Radical Discipleship
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me,
let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23
Take Up His Cross
“… take up his cross…” (Luke 9:23). When we hear these words, we think of the Cross of Calvary. But that’s not what His audience would have heard on that day. Jesus had not yet gone to the Cross, and they were not expecting Him to go to the Cross. Their perception of the cross was entirely different than ours. For them, the cross was a Roman tool of torture that led to a slow, public, agonizing death. The Romans had mastered the technique of crucifixion; your naked body exposed to the elements, bones broken, muscles screaming, vultures circling. Marcus Licinius Crassus made it infamous, crucifying 6,000 Spartacus followers along the 120-mile Appian Way after quelling their revolt in 71 BC. Crosses lined the road, each one a sign, a constant reminder: dare not to defy Rome. So … when Jesus spoke these words, “take up his cross,” it wasn’t a quaint, poetic invitation. It was a radical call to a whole new way.
His followers must’ve been wide eyed. Just exactly, how much was Jesus asking? If you want to follow, you must embrace death to self—every day! It’s not a casual call, it’s a radical invitation to discipleship, a radical invitation to daily surrender.
Deny Himself
“…let him deny himself…” The Greek aparneomai means to deny completely, to utterly reject, to disown. Roman crucifixion was final; there was no turning back. Jesus demands, if you want to follow me, you must completely deny, utterly reject, disown your inner self. You must deny “self” that would put itself on the throne of your life. Deny the “self” that craves control.
To the naïve, self-denial sounds crazy. It may even sound like self-hatred. But to those with understanding, it’s choosing to forget yourself in the presence of someone who is altogether different.
Before Calvary, Jesus’ words would have terrified His followers. What sane person would volunteer to carry the cross beam of crucifixion? And yet, your “self” is the Spartacus in you—rising against God’s reign in your life.
Before His crucifixion, this was the path that Jesus chose. When Satan tempted Him with kingdoms, He refused (Luke 4:5). When they tried to make him king, He refused (John 6:15). In Gethsemane, He denied His human will—“Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). Doubtless, He could have garnered fame and treasure for turning water to wine, multiplying the loaves and fishes, or any of supernatural deed—yet, He denied Himself.
His disciples followed His path. Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ, It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). That single verse contains the essence of Christian life. True faith is not about trying harder—it’s about dying deeper. It’s not about willpower; it’s about surrender.
Paul’s declaration that he’s been “crucified with Christ” is both poetic and deeply personal. It means the old Paul — the self-righteous Pharisee who lived for rules, status, and approval — is dead. His ego, his pride, his need to rule — all nailed to the cross with Jesus.
Daily we struggle to control, to be in charge of our lives. This is the “self” Jesus calls us to deny. Why? Because clinging to self erects a barrier between us and Him. As long as we are in command, as long as we reign, we cannot say to Him “Lord.” He cannot be the Master of our heart.
We, each of us, must come to Him. We must deny the illusion of self-sufficiency. Like Jesus, we must pray “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).
Daily
“…take up his cross daily…” Criminals didn’t carry full crosses; they were too heavy. They carried the patibulum, the crossbeam, laid across their shoulders. Naked, beaten, they staggered through mocking crowds to their fate. With each step, the crossbeam bit into their flesh. Jesus says: do this daily. Not once, not a few times, every day.
Why daily? Paul wrote, as long as you live “… the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do” (Galatians 5:16). This then, is why our self-denial must happen again and again. Hence Paul’s confession, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31).
In our pursuit of knowing Jesus, we often chase emotional highs or spiritual goosebumps. Landmark moments that change everything. Jesus doesn’t call us to a sensational experience, He calls us to a day to day surrendering.
Why daily? Because resurrection power flows in fresh surrender.
Follow Me
“… and follow me.” Your feet falling into His footsteps, your heart beating in rhythm with His, your eyes locked on the Cross. It’s not a drudgery. It’s a passion. As Paul wrote, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12 KJV). Paul said, “I passionately pursue because I am possessed.” This too is how we must follow.
Jesus promises, “Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:24). Lose the meaningless pursuits and win. Follow Him into His Word, follow Him into deeper prayer, follow Him into more meaningful service.