“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” So said Jesus in Mark 8:34. We’re spending a few devotionals unpacking the meaning of this enigmatic statement.

Denying yourself has to do with denying that sinful, selfish part of you. Our computers and phones have a default factory setting. Unfortunately the default factory setting for each of us is a me-first mentality. Only with God’s help can we experience reprogramming to follow Jesus faithfully.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a professor, pastor and theologian who was killed by the Nazis in the closing days of World War Two. He wrote a book about these very verses. He uses a very helpful phrase: “oblivious of self.”* We know what it is to be concerned with self, infatuated with self, worried with self, and stressed with self. But what about oblivious? The idea is to be so focused on glorifying God, doing his will, and loving the people around us, that we become increasingly oblivious to our selfish desires and even to the criticisms that other people send our way. How glorious!

In light of what we know about self-denial and the horror of crucifixion under the Romans in the first century, here’s the meaning behind Jesus’ words: Carrying your cross is a serious commitment to Jesus-before-self even in the face of rejection, pain and death.

It’s a tall order. Most of us probably have a long way to go. I certainly do. But what we frequently forget is that this is actually liberating. Living by misplaced priorities and rabid selfishness can be tiring, anxiety-provoking, stressful, hard, and frustrating. So Jesus has a better way. “The kingdom of God is… righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…” (Romans 14:17) Sign me up! 

What do you need to do today to more fully follow Jesus? Let’s cast off some burdens by becoming more oblivious to self, and open our hearts and minds to righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

---

Notes:

–“What does it mean to carry your cross?” Sermon. February 2, 2025. Click here.
–Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1959), 88.
–Bible quotes are from the NIV.