are unwilling to give it all.

Let’s look at what Jesus says in Mark 8:34-9:1 about what it takes to be a Christian. Jesus is speaking to his disciples and to an extended crowd of people who were presumably at least open to the possibility of following him. Look at what he says:

Mark 8:34–9:1 ESV

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

We see (things)

Following Christ takes perseverance through tribulation