Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus - Matthew 10



"Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." - Matthew 10:1,6-8,16 

 In chapter 9, we observed Jesus doing all kinds of work healing the lame, the mute, and every other type of malady.  Matthew says that Jesus ministered to all of those who were brought to him healing every disease and sickness.   At the end of the chapter when Jesus looked around at his sheep, they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.  And he sized up the situation saying, "The harvest is plentiful and the workers are few".  So today Jesus sends out his disciples to preach, teach and heal like he did. But he gives them some sobering words about what they are going to encounter. 


  • "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves."
  • "Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues."
  • "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.You will be hated by everyone because of me."
  • "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."
You have to wonder what the disciples were thinking at this point.  "Did I sign up for this?" "Thanks but no thanks Jesus!"  Jesus sums up his words with these well known words, 

 "Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."

 Remember the cross is the symbol of death.  To take up one's cross means to die.  As we read further after the gospels, we know the disciples did what Jesus commanded them to do, and experienced the things he predicted.  And this is a pattern that has happened throughout church history when Jesus' disciples have engaged a world often hostile to Christianity. 

 The question I ask myself is what does it mean for me to take up my cross and follow Jesus?  Where do I choose safety over obedience?  Where do I choose comfort over courage?  Where would I rather walk past the cross then pick it up?  

 Jesus ends with a promise.  Those who lose their life will find it.  As we lay down our lives and pick up our cross, we will find the true joy of following Jesus.  And we know that whatever we go through he will be there with us.  He will give us the words to say when we don't have them.  He will give us His strength when we are out of it.  And as we journey with Jesus, He will provide people along the way to give us a cup of cold water and place to stay when we need it.  

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