Adam Hughes and Jody Dean
his disciples to “take up [their] cross” in Matthew 16:24. The description of costly discipleship in this passage and its surrounding context will enable us to identify five characteristics of an authentic call—which then lead to five statements that clarify what a call is and will help someone who may be struggling to answer God’s call. Although the chapter is designed with the vocational minister in mind, the content is general enough to be useful to anyone who has a desire to serve in the context of ministry leadership.
The Call to Serve From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Matthew 16:21– 28)
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