The Behavioral Choice of Taking up a Cross

Now we return to the five references within the synoptic gospels where Jesus spoke of "taking up," "bearing," or "carrying" a cross (Matt. 10:38; 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; 14:27). We have noted that the first century Jews of Palestine were well acquainted with death by crucifixion on crosses, so there is no anachronism in Jesus' prior comments about a "cross" unless we are reading into those comments reference to Jesus' own experience of crucifixion, which was yet to transpire. There is no doubt that the death of Jesus Christ on a cross was "foreknown before the foundation of the world" (1 Peter 1:20; cf. Rev. 13:8). But it occurred historically in the first century, and that historical crucifixion was subsequent to the three occasions when Jesus spoke generally of "taking up a cross."

The question we must ask is whether there is any reason to believe that Jesus intended those who heard His teaching on those occasions to postulate His own post-dated experience of crucifixion for the interpretation and meaning of His words. This is unreasonable and unnecessary and does indeed create an anachronism. We must not project our perspective of Christ's crucifixion back upon the previous words of Jesus.

On three different occasions, Jesus made general metaphorical comments about the familiar action of bearing a cross unto crucifixion. The object of a cross, to which He refers, does not have any reference to the particular cross that stood on Golgotha; nor to the historical event of Christ's crucifixion; nor to any theological or spiritual implications thereof. Jesus makes a generic and figurative reference to "a cross," to the action of cross-bearing; not to the specific cross on which Christ was crucified, nor to His crucifixion.

Each record of Jesus' comments refers to the follower of Jesus taking up "his cross." It is grammatically impossible to construe this to mean "His cross," referring to the cross of Jesus.

When Jesus said, "If any man will to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23, KJV), He was referring to a cross as a well-known instrument of death, an execution device. He was alluding to the activity of taking up a cross and carrying it to one's own crucifixion, which was a daily occurrence in that day. The imperative form of the verb "take up" implies a definite personal responsibility on the part of the one who would be His follower. Obviously, Jesus is not asking for a literal, physical response of taking up the timber of a material cross. What He says must be taken figuratively. Jesus demands that those who follow Him voluntarily allow a meta-phorical death instrument to be applied to their selfish tendencies, in order to: execute, terminate, bring to an end, allow for the absence of selfish behavioral expressions. This must be done continuously, "daily," in the midst of every situation we confront.