Embracing the Cross of Christ
A Day in the Life of Jesus
“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will save it.”
—Matthew 10:39 (NLT)
Jesus was never one to mince words. When He spoke to His disciples about discipleship and the cost of following Him, He did not offer a diluted version of faith that would be palatable to the masses. Instead, He prepared them for persecution, misunderstanding, and even division within their families. Matthew 10:34–39 may sound harsh at first glance, but behind the sword and the call to die is the path to real life—a life of eternal purpose.
Jesus says in Matthew 10:34, “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, rather, a sword.” This declaration often surprises modern readers, especially those who think of Jesus solely as the Prince of Peace. Yet, the Greek word here for “sword” (machaira) refers to a short sword or dagger, often symbolizing division rather than violence. Jesus is not inciting war, but preparing His followers for the inevitable divisions that His truth will cause, even within households.
R.T. France writes, “The peace Jesus brings is not a polite tolerance but a radical allegiance that disrupts the status quo” (France, The Gospel of Matthew, NICNT). Jesus’ mission is peace in the highest, but it passes through the battlefield of loyalties. Allegiance to Him may strain the most intimate of relationships. This is not a flaw in the gospel; it is its cruciform shape.
In verses 35-36, Jesus quotes Micah 7:6, showing that family conflicts were not unforeseen, but foretold. The disciple’s ultimate loyalty is not to human relationships, but to Jesus Himself. He underscores this with unsettling clarity: “If you love your father or mother more than me, you are not worthy of being mine” (v. 37). In Greek, the word for “worthy” is axios, meaning deserving or fitting. Our worthiness as disciples isn’t about earning salvation, but about aligning our affections in proper order. To love Jesus most is to love others best.
Jesus then drives the point home with a phrase that has come to define Christian discipleship: “Take up your cross and follow me” (v. 38). In first-century Judea, the cross was not a metaphor. It was an instrument of shame, suffering, and execution. The disciples would have immediately recognized the weight of this call. To carry a cross meant to die to self—to one’s desires, comforts, and even reputation.
D.A. Carson notes, “To take up one’s cross is to go to the place of death in the full knowledge that one is not coming back.” (Carson, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount). That image should shock us awake from casual Christianity. Jesus doesn’t merely ask for our Sundays or spare change. He wants our lives.
But then He offers the paradox that changes everything: “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will save it” (v. 39). This verse is both warning and invitation. Jesus is not calling us to a life of joyless sacrifice. On the contrary, He’s inviting us to the only path that leads to true and lasting joy.
So, what does this mean in our daily lives? It means that following Jesus might make us unpopular in our workplaces, even within our families. It might mean sacrificing financial security for the sake of obedience. It may mean giving up certain comforts or dreams. But Jesus promises that what we let go of in this life pales in comparison to what we gain.
The commentary in the NIV Application Bible puts it well: “Jesus calls us not just to believe in Him but to belong to Him, fully and irrevocably.”
And here’s the grace: We are not asked to take up our cross alone. Jesus walked the road to Calvary first. He has carried the ultimate cross, and now He walks with us as we carry ours. The call to lose our life for His sake is also a call to find our life in Him.
Ask yourself today: What am I clinging to for security and meaning? Is it a job title, a relationship, a bank account, or a reputation? Jesus says, “Let go.” Only with open hands can we receive the kingdom. Only in surrender can we find strength. Only in dying to self do we rise with Christ.
Following Jesus will cost you. But what you gain is life that can never be taken away.
Related Article: Read more about Counting the Cost of Discipleship at Crosswalk.com
Thank you for your study of the life of your Lord.
FEEL FREE TO COMMENT AND SHARE or email Pastor Hogg at pastorhogg@live.com
Check out our Intentional Faith podcast on Spotify for more reflections on discipleship, purpose, and the walk of faith.