Jesus wants us to know that true faith involves taking up your cross. The idea of taking up your cross is one that most people believe they are familiar with. In our society it refers to things like living with a painful back, or an annoying colleague at work or working through a difficult marriage. In these situations, we hear the phrase Well, we all have our crosses to bear and this just happens to be my cross.
When Jesus uses these words, that is definitely not what he means. He is not talking about the pains and aches of our bodies or the troubles that are common to all people in this world. He is talking about identifying with him in his death. A cross in the ancient world symbolized shame and death. It was not a piece of jewellery to wear around your neck; it was a place of death and humiliation. The cross is where people went to die.
31 Alors il commença à leur apprendre qu'il fallait que le Fils de l'homme souffre beaucoup, qu'il soit rejeté par les anciens, par les principaux sacrificateurs et par les scribes, qu'il soit mis à mort, et qu'il ressuscite trois jours après.