Lk 9:22-25
22 [Jesus] said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
23Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”
TAKING UP THE CROSS DAILY: The cross (Greek stauros) is an ancient instrument of execution, probably originated by the Persians and often employed by the Greeks and the Romans for its deterrent value, especially against rebellious slaves and seditious provincials. The condemned, with a placard proclaiming the crime hung around his neck, would carry the crossbar (not the whole cross) to the place of his execution. In times of siege of the city, the Romans put up upright stakes outside the city and would crucify those they caught escaping the city walls in great number. Their cries were intended to break the will of the defenders of the city. Death came slowly from the cumulative impact of thirst, hunger, exhaustion, and the traumatic effects of scourging which preceded crucifixion. Because of the protracted suffering and the extreme ignominy of this punishment, crucifixion was viewed as the supreme penalty, the “most wretched of death.”
That Christians would hold as Messiah and worship as Lord one who died on the cross was foolish and scandalous to both Jews and pagans (see 1 Cor 1:18-25). The scandal of the cross would only be removed if the meaning attached to it were completely overturned. This happened with Jesus’ resurrection. In the light of the resurrection, the death of Jesus on the cross took a salvific meaning. It was seen as an atonement, a sacrifice, Jesus’ kenosis or self-emptying, proof of God’s love for us.
Luke likens discipleship to the carrying of one’s cross daily to follow Jesus. Cross here would imply the burdens and suffering of Christian life, burdens which, however, become “light” and redemptive when carried out of love.