What did Jesus mean when He called His followers to “take his cross and follow after Me” (Matthew 10:38)?

This is Jesus’ first mention of the word cross to His disciples. To them it would have evoked a picture of a violent, degrading death. He was demanding total commitment from them—even unto physical death—and making this call to full surrender a part of the message they were to proclaim to others. Those who come to Christ with self-renouncing faith receive true and eternal life.