Throughout the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is portrayed as the Messianic King who came to deliver His people. In this passage, we recognize that His mission will cause Him to suffer and die.

His life is both an example and an encouragement to us. As His disciples, we too are to ‘take up our cross’, meaning that we are to take up our God-given mission, knowing that doing so will result in hardship and difficulty. Additionally, Jesus’ life is encouraging for those who are suffering, knowing that though He suffered, His life was in the safe, strong, and loving hands of His Heavenly Father, who worked in the midst of His suffering to work much good.