Topic: Pick up the Cross

Luke’s gospel has a cross theme. It is as though Luke is telling Theophilus that a requirement for a disciple of Jesus is to carry a cross. This is stated directly in Luke 9:23, “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.’”

Picking up the cross is stated in other places in indirect teachings.

Luke 6:40, “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained,

will be like his teacher.”

Luke 6:46, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” The missionary Hudson Taylor stated at the conclusion of Luke 6 which became his motto: “Jesus is Lord of all or not at all.”

Jesus asks a personal question in verse 46, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” The following verses teach the importance of picking up the cross.

Even though Jesus is still in his first year of public ministry, he has already attracted a large number of followers. Luke said that Jesus preached this sermon to the twelve apostles, “a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon” (Luke 6:17). Although Luke does not give us a number, we may safely estimate that there were many hundreds—if not thousands—of people following Jesus, listening to Jesus, and even calling Jesus, “Lord.” Those listening want Jesus as their Savior but they do not want Jesus as their Lord. That is why Jesus asks so pointedly, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”

Jesus says that there are two kinds of builders. Each builder is building a house. Outwardly, each house looks the same. But when the inevitable storm comes, only one house stands. The question is: why does only one house stand? And the answer is: the house that stands is built on a foundation of rock.

The application is obvious. There are two kinds of disciples. Each disciple is building a life. Outwardly, each life looks the same. But when the inevitable storm comes, only one life stands. The question is: why does only one life stand? And the answer is: the life that stands is built on obedience of picking up the cross.

Theophilus, a true disciple obeys Jesus, even in the storms of life. Carrying the cross requires obedience in all areas of one’s life. Are you carrying the cross?

See you Sunday!

Dr. Scott Kallem