Denying self vs. Self denial

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
(Luke 9:23)

Bill Gothard mentioned that there is a difference between the denying self and self denial. This statement really got me thinking about Jesus call to believers. Jesus did promise two things for a follower of the Way (as early believers are called) eternal life and likewise also the cross. The question of what the cross is comes to mind and we may have different ideas of what the cross entails.

Jesus laid this condition for coming after Him with a question of ‘who others say that He was’ (Luke 9:18) and varied answers were given. When the question was directed to the disciples, as usual, Peter quickly answered….. ‘The Christ (anointed) of God’. Anointed meaning chosen by or as if by divine intervention and Jesus goes on to explain that He was appointed divinely to suffer, die and resurrect on the third day. We know that the suffering and the death Jesus obediently went through for our propitiation was the cross. The cross means death, for Jesus it was not giving of Himself for the world, but rather giving of Himself to the Father (Luke 22:42). We cannot degrade the cross to the humanistic level of thinking that the cross Jesus died was merely for us. Jesus taught that the opening to our prayers is with regard to His Kingdom and His will (Matt 6:10). Jesus cross was primarily for the Father, His Kingdom and His Will, we shouldn’t think of anything else lesser than these.

Paul says that we are new creation with the old passed (past tense) away (2 Cor 5:17). Passing away requires death. Holding things in balance, we are to be living sacrifices to God thus the cross for us is not one of physical death. Not being physical means it is not external.

The Pharisees’ focus was primarily on the external that they wanted people to recognize them for humanly visual piety, for example their fasting and prayer. They exemplify self denial. Jesus said that fasting and prayer in secret will receive heavenly rewards, these things are to be done that the Father alone would see. Today we too can be trapped into self denial and put on a front of ‘Christianity’. Yes we are to be salt of the earth and light of the world (Matt 5), but note that these two have the properties within themselves that classify them as salt and light. For example salt that loses its flavor is good for nothing, therefore salt is not salt if its properties are lost. Salt is not noticed unless there is lack of or too much of it. Those who practice self denial bring a lot of focus and attention on themselves. The danger is that pride can seep in and we know what God thinks of the proud. The converse is those who deny self bring praise and glory to the Father Whom we give ourselves to.

To come after Jesus means that He will give us the cross daily, the cross is not from our pastor, family, employer nor even circumstances. However God may use people and circumstances as the cross, but keep in mind that it is Jesus Who will give it. The purpose of the cross is death to an inner self that God’s Kingdom might be manifested and His will be completed in our lives (Phil 1:6). The evidence of God’s Kingdom for His disciples (Matt 5:1) is listed in Matt 5:3-12. It is not about the external but about the being, thus these are called the Be-Attitudes. How much of the cross we carry daily will show in our meekness, mourning for sin (Rom 8:23), purity in heart, merciful, turning the other cheek, etc. It is not the means (the cross) we should be concerned about; it should be His Kingdom and Will. I decrease that all things that concern Him will increase.