Jesus now explained to His disciples that His own life of self-abnegation was an example of what theirs should be. Calling about Him, with the disciples, the people who had been lingering near, He said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." The cross was associated with the power of Rome. It was the instrument of the most cruel and humiliating form of death. The lowest criminals were required to bear the cross to the place of execution; and often as it was about to be laid upon their shoulders, they resisted with desperate violence, until they were overpowered, and 417 the instrument of torture was bound upon them. But Jesus bade His followers take up the cross and bear it after Him. To the disciples His words, though dimly comprehended, pointed to their submission to the most bitter humiliation,--submission even unto death for the sake of Christ. No more complete self-surrender could the Saviour's words have pictured. But all this He had accepted for them. Jesus did not count heaven a place to be desired while we were lost. He left the heavenly courts for a life of reproach and insult, and a death of shame. He who was rich in heaven's priceless treasure, became poor, that through His poverty we might be rich. We are to follow in the path He trod.

Nu forklarede Jesus sine disciple, at hans eget liv i selvfornægtelse var et billede på, hvordan deres ville blive. Han kaldte sammen med sine disciple de mennesker til sig, som havde ventet der i nærheden, og sagde: "Hvis nogen vil gå i mit spor, skal han fornægte sig selv og tage sit kors op og følge mig!" Korset havde forbindelse med Roms herredømme. Det var redskabet til den mest grusomme og ydmygende dødsmåde. Det blev krævet af de usleste forbrydere,at de skulle bære korset til henrettelsesstedet, og når det blev lagt på deres skuldre, gjorde de tit voldsom modstand, indtil de blev overmandede og torturredskabet blev bundet fast til dem. Men Jesus bød sine disciple tage korset op og bære det efter ham. Skønt disciplene kun svagt opfattede, hvad hans ord betød, så tydede de på, at de måtte underkaste sig den bitreste ydmygelse, underkaste sig selve døden for Kristi skyld. Frelserens ord kunne ikke have skildret dem nogen mere fuldstændig selvhengivelse. Men alt dette havde han påtaget sig for deres skyld. Jesus regnede ikke Himmelen for et attråværdigt sted, så længe vi var fortabte. Han forlod de himmelske boliger for at leve et liv i skam og skændsel og lide en forbryders død. Han, som ejede Himmelens uvurderlige skatte, blev fattig, for at vi ved hans fattigdom kunne blive rige. Vi skal følge ham på den vej, han vandrede.