Why should the Christians take up the cross?

My Sunday Scripture 2009.9.13

Now Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"

They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets."

And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Messiah."

Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days.

He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.

Saint Mark 8:27-35

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My Reading Notes:
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To take up the cross, is to take up the burden, take up the work.
It is the job for those who forgets about himself, who could think in the way of the universe, who could know the ultimate secret of life, who could know that life is but a flame of fire, not the running body machine outside the fire, and that life is a purpose to serve.