Good Friday: What does it mean to “take up your cross”?

James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Holy Week Reading Plan: Matthew 27:1-61

Good Friday commemorates Jesus’ crucifixion.

As we reflect on the cross Jesus carried on Good Friday, we must also consider the cross He calls us to carry today. 

Luke 9:23 reads, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (NIV).  

There are two ways to think about the cross in this passage: physical and spiritual. A physical cr...