How do we know that Jesus' call to take up the cross is true?

Jesus' instruction to His followers to take up their cross is grounded in His own experience of suffering and rejection. In Luke 9:22, He forewarns His disciples of His impending suffering at the hands of religious leaders, underscoring that following Him involves a willingness to face similar trials. The truth of this teaching is illustrated by the lives of the apostles and many believers throughout history, who have endured persecution for their faith. The call to bear a cross speaks to the essence of the Christian journey, emphasizing the transformative power of suffering and sacrifice as pathways to greater faithfulness and depth in our relationship with Christ.