Jesus' Teaching on Following Him in Secular Reality
Jesus' teaching on following him involves a radical call to self-denial and a willingness to embrace suffering, even death [1, 6]. This instruction is prominently found in Matthew 16:24, where Jesus tells his disciples, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" [1]. This statement came after Jesus predicted his own suffering and death, indicating that his followers must also experience a "death to self" [6].
To "deny himself" means to wipe out one's former life spent in wickedness through a striking revolution [11]. It involves controlling appetites, abstaining from fleshly lusts, and mortifying sinful desires [3]. John Calvin notes that Christ's body was "delivered to death for our salvation," and believers partake in this through faith [9]. This self-denial is a test of devotion to Christ and is necessary for following him [3]. It means being willing to forgo life's normal comforts and involves more than mere intellectual assent [10].
The command to "take up his cross" did not simply mean bearing a heavy burden, but specifically referred to suffering a violent death by crucifixion [6]. This implies a complete willingness to die to oneself and live for God, even at the cost of one's life [6]. Early interpreters like Augustine understood this as a call to embrace suffering for Christ's sake, not to self-harm, as Christ himself rejected the devil's suggestion to cast himself from a precipice [13]. The "cross" symbolizes the persecutions, sufferings, and death that disciples should expect to endure, just as Christ did [5]. The Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that Christ suffered persecution, voluntarily submitted to it, and was patient under it, setting an example for saints who may also expect to suffer for God's sake [2].
Following Jesus also entails a commitment to proclaiming him despite social consequences [12]. Jesus confronted potential followers with the true cost of discipleship, highlighting that it is not an easy path [8, 10]. One individual who was eager to follow Jesus immediately was cautioned by Christ to "count the cost" [7]. This teaching emphasizes that all who live godly in Christ will suffer persecution [2]. Meekness, exemplified by Christ, is also a characteristic saints should seek and exhibit, even when instructing opponents [4].
Sources
- Matthew “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. -- Matthew 16:24”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Persecution — Christ suffered -- Ps 69:26; Joh 5:16. Christ voluntarily submitted to -- Isa 50:6. Christ was patient under -- Isa 53:7. Saints may expect -- Mr 10:30; Lu 21:12; Joh 15:20. Saints suffer, for the sake of God -- Jer 15:15. Of saints, is a persecution of Christ -- Zec 2:8; Ac 9:4,5. All that live godly in Christ, shall suffer -- 2Ti 3:12. Originates Ignorance of God and Christ. -- Joh 16:3. Hated to God and Christ. -- Joh 15:20,24. Hatred to the gospel. -- Mt 13:21. Pride. -- Ps 10:2. Mistaken zeal. -- Ac 13:50; 26:9-11. Is inconsistent with the spirit o”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Meekness — Christ set an example of -- Ps 45:4; Isa 53:7; Mt 11:29; 21:5; 2Co 10:1; 1Pe 2:21-23. His teaching -- Mt 5:38-45. A fruit of the Spirit -- Ga 5:22,23. Saints should Seek. -- Zep 2:3. Put on. -- Col 3:12-13. Receive the word of God with. -- Jas 1:21. Exhibit, in conduct, &c. -- Jas 3:13. Answer for their hope with. -- 1Pe 3:15. Show to all men. -- Tit 3:2. Restore the erring with. -- Ga 6:1. Precious in the sight of God -- 1Pe 3:4. Ministers should Follow after. -- 1Ti 6:11. Instruct opposers with. -- 2Ti 2:24,25. Urge, on their people. -- Tit 3:1,2. A char”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 16:23: Then said Jesus unto his disciples,.... Knowing that they had all imbibed the same notion of a temporal kingdom, and were in expectation of worldly riches, honour, and pleasure; he took this opportunity of preaching the doctrine of the cross to them, and of letting them know, that they must prepare for persecutions, sufferings, and death; which they must expect to endure, as well as he, if they would be his disciples: if any man will come after me: that is, be a disciple and follower of him, it being usual for the master to go before, and the disciple to follow af”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 9:23: 9:23-27 If any of you wants to be my follower: After predicting his own suffering and death, Jesus taught that all who follow him must also experience death to self. 9:23 take up your cross daily: This did not simply mean carrying a heavy burden, but suffering a violent death by crucifixion. Believers must be completely willing to die to themselves and to live for God, even at the cost of their lives.”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 9:57: We have here an account of three several persons that offered themselves to follow Christ, and the answers that Christ gave to each of them. The two former we had an account of in Mat 19:21. I. Here is one that is extremely forward to follow Christ immediately, but seems to have been too rash, hasty, and inconsiderate, and not to have set down and counted the cost. 1. He makes Christ a very large promise (Luk 9:57): As they went in the way, going up to Jerusalem, where it was expected Christ would first appear in his glory, one said to him, Lord, I will follow thee ”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 8:18: 8:18-22 Jesus confronted two would-be followers with what it truly means to follow him.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 99: the efficacy and fruit of his nativity, death, and resurrection, eternal. All this Christ has elegantly expressed in these words, “The bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” ( John 6:51 ); doubtless intimating, that his body will be as bread in regard to the spiritual life of the soul, because it was to be delivered to death for our salvation, and that he extends it to us for food when he makes us partakers of it by faith. Wherefore he once gave himself that he might become bread, when he g”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 8:20: 8:20 Following Jesus is not easy; it involves more than intellectual mastery. Following Jesus entails being willing to forgo life’s normal comforts.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — 24. SELF-DENIAL AND CROSS-BEARING. (part 1): "Then Jesus said to His disciples, If any man wills to follow after Me," etc.(7) He shows by these words that, to will to come after Jesus and to follow Him, springs from no 464 ordinary manly courage, and that no one who has not denied himself can come after Jesus. And the man denies himself who wipes out by a striking revolution his own former life which had been spent in wickedness; as by way of illustration he who was once licentious denies his licentious self, having become self-c”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 12:42: 12:42-43 Many people did believe in him, but they wouldn’t admit it. To follow Jesus involves telling others about him despite the social consequences (1:35-51; 4:1-42).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER XII. 12-26. (part 6): hate thy life in this world. For on such grounds it is that certain wrong-minded and perverted people, who, with regard to themselves, are murderers of a specially cruel and impious character, commit themselves to the flames, suffocate themselves in water, dash themselves against a precipice, and perish. This was no teaching of Christ's, who, on the other hand, met the devil's suggestion of a precipice with the answer, "Get thee behind me, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." (3) To Peter als”