Category: Illustration

In Scripture, clearer passages often illuminate the more obscure, a foundational principle for understanding. Here, two texts converge to reveal this dynamic at work: one outlines the call to discipleship, while the other embodies it in the life of Moses—an archetype of Christ—answering the pressing question: What does this look like in practice?

The first passage, Luke 9:23–27, lays out Jesus’ unmistakable imperative for His followers:

And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

This is no singular event but a daily rhythm of surrender, renewed each morning like God’s mercies (Lamentations 3:22–23). It’s a lifelong commitment to self-denial, not for asceticism’s sake, but for the sake of following Christ into true life.

To grasp its shape or form, we turn to Moses’ story in Hebrews 11:23–28, a vivid parallel:

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

Raised as Pharaoh’s adopted grandson, Moses enjoyed unparalleled privilege—wealth, power, and the splendour of Egypt (Exodus 2:11–15). Yet he renounced it all, identifying instead with his enslaved Hebrew kin. This meant exile, hardship, and rejection: fleeing after killing an Egyptian oppressor, wandering as a fugitive, and embracing the shame of solidarity with the afflicted. In choosing Israel’s suffering over Egypt’s fleeting pleasures, Moses valued the “reproach of Christ” as surpassing treasure, eyes fixed on an unseen reward.

This choice foreshadows Christ’s own descent: leaving heavenly glory to share in humanity’s reproach—betrayal, scorn, and the cross (Isaiah 53:3; Hebrews 12:2). Just as Moses traded visible riches for invisible hope, disciples are summoned daily to “take up the cross,” forsaking self-preservation for alignment with Christ’s redemptive mission. Both stories recast loss as eternal gain: apparent defeat yielding resurrection life.

The parallels between Jesus’ words in Luke and Moses’ life in Hebrews reveal a timeless pattern of faith: costly obedience that prioritizes eternal reward over temporal security. Here’s how they align:

Aspect	Luke 9:23-27 (Jesus’ Call)	Hebrews 11:23-28 (Moses’ Faith)	Shared Theme
Self-Denial	“Deny himself” and lose life to save it (v. 23-24).	Refused Pharaoh’s privileges for mistreatment with God’s people (v. 25).	Both reject worldly status/comfort for God’s path.
Embracing Suffering	“Take up his cross daily” (v. 23).	Endured as “seeing him who is invisible” (v. 27).	Faith sustains through visible trials by focusing on the unseen God.
Reproach/Shame	Not be “ashamed” of Jesus (v. 26).	Considered “the reproach of Christ” greater than Egypt’s treasures (v. 26).	Willingness to bear scorn for alignment with Christ/God’s people.
Eternal Perspective	Gain soul over world; see kingdom of God (v. 25, 27).	Looked to “the reward” beyond fleeting pleasures (v. 26).	Short-term loss yields long-term gain in God’s kingdom.
Active Obedience	“Follow me” daily (v. 23).	Left Egypt; kept Passover (v. 27-28).	Faith manifests in bold, communal actions of loyalty.

Life application:

For believers today, this convergence of cross and reproach calls us to live counter-culturally amid a world that often ridicules faith. The cross is no mere historical emblem of atonement but an active summons to share Christ’s sufferings (Colossians 1:24; 1 Peter 4:13). It manifests in two intertwined realities:

→ Personal Sacrifice: Echoing Moses’ rejection of Pharaoh’s luxuries and Jesus’ call to self-denial, we might relinquish career ambitions, social status, or material ease to pursue justice, generosity, or witness. In our consumerist era, this could involve downsizing for the sake of the marginalised—opting for “mistreatment with the people of God” over sin’s passing allure.

→ Enduring Opposition: The reproach of public shame ties directly to the cross’s cost (Luke 9:26). Contemporary echoes include workplace bias for ethical choices, digital backlash for gospel truths, or familial rifts over conviction. Yet, like Moses, we count this “reproach of Christ” (Hebrews 11:26) as immeasurable wealth—vindicated at His return and fostering intimacy with God in the present.

What binds these threads for us is a transformative hope: the cross and reproach are not futile wounds but gateways to renewed life. They forge character through suffering (Romans 5:3–5), knit us into the global church amid persecution, and point to the kingdom where every knee bows (Philippians 2:10). In daily practice, this unfolds through prayerful yielding, bold proclamation, and mutual encouragement—mirroring Moses’ steadfast gaze and Jesus’ obedient path. As He promises, those who lose their lives for His sake will truly find it.