[CYM] 12.0 Deny Yourself, Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me

Yeshua’s call to self-denial and taking up the cross is one of the most sobering and central commands in His teaching, defining the true cost of discipleship.

In the book of Matthew, Yeshua says, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24). This command follows Peter’s rebuke of Yeshua predicting His suffering. Yeshua makes it clear that following Him means dying to one’s own agenda and embracing sacrificial obedience, even to the point of suffering or death.

The book of Mark echoes the same call: Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Mark 8:34). Mark places this right after Peter’s confession of Yeshua as the Messiah, emphasizing that Yeshua’ path to glory includes suffering—and so does the path of those who follow Him.

In the book of Luke, Yeshua adds a key word: daily. He says, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23). Luke stresses that self-denial isn’t a one-time act but a continual surrender of self-will in favor of Messiah’s way.

While the book of John does not include the exact phrase take up your cross, Yeshua speaks of dying to self through imagery like the grain of wheat dying to produce fruit. In John 12:24–25, it says, verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

He also declares, If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour (John 12:26), pointing to the same sacrificial path.

Together, the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John teach that true discipleship involves daily self-denial, bearing burdens, and faithfully following Yeshua—no matter the cost.