“If
anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross,[b] and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?”
Luke 9:23-25
Luke 9 [20.] He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
Luke 9 [21.] But he warned them, and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.”
Luke 9 [23.] He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross,[a] and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self? For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels. But I tell you the truth: There are some of those who stand here, who will in no way taste of death, until they see God’s Kingdom.”
Luke 9 [28.] About eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling. Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure,[b] which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Footnotes:
a. Luke 9:23 TR, NU add “daily”.
b. Luke 9:31 literally, “exodus”.
Meaning:
These verses are a direct and challenging call from Jesus to His disciples, and to all who would consider following Him. They lay out the cost of discipleship and the paradoxical nature of the Christian life. Let’s explore the meaning and significance of these words and how they speak to us today.
- The Call to Discipleship
"If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me."
Jesus begins with an invitation that is open to all—anyone who desires to follow Him. However, this invitation comes with significant demands. The first requirement is self-denial. To deny oneself means to renounce self-centeredness, to set aside personal ambitions, desires, and comforts in favor of pursuing God’s will. It involves putting God’s priorities above our own and being willing to sacrifice for the sake of the gospel.
Taking up one’s cross daily is the second requirement. In the context of Roman-occupied Judea, the cross was a brutal instrument of execution, symbolizing suffering, shame, and death. When Jesus speaks of taking up a cross, He is not referring to a literal cross, but to a willingness to endure suffering, rejection, and even death for His sake. The inclusion of "daily" emphasizes that this is not a one-time event, but a continuous, ongoing commitment. Discipleship is a daily decision to live in a way that aligns with Jesus' teachings, even when it is difficult or costly.
Finally, Jesus calls us to follow Him. This means more than just agreeing with His teachings or admiring His example. To follow Jesus is to walk in His footsteps, to live as He lived, and to embody His values and mission in our lives. It involves an active, ongoing relationship with Him, where we continually seek to learn from Him and to grow in His likeness.
- The Paradox of Life and Death
"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it."
Here, Jesus presents a profound paradox: the way to true life is through losing it. Those who seek to preserve their lives—whether through clinging to comfort, security, or self-interest—will ultimately lose what they are trying to keep. This reflects the reality that a life lived in pursuit of self-preservation and self-centered goals is ultimately empty and unfulfilling.
In contrast, those who are willing to lose their lives for Jesus' sake—meaning they are willing to sacrifice their own interests, endure hardship, and even face death if necessary—will find true life. This is because true life, in the biblical sense, is not about physical survival or worldly success, but about living in relationship with God and participating in His eternal purposes. To lose one’s life for Christ is to gain the life that truly matters—eternal life in God’s kingdom.
This teaching flips the world's values on their head. In a culture that often prioritizes self-fulfillment, success, and comfort, Jesus calls us to a life of sacrifice, service, and surrender. It’s a counterintuitive truth that in giving up our lives, we actually find the life we were created for.
- The Ultimate Question of Profit and Loss
"For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?"
Jesus drives home the point with a rhetorical question that forces us to consider the ultimate value of our lives. Even if someone were to gain all the wealth, power, and success the world has to offer, what would it matter if they lost their soul in the process? The implication is clear: nothing in this world is worth the loss of our true selves, our souls.
This question challenges us to evaluate our priorities and the direction of our lives. Are we striving for worldly success at the expense of our spiritual well-being? Are we so focused on achieving external goals that we neglect the condition of our hearts and our relationship with God? Jesus calls us to recognize that our souls—our eternal selves—are of immeasurable worth, and nothing in the world can compensate for their loss.
Application in Our Lives
Daily Surrender: Make a conscious effort to deny yourself daily, seeking God’s will over your own. This could involve small acts of kindness, choosing humility over pride, or making sacrifices for the good of others.
Embrace the Cross: Be prepared to endure difficulties and challenges as part of your journey with Christ. Remember that following Jesus involves carrying your cross, but it also leads to true life.
Evaluate Your Priorities: Reflect on where your time, energy, and resources are going. Are you pursuing worldly success at the expense of your spiritual health? Consider ways to realign your priorities with the values of God’s kingdom.
Cross-References:
Matthew 10:38-39: "He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me. He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it." This passage echoes the call to take up the cross and the paradox of losing and finding life.
Philippians 3:7-8: "However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ." Paul exemplifies the attitude of counting worldly gains as nothing compared to the value of knowing Christ.
Mark 8:36-37: "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? For what will a man give in exchange for his life?" This passage closely parallels Luke 9:25, emphasizing the futility of gaining the world at the cost of one’s soul.
Conclusion: Luke 9:23-25 is a powerful call to radical discipleship. Jesus invites us to follow Him, but He also makes it clear that this path involves self-denial, daily cross-bearing, and a willingness to lose our lives for His sake. The paradox of the Christian life is that in losing our lives, we find true life, and nothing in this world is worth the loss of our souls. These verses challenge us to evaluate our priorities, embrace the sacrifices that come with following Jesus, and ultimately, to trust that the life He offers is far greater than anything the world can provide.
cross - disciple
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible