Prayer and Spiritual Growth

What Does It Mean to 'Deny Yourself and Take Up Your Cross'?

This phrase describes the call to surrender personal ambitions and self-centered desires in order to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, even when that path involves sacrifice, suffering, or social cost.

Published 2026-09-13 · Updated 2026-09-27

Written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team. Read our editorial policy.

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Biblical explanation

Jesus told His disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (), using the image of a cross, understood by His original audience as an instrument of execution, to convey total surrender rather than a minor inconvenience. This does not mean rejecting one's identity or worth but reordering priorities so that following Christ takes precedence over comfort, reputation, or personal ambition (). Paul embodies this principle, writing that he counted his former achievements as loss “for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus” (). Denying self is ultimately not a path to loss but to true life, since Jesus taught that whoever loses his life for His sake will find it ().

In brief

Jesus told His disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (), using the image of a cross, understood by His original audience as an instrument of execution, to convey total surrender rather than a minor inconvenience.

Bible references

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Editorial note

This answer is written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team, and is presented with supporting references so you can examine each passage in context. If you notice an error or unclear statement, please suggest a correction.