- Trey, I appreciated your explanation of what taking up our cross means....loving like Jesus loves us. I will share two of my observations from this passage. 1. We are to take up take up our cross daily. This is not a one and done thing. EVERY DAY we must purpose to deny ourselves and our selfish tendencies and inclinations to sin and then take up our cross and follow Jesus. 2. We cannot follow someone we do not see. We must see Jesus. We must know Him and see Him and then follow Him. (following is doing what He says? Living like His example?)