The Cross and SELF.

"Then said Jesus unto His disciples—If any will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

Before developing the theme of this verse, let us comment on its terms.

"If any": the duty enjoined is for all who would join Christ's followers and enlist under His banner.

"If any will": the Greek is very emphatic, signifying not only the consent of the will—but full purpose of heart, a determined resolution.

"Come after Me": as a servant subject to his Master, a scholar his Teacher, a soldier his Captain.

"Deny": the Greek means "deny utterly." Deny himself—his sinful and corrupt nature.

"And take up": not passively bear or endure—but voluntarily assume, actively adopt.

"His cross": which is scorned by the world, hated by the flesh—but is the distinguishing mark of a real Christian.

"And follow Me": live as Christ lived—to the glory of God.

The immediate context is most solemn and striking. The Lord Jesus has just announced to His apostles, for the first time, His approaching death of humiliation (21). Peter was staggered, and said, "Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!" (22). That expressed the policy of the carnal mind. The way of the world is self-seeking and self-shielding. "Spare yourself" is the sum of its philosophy. But the doctrine of Christ is not "save yourself" but sacrifice yourself. Christ discerned in Peter's counsel, a temptation from Satan (23), and at once flung it away from Him. Then turning to Peter, He said: Not only "must" Jesus go up to Jerusalem and die—but everyone who would be a follower of His—must take up his cross (24). The "must" is as imperative in the one case as in the other. Mediatorially, the cross of Christ stands alone—but experimentally it is shared by all who enter into life.

What is a "Christian"?

One who holds membership in some earthly church? No! One who believes an orthodox creed? No! One who adopts a certain mode of conduct? No! What, then, is a Christian? He is one who has renounced self and received Christ Jesus as Lord (Col 2:6). He is one who takes Christ's yoke upon him and learns of Him who is "meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29). He is one who has been "called unto the fellowship of God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor 1:9). That is, fellowship in His obedience and suffering now, in His reward and glory in the endless future! There is no such thing as belonging to Christ—and living to please self. Make no mistake on that point— "Whoever does not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple," (Luke 14:27) said Christ. And again He declared, "But whoever shall [instead of denying himself] deny Me before men [not "unto" men: it is conduct, the walk which is here in view], him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:33).

The Christian life begins with an act of self-renunciation, and is continued by self-mortification (Romans 8:13). The first question of Saul of Tarsus, when Christ apprehended him, was, "Lord, what would You have me to do?" The Christian life is likened unto a "race," and the racer is called upon to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets him" (Heb 12:2), which "sin" is in the love of self, the desire and determination to have our "own way" (Isaiah 53:6). The one great aim, end, task, set before the Christian is to follow Christ—to follow the example He has left us (1 Pet 2:21), and He "pleased not Himself" (Romans 15:3). And there are difficulties in the way, obstacles in the path, the chief of which is SELF. Therefore this must be "denied." This is the first step toward "following" Christ.

What does it mean for a man to utterly "deny himself"?

First, it signifies the complete repudiation of his own GOODNESS. It means ceasing to rest upon any works of our own to commend us to God. It means an unreserved acceptance of God's verdict that "all our righteousnesses [our best performances] are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). It was at this point that Israel failed: "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:3). But contrast the declaration of Paul: "And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness" (Phil 3:9).

For a man to utterly "deny himself" is to completely renounce his own WISDOM. None can enter the kingdom of heaven except they become "as little children" (Matthew 18:3). "Woe unto those who are wiser in their own eyes—and prudent in their own sight" (Isaiah 5:21). "Professing themselves to be wise—they became fools" (Romans 1:21). When the Holy Spirit applies the Gospel in power to a soul, it is to the "casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor 10:5). A good motto for each Christian to adopt is, "Lean not unto your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).

For a man to utterly "deny himself" is to completely renounce his own STRENGTH. It is to have "no confidence in the flesh" (Phil 3:3). It is the heart bowing to Christ's positive declaration, "Without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). It was at this point Peter failed: (Matthew 26:33). "Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). How necessary it is, then, that we heed 1 Cor 10:12: "Let him who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall"! The secret of spiritual strength—lies in realizing our personal weakness! (see Isaiah 40:29; 2 Cor 12:9). Then let us "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim 2:1).

For a man to utterly "deny himself" is to completely renounce his own WILL. The language of the unsaved is, "We will not have this Man to reign over us!" (Luke 19:14). The attitude of the Christian is, "For to me—to live is Christ" (Phil 1:21)—to honor, please, serve Him. To renounce our own wills, means heeding the exhortation of Phil. 2:5, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus," which is defined in the verses that immediately follow as that of self-abnegation. It is the practical recognition that "you are not your own—for you are bought with a price" (1 Cor 6:19,20). It is saying with Christ, "Nevertheless not what I will—but what You will" (Mark 14:36).

For a man to utterly "deny himself" is to completely renounce his own LUSTS or fleshly desires. "A man's SELF is a bundle of idols" (Thomas Manton), and those idols must be repudiated. Non-Christians are "lovers of their own selves" (2 Tim 3:1); but the one who has been regenerated by the Spirit, says with Job, "Behold, I am vile!" (40:4), "I abhor myself!" (47:6). Of non-Christians it is written, "all seek their own—not the things which are Jesus Christ's" (Phil 2:21); but of God's saints it is recorded, "they loved not their own lives unto the death" (Rev 12:11). The grace of God is "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world" (Titus 2:12).

This denial of self which Christ requires from all His followers is to be UNIVERSAL. There is to be no reserve, no exceptions made: "Make no provision for the flesh, to the lusts" (Romans 13:14). It is to be constant, not occasional: "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). It is to be spontaneous, not forced; performed gladly, not reluctantly: "And whatever you do, do heartily, as to the Lord" (Col 3:23). O how wickedly has the standard which God sets before us, been lowered! How it condemns the easy-going, flesh-pleasing, worldly lives of so many who profess (but vainly), that they are "Christians"!

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