In the midst of His public ministry, the Lord Jesus Christ takes time in Mark 8:34 to spell out what He demands from those who wish to follow Him:

Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

These words are addressed to all Christians in every time and place; thus, they are still in force today.

What is a disciple? The Greek word mathetes means “one who learns,” especially one who learns by inquiry and by use or practice of what he is taught (Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek-Lexicon of the New Testament). Christ said, “Learn of me” (Matt. 11:29). All who belong to Christ must enroll in His school and learn from Him, receiving His doctrine and testimony, and conforming themselves to His example of faith and godliness.

Learners need teachers. Christ has appointed teachers for His church, namely, the apostles and their successors, the ministers of the Word (Acts 6:4; 1 Tim. 5:17). As ser­vants of Christ, these earthly teachers must defer to Him, and the goal of their instruction should be that Christ be formed in those under their care (Gal. 4:19): “We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” (2 Cor. 4:5).

What should Christ’s disciples learn? First, they must learn to deny themselves, to say no to self and its demands. Self-denial begins with the recognition that our problems in life result from consulting our own will, going our own way, and living for our own ends. Christ must show us that to be self-centered and self-serving is self-destructive. This cult of self is the outworking of the sinful nature with which we are born. We must turn our backs on it in order to follow Christ. Self-denial is so basic to the Christian life that Christ includes it as the third petition of His model prayer.

'Thy will be done means', 'Grant that we and all men may renounce our own will, and without mur­muring obey Thy will, which is only good.'Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 124

Second, disciples must learn to take up their crosses. Note the possessive pronoun. The cross indicated in this imperative is not Christ’s cross, but ours, the cross appointed for each of us to bear. None of us could do what Christ did for us when He went to the cross and died for our sins. Our duty is to submit to God’s will for our lives as Christ did, even if the burden is heavy, the way is hard, and the end is death. Cross-bearing is grievous to us, as it was grievous to Christ. We must learn to pray as He prayed in Gethsemane,

O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. Matthew 26:42

Finally, disciples must learn to follow Christ, living by faith, walking in love, and doing good to all: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). To follow also means to accompany some­one as a fellow traveler; as Christians, our greatest joy and privilege is to live in communion with Christ as our living Head. The psalmist Asaph knew that he was never alone in his sufferings:

I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.Psalm 73:23, 24

The call to discipleship is an essential part of gospel proclamation: “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19, KJV marginal note 1). Christ’s church is not merely an organization of like-minded people. Rather, as members of the body of Christ, all contribute to “the increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” The goal is “to grow up unto him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Eph. 4:15, 16). Disciples must grow in love for Christ and for one another, according to Christ’s rule:

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another.John 13:35