JESUS invited those who believed on
him to become his followers. He made
it plain, however, that the only
ones who could be his true followers
were those willing to deny
themselves and bear the cross.
(Matt. 16:24) Jesus explained that
those who did not love him even more
than they loved the members of their
own families were not worthy of him.
(Matt. 10:37,38) These terms of
discipleship laid down by the Master
are very exacting. They are not the
terms upon which mankind in general
will eventually receive life through
Christ but are the conditions upon
which, at the present time, one can
be a true follower of Jesus.
Self-denial as taught by Jesus is
not merely the giving up of certain
good things to eat or the forgoing
of other pleasures of life. Rather,
it is the denial of self, a
dedication to the Lord that is so
complete and wholehearted that self
is denied all rights to govern one’s
life. It is the giving up completely
of one’s own will and ways and
accepting the will of the Lord as
the rule of life. It means a
complete change of outlook in life,
a transforming of the mind to
conform to the will of God.—Rom.
12:2
Cross-bearing signifies more than
enduring unpleasant experiences. For
one to take up his cross and follow
Jesus signifies his willingness to
suffer and to die with the Master.
Those condemned to death under the
Roman law carried their own cross to
the place of crucifixion. For one to
carry a cross, therefore, meant that
he was on his way to death, and this
is the symbolic meaning of Christian
cross-bearing. As Jesus’ disciples,
we suffer and die with him.—Rom.
6:3-6; II Tim. 2:11,12
Being a disciple of Christ,
therefore, implies much more than
living a moral and upright life. It
means the dedication of one’s life
to the cause of God as it is being
carried out through Christ. It means
a dedication to this cause that
leads to the sacrifice of self and
of all self-interests. This is the
Christian life.
But the life of sacrifice in the
Christian cause has its
compensations of peace and joy in
the Lord, which result from the
assurance of having Divine approval.
This is a peace and joy which is
based upon the knowledge that our
loving Heavenly Father knows what is
best for us and causes all things to
work together for our good.—Rom.
8:28
There are also future compensations
for those who faithfully lay down
their lives walking in the footsteps
of Jesus. The promise to these is
that if they faithfully suffer and
die with Jesus they will live and
reign with him.—Rom. 8:17,18; Rev.
3:21
The purpose of living and reigning
with Christ is to share with him in
extending blessings of health and
life to the remainder of the world
of mankind, the blessings which he
provided by his own death as the
Redeemer and Savior of the world.
The privilege of sharing in Jesus’
exaltation is described by Paul as
“the prize of the high
calling.”—Phil. 3:14
STUDENTS’ HELPS
Questions
There is no more important vocation
than to be a dedicated follower of
the Master, as the answers to these
questions will show:
What are the terms of Christian
discipleship as laid down by Jesus?
Will the world of mankind in general
be expected to meet these terms in
order to enjoy everlasting life on
earth?
What did Jesus mean by denying self?
What is meant by bearing one’s
cross?
What are some of the present
compensations enjoyed by those who
are laying down their lives in the
Divine cause?
What are the future rewards for
those who suffer and die with Jesus?
What is the purpose of living and
reigning with Christ?
Reference Material
“The New Creation,” page 443, par.
2, and page 444
Summary of Important Thoughts
To be a true Christian means much
more than living an upright and
moral life. It means sacrifice even
unto death.