Daily Devotional for Saturday, April 26, 2025

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What Does It Truly Mean to Deny Yourself, Take Up Your Cross, and Follow Jesus?

A Daily Devotional on Christian Living Based on Matthew 16:24

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.’” — Matthew 16:24

The call of Jesus to His disciples in Matthew 16:24 stands at the heart of true Christian discipleship. Spoken directly after Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16), and immediately following Jesus’ first clear prediction of His impending suffering, death, and resurrection (Matthew 16:21), this statement presents the cost of following the Messiah in unmistakable terms. It is not an invitation to casual belief, nor a call to mere admiration—it is the summons to full surrender, total commitment, and radical self-denial.

These words were spoken in approximately 29–30 C.E. during Jesus’ ministry in the region of Caesarea Philippi, a Gentile territory known for pagan worship. Here, in a context where many competing allegiances were evident, Jesus draws a sharp line between true discipleship and superficial association. To be His disciple is not merely to acknowledge His identity but to walk the path He walks—the path of suffering, obedience, and self-sacrifice.

This declaration remains as relevant today as it was in the first century. In an age where Christianity is often reduced to a cultural label, emotional experience, or social affiliation, the true nature of discipleship as defined by Jesus stands as both a challenge and a corrective. The demand to deny oneself, to take up one’s cross, and to follow Christ is the defining mark of authentic faith.

This devotional will examine the meaning of each element of Jesus’ call, explore its implications for the believer’s daily life, and emphasize why these words cannot be softened or dismissed without forfeiting the essence of the gospel.

“If Anyone Wants to Come After Me” — The Open Invitation to All

Jesus begins with an inclusive statement: “If anyone wants to come after me.” The word θέλει (thelei), translated “wants,” conveys desire or will. This is not about coercion. The choice to follow Christ is voluntary, yet it is the only path that leads to life (zōē aiōnion, ζωήν αἰώνιον). The invitation is open to “anyone,” regardless of background, status, ethnicity, or history of sin. But while the call is universal, the terms are non-negotiable.

The phrase “come after me” signifies more than physical following. It means to align one’s life under Jesus’ authority, to submit fully to His leadership, to walk where He leads. It is the language of discipleship—not of admiration, but of commitment. To “come after” Jesus is to renounce personal agendas and to pursue His will as the supreme aim of life.

This contrasts sharply with the modern notion that belief in Jesus is merely mental assent or emotional agreement. Jesus does not say, “If anyone believes facts about me,” but “If anyone wants to come after me.” Faith in Scripture is always more than belief—it is belief that obeys (James 2:17–26; Hebrews 5:9). To desire Christ rightly is to be ready to follow Him fully.

“He Must Deny Himself” — The Call to Self-Renunciation

The first requirement Jesus states is that the disciple must deny himself. The verb ἀπαρνησάσθω (aparnēsasthō), “deny,” means to disown, to renounce, to refuse association with. It is the same word used when Peter denies Jesus three times (Matthew 26:70–74), expressing complete disavowal. Here, Jesus calls the believer to disavow self—not in the sense of rejecting one’s personhood, but in the sense of renouncing self-rule, self-interest, and self-exaltation.

Self-denial is the abandonment of personal sovereignty. It is the rejection of the right to direct one’s own life independently of Christ. This does not mean self-hatred or asceticism for its own sake but speaks of a decisive turning away from the dominance of self-centered desires.

Paul captures this principle when he writes, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). The disciple is no longer the center of his own existence—Christ is. This self-denial touches every area of life: ambitions, relationships, possessions, and reputation. It calls for the surrender of personal dreams if they conflict with God’s will.

This stands in contrast to a self-focused religion that seeks to use God as a means to personal fulfillment. Jesus’ call is not about enhancing self—it is about crucifying it. True discipleship begins where self-assertion ends.

“Take Up His Cross” — Embracing the Path of Suffering and Obedience

The second requirement is to take up his cross. In the first-century context, the cross was not yet a religious symbol; it was an instrument of execution, shame, and public humiliation. Crucifixion was the most brutal form of capital punishment used by the Romans. For Jesus to tell His followers to take up their cross was to command them to embrace the willingness to die—to endure suffering, loss, and rejection for His sake.

