Monday, March 31, 2025
New Testament Reading Plan: Matthew 16
The time the disciples spent with Jesus must have felt like a dream. Obscure and confusing scriptures suddenly made sense. People were physically and spiritually healed. Jesus’ followers must have been eagerly anticipating the moment he would overthrow the Romans and restore glory to Israel. But then Jesus began predicting his death, and that put a damper on the whole experience (Matthew 16:21).
If that were not confusing enough, he told his followers not to expect places of honor but a cross of suffering.
Matthew 16:24-25
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”
The cross was reserved for the worst of criminals and slaves. Why would Jesus be telling them that they had a cross to bear? How do you save your life by giving it up?
Jesus’ instructions to his disciples equally apply to us. If we want to follow Jesus we must take up our crosses. If we try to save our lives, we will lose them; if we give them up, we will save them. We see throughout the book of Acts how these original disciples of Jesus willingly gave up their lives. All were beaten and imprisoned, and many died a martyr’s death. Yet, they wore their suffering as a badge of honor. Acts 5, 7, and 12 all include details about the persecution the disciples and early Church members faced.
Today, Christians around the world are suffering for their faith in Jesus—many give up their lives. In America, we don’t have to worry about being killed for our faith, but we are called to bear our cross. It might involve losing a job, a relationship, or an identity. It will likely be more emotionally painful than physically painful, but it will still hurt.
When we hold onto our own lives, we might maintain our comfort in this world. But, we will lose it for eternity. It’s in the denial of self that we ultimately live in freedom. When Jesus asks you to give up something, he does not leave that void empty. He fills it abundantly and gives you eternity to enjoy his presence.
Questions:
What is the cross God is asking you to bear? What are you being asked to give up in order to really live?
Next Steps:
Spend some time in prayer this week and ask God to reveal the things you’re clinging to for life. If you have a particular struggle that is holding you captive, find a godly friend to help you break the ties that are keeping you from life in Christ.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you are my ultimate example of living with eternity in mind. Help me to break the ties of sin that are keeping me from the abundant life that you have promised me. Help me be willing to take up my cross and follow you no matter where it leads. Help me be willing to die to self so I can live in Christ. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Hebrews 4:15
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
This post was written by Julie Mabus, a Whitehouse attendee, and a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.