How to Carry Your Own Cross Daily (Preparing for Easter)

 As Christians, the journey of following Jesus involves more than just a single moment of commitment it is a daily decision to walk in His footsteps. One of the most powerful and sobering calls that Jesus made to His disciples was the invitation to take up their own cross. In Luke 9:23, Jesus said:

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)

These words are a profound reminder that the path of discipleship is not easy. It is a path of self-denial, sacrifice, and surrender. But what does it really mean to "carry your own cross" daily, and how can we apply this to our lives as we prepare for Easter?

1. Understanding the Cross: A Symbol of Sacrifice

In the time of Jesus, the cross was a brutal symbol of death and shame. It was reserved for criminals, the outcasts of society. So, when Jesus tells us to take up our cross, He is not referring to a burden or inconvenience in our lives. Instead, He is calling us to embrace a radical self-denial and willingness to suffer for His sake.

Jesus' own journey to the cross was one of supreme sacrifice. He was willing to lay down His life for us, even though He was without sin. John 15:13 says:

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Taking up our cross daily means being willing to lay down our own desires, comfort, and even our own lives for the sake of following Jesus. It’s not just about enduring hardship; it’s about willingly choosing the path of sacrifice in order to serve God and others.

2. Denying Yourself: The First Step to Carrying Your Cross

Jesus makes it clear that carrying our cross involves self-denial. This is the first step in following Him. To deny oneself means to relinquish control over our own desires and ambitions. It requires us to surrender our will to God’s greater purpose. Jesus modeled this perfectly in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He prayed:

“Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

When we deny ourselves, we are choosing to align our lives with God’s will, even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable. Self-denial is not about rejecting ourselves, but about choosing God's will over our own. It is a daily choice to place God's desires above our own, trusting that His plans are always better for us than our own.

3. Embracing Suffering as Part of Discipleship

To carry our own cross means to embrace suffering as an integral part of the Christian journey. Jesus never promised that following Him would be easy. In fact, He warned His disciples that they would face persecution and hardship for His sake. In Matthew 16:24, He said:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

This isn’t a call to seek suffering for the sake of suffering, but rather to recognize that suffering is a natural part of living out our faith. Just as Jesus suffered for the salvation of the world, we too are called to endure hardships for the sake of His Kingdom.

The apostle Paul encourages us to view suffering through a different lens. In Romans 8:17, he writes:

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

When we experience suffering in the name of Jesus, we are participating in the suffering of Christ and sharing in His glory. Our pain and sacrifice are not in vain they are a means through which God shapes and refines us.

4. Following Jesus: The Ultimate Example of Carrying the Cross

At the heart of carrying our own cross is the call to follow Jesus. The way to carry our cross is to keep our eyes fixed on the example of Jesus. He didn’t ask us to do something He didn’t first do Himself.

In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul writes about the humility of Christ:

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

Jesus, the Son of God, humbled Himself and chose the cross for our sake. His life of obedience, humility, and self-sacrifice is the model for us to follow. The journey of carrying our own cross involves submitting to God's will and walking in the footsteps of Christ, even when the path is difficult.

5. Daily Commitment: Taking Up the Cross Every Day

The key word in Jesus' command is "daily." We are not asked to carry our cross once or only during seasons of hardship; we are called to take it up every day. This is a daily commitment to follow Jesus, to die to our flesh, and to live for God’s purposes.

In Galatians 2:20, Paul writes:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Taking up our cross daily means living with the awareness that our lives are no longer our own. We are crucified with Christ, and it is now His life that we live. Every day, we are called to deny ourselves, choose God’s will, and follow the example of Christ, trusting that He will strengthen us to endure whatever comes our way.

6. The Blessings of Carrying Your Cross

While carrying our cross involves sacrifice, it also brings great rewards. Jesus assures us that following Him is worth it. In Matthew 16:25, He says:

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

When we choose to carry our cross when we deny ourselves for the sake of Christ we are not losing our lives, but finding them. In surrendering our lives to Him, we discover true freedom, joy, and peace. The cross, though it may be heavy, leads us to the abundant life that Jesus promises.

As we approach Easter, let us reflect on the call to carry our own cross daily. Jesus bore the ultimate burden for us, and in response, we are invited to walk in His steps, embracing His sacrifice, His humility, and His love. Through carrying our own cross, we find the power of resurrection and the promise of eternal life with Him.

Conclusion: Embrace the Cross, Embrace the Life

Carrying your cross is not about seeking suffering for the sake of suffering, but about embracing the sacrificial life of following Jesus. It is a life of self-denial, obedience, and commitment. As we prepare for Easter, let us remember that Jesus carried His cross for our salvation. In turn, we are called to take up our cross daily, follow Him, and trust that through our sacrifices, God will work in us to bring about His glory.

May this Easter season remind us that the cross is not just something Jesus bore for us it is a call for us to bear, as well. As we carry our cross, we experience the power of resurrection and the fullness of life in Christ.