The phrase “take up” (ἀράτω, aratō) implies active choice. The cross is not something inflicted upon the believer by circumstance alone—it is something the believer willingly bears as a consequence of choosing to follow Jesus. It represents submission to whatever trials, persecutions, or sacrifices obedience to Christ may entail.

This command does not apply only to the original apostles or martyrs. It is the universal call of discipleship. Every believer must be ready to suffer for the name of Christ, whether that suffering comes in the form of persecution, social rejection, personal loss, or the daily struggle against sin.

Paul echoes this teaching in Romans 8:17: “If indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” The cross-bearing life is not an optional path for the particularly zealous; it is the only path to glory. Jesus Himself warns, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27).

The modern tendency to downplay the cost of discipleship or to present the gospel as a means to personal comfort directly contradicts this teaching. The cross is not an accessory to be worn—it is a daily reality to be embraced.

“And Follow Me” — Lifelong Obedience to Christ

Finally, Jesus says, “and follow me.” The verb ἀκολουθείτω (akoloutheitō) means to accompany, to go where someone leads. It is present tense, indicating ongoing action—continuous following, not a one-time decision.

To follow Christ is to imitate His life, obey His commands, and pursue His mission. It is to walk as He walked (1 John 2:6), to love as He loved (John 13:34–35), and to serve as He served (Mark 10:45). Discipleship is not static belief—it is dynamic obedience.

Following Jesus requires endurance. It is not a sprint but a marathon, requiring perseverance through trials and faithfulness to the end. Jesus warns that many will begin the journey but fail to complete it (Matthew 13:20–21). The call to “follow me” is a call to keep following, regardless of difficulty or cost.

This following is not blind; it is informed by the Word of God. The disciple listens to the Shepherd’s voice through Scripture and walks according to His revealed will. It is not following feelings or personal impressions—it is following the commands and example of Christ as recorded in the gospel.

The Broader Context: Losing Life to Gain Life

The verses that follow Matthew 16:24 reinforce and explain the cost of discipleship. Jesus continues, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25). The paradox of the gospel is that true life is found only through surrender. Attempting to cling to self-preservation leads to loss, but giving oneself fully to Christ leads to life eternal.

The question Jesus poses in verse 26 remains one of the most sobering in Scripture: “For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul?” Success, wealth, recognition—none of these can compensate for the loss of the soul. Only by denying self, bearing the cross, and following Jesus can one attain the life that truly satisfies.

Application: Living Out Self-Denial and Cross-Bearing Today

The call of Matthew 16:24 is not confined to the historical disciples—it speaks directly to every Christian today. The self-denial Jesus commands touches every area of life:

Are my ambitions surrendered to Christ?
Are my relationships governed by His will?
Do I prioritize His kingdom above personal comfort?
Am I willing to endure hardship for the sake of righteousness?

Cross-bearing may not always mean literal martyrdom, but it always means sacrifice. It means saying no to sin, enduring mockery or exclusion for one’s faith, and resisting the temptation to live for self-interest. It means standing for truth when it is unpopular and loving sacrificially even when it is costly.

Following Jesus is not a private, passive belief—it is a public, active journey of obedience. It requires daily choices to submit to His authority, to embrace whatever challenges come with that submission, and to keep walking in faith.

Conclusion: The Unchanging Call of True Discipleship

Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:24 remain the defining statement of what it means to be His disciple. To deny self, take up the cross, and follow Him is not radical Christianity—it is Christianity. Anything less falls short of the gospel He proclaimed.

This call demands more than attendance at worship services or intellectual agreement with doctrine. It calls for the surrender of the will, the embrace of sacrifice, and the unwavering pursuit of Christ. The reward is not ease or worldly success, but the joy of fellowship with the Savior and the hope of eternal life.

Let us hear this call afresh. Let us examine our lives in its light. And let us respond not with hesitation but with the wholehearted commitment that the Lord of glory deserves.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).