What does it mean to take up our cross?

 

JOHN 13:4

Jesus’ call to his disciples in the Synoptic Gospels is clear. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matt 16:24). We are called to “take up our crosses” and die to ourselves.

It is less clear exactly what Jesus means when he asks us to “take up our cross.” Are we to imitate him in his death by literally dying on a cross, or literally dying on behalf of others? Are we all called to go to a closed country and be physically persecuted for Jesus’ sake?

It is interesting that the gospel of John lacks this call to take up one’s cross. In fact, depending on the English version one uses, it can be difficult to see in John’s gospel anything at all that one is to “take up,” except for the healed paralytic’s taking up his “mat” (John 5:8). Reading the Greek text instead of relying on English translations, however, presents a different picture. John 13:4 gives us great insight into the meaning of “taking up the cross.”

The English versions say that Jesus either “took off” or “laid aside” his outer garment, and “wrapped,” “girded,” or “took” a towel. If we read only the English translations, we would properly conclude that Jesus’ foot washing is the model par excellence of what it means for us Christians to serve others with humility. Just like Jesus, we are to take the role of the servant/slave and wash others’ feet.

If we stop there, however, we will miss a gold nugget. Let’s translate this verse literally (note the words in italics): “And he rises from the supper and laid down [τίθημι] the garments, and taking up [ λαμβάνω] a towel, he wrapped it around himself.”

You don’t have to be an expert in John’s gospel to hear the “laid down—take up” chorus singing in your ears. These words in Greek are exactly the same as the words Jesus said a couple of chapters earlier: “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down [τίθημι] my life—only to take it up [ λαμβάνω] again. No one removes it from me, but I lay it down [τίθημι] of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down [τίθημι] and authority to take it up [ λαμβάνω] again. This command I received from my Father” (John 10:17–18).

Jesus is talking about physical death in 10:17–18, but in 13:4 he applies those same terms to the service he expects of his followers. In other words, serving others is a type of death to self.

What does it mean to “take up the cross”? It means that we are to “lay down” our selfish desires by “taking up the towel” in order to serve others humbly and sacrificially! It does not necessarily mean that we must physically die, though it might mean doing so. But “taking up the cross” is much more mundane. 

It means serving our fellow humans in the midst of their dirt and grime: doing dishes for the family, coaching soccer in our communities, visiting the homeless and taking them a meal, helping the widow by mowing her lawn, listening to friends pour out their troubles, washing windows for an elderly couple. The options are endless—whatever selfless, sacrificial task a servant/slave might do. When we do these things—and this is the cool part—we die to ourselves. And that, in the gospel of John, is what it means to “take up [your] cross.”

Author. Williams, M. (2012). Taking Up the Cross (John 13:4).