Taking up our cross and following Jesus could mean one of the following:
Jesus here implies what following him means. A prisoner would carry his own cross to the place where he would be executed by means of crucifixion. The one carrying the cross was thus the one condemned to death, so
carrying the cross
meant that the followers of Jesus must be willing to endure death by crucifixion itself, and must be willing to act like someone who has been condemned to death, with an attitude of self-denial: seeing living as part of the world as something of the past (Luke 9:23–24).What is new in Matthew 10:38 is the indirect reference to Jesus’ own death on the cross. His coming to earth brings the sword—first of all for himself (Matthew 26:31,Matthew 26:47). The path of suffering outlined for believers is the extension of Jesus’ own way of the cross.
Interpretation 1:
Jesus here speaks about following him by applying the image of taking up the cross. It was a common Roman practice that a prisoner who had been convicted would carry his own cross to the place where he would be executed by means of crucifixion. The one carrying the cross was therefore the one condemned to death. As such, the expression carrying the cross
came about to indicate experiencing some kind of discomfort (for example, illness), but in this case it also means that the followers of Jesus ought to be willing to endure death by crucifixion itself. It furthermore indicates that they ought to be willing to adopt the position of someone who has been condemned to death—that is, an attitude of self-denial—which in turn necessitates viewing living as part of the world as something of the past (Luke 9:23–24).1
Interpretation 2:
The new element introduced in Matthew 10:38 is not merely the announcement of persecution or the call to endure it, but it is also an indirect reference to Jesus’ own death on the cross. His coming to earth does not compel peace but brings the sword—first of all for himself (Matthew 26:31,Matthew 26:47). The mystery of this enmity and of persecution finds its answer in the cross of Jesus. The path of suffering outlined for believers is nothing more than the mere extension of Jesus’ own way of the cross.2
37 Celui qui aime son père ou sa mère plus que moi n'est pas digne de moi, et celui qui aime son fils ou sa fille plus que moi n'est pas digne de moi;