If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves, and take up their cross and follow me.
Mark 8:34
In first thought, Jesus seems to be asking a lot of his followers, his disciples. What does it mean to deny yourself? What does it mean to take up your cross? What does it truly mean to follow Jesus?
To deny yourself, you must say no to yourself. I'm not talking about completely denying your needs and wants, but rather, being ok with making God's will the priority.
Think of all the times you've said the "Lord's Prayer." We say, "Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." We must become thoughtful in our words and actions towards others. We must remember God's will is to love all and forgive all. God's will is to love and forgive unconditionally. This is a hard thing to do, but we are all capable because God made us in his image, he gave us the choice and potential.
So, take up your cross, and do God's will. The cross is a symbol of pain, suffering, shame, and death. As Christians, we also must see it as a symbol of Jesus's sacrifice for us. He died for our sins. We sinned, we sin, and we'll sin some more. But he forgave, he forgives, and he'll always forgive us. And so we shall sacrifice ourselves to the inevitable hurt and pain others will cause us and remember to forgive and love. That is truly the only way to spread Jesus's teachings and follow him.
Seasons of the Spirit Class (Grade 6)
Andrea Ellmore
