What will it mean to be a disciple of the King, if the King is one who suffers and dies?
Will it mean health, wealth and prosperity? Will it mean living with no hardship, no difficulