By Randy Ballinger Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34, New Living Translation). This statement no doubt caused many fireside debates among Jesus’ disciples. They had seen men carrying crosses before, and they knew it had only one outcome: a painful and humiliating death for the one bearing that burden. One disciple, Simon Peter, was adamant that Jesus would not suffer in such a manner. But Jesus would have none of Peter’s argument—Jesus would take up his