The secret was out!  Jesus had agreed that Peter was right; the Master was none other than the anointed Son of God (Matthew 16:15-17).  He had come to defeat the evil intentions of Satan (1 John 3:8); and now the battle was out in the open.  The days of rollercoaster popularity were over; from now on the opposition would intensify.  It would lead Jesus to the cross.  But that was not all: those who wanted to follow Him would need to go to their cross too.

People lightly talk about their ‘cross’ as something unpleasant in their life which they have to endure.  But that was not what Jesus was meaning.  The 'cross of discipleship' was a voluntary denial of all that pleased the selfish nature.  In obeying Father God, Jesus did not please Himself (even in Gethsemane and Golgotha); and no disciple had any right to please themselves either.  Alas, one disciple (Judas Iscariot) would make the wrong decision and become a vivid example of the dangers of apostasy.  

So, the Master laid it on the line: either choose to lose the right to please yourself or lose the privilege of eternal life!  It was a very stark message which cut through the popularity culture surrounding Jesus, because there is no point in getting everything that this world offers and then losing all that Jesus would die to gain for those who love and obey Him.  The key to true discipleship is still the willing, voluntary, obedient choice to deny the flesh what it wants; so that we can give to God what He commands. For Jesus it was His life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world ... for us it is to sacrifice what we desire.

However much we rationalise holding onto our right to please ourselves, these words of Jesus put our selfish fleshliness into His Divine perspective.  So, if you have been playing at being a disciple of Jesus Christ, it is time to get real: if you have been resisting God's will, it is time to submit: if you have felt the pain of self-sacrifice and are tempted to turn back ... remember Jesus.  As Hebrews 12:1-3 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."