When Jesus told the people in Mark 8:34 to take up the cross and follow Him, did they know what Jesus was saying since he had not yet died on the cross?
Execution by hanging on a cross was a method used for many years. It was used as a punishment by the Persians, Carthaginians and the Romans. It’s been said that while the Persians developed the cross as a means of execution, the Romans perfected that means. Normally, it would take several days for one to die once nailed upon the cross. Death would come as a result of suffocation, loss of body fluids and multiple organ failure.
Those crucified on a cross were usually those found guilty of heinous crimes. We read in Galatians 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” We also read of those criminally worthy of death in Deuteronomy 21:22-23, “And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.”
How great is our savior’s love for us that He would be “made a curse for us” by hanging on the cross and baring our sins in His own body, as we read in 1 Peter 2:24, “(Christ) his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…” There on the cross, with our sins laid upon Him, the Lord Jesus was punished by God for the sins we committed. Romans 8:32 teaches us that God, “…spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all…” God emptied His wrath on His dear Son so that through faith, we might be saved. God punished His Son for our sins, and now assures those who believe in Him that, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1).
Now let’s read Mark 8:34, “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.”
What does it mean for a person to deny himself? It is when we put the Lord and His will far above our own. One illustration of denying ourselves is when we don’t think bad of ourselves, neither do we think good of ourselves. We just don’t think about ourselves at all.
What does it mean to take up our cross? Just think of one convicted of a crime in that day and sentenced to death by crucifixion. He would be compelled to carry his cross from the prison to the place outside of the city where the crucifixions were held. (John 19:17). Along the way, they would become spectacles to the crowd of people watching. They would be mocked and jeered at by those who saw them. Yet, the convicted criminal realized he was walking towards death, and could hardly think of anything else. For the believer to carry his cross is for us to keep our eyes upon the Lord Jesus as we walk through this evil world. When we live for the Lord, we will face persecution, often in the form of mockery, jeering, and hatred. (John 15:18, 2 Timothy 3:12). Yet, we keep our eyes on the Lord and continue to follow Him. We realize there is nothing left for us in this world and we long for our heavenly home. (Philippians 3:20). The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Dear reader, do you live a life where you deny yourself and take up your cross so that you might follow our blessed savior? It is imperative we do this so we might be faithful followers of the Lord. At times, following the Lord comes at a cost…however, to honor, obey, and please our Lord Jesus is a delight to the heart that truly loves Him. (CC) (593.4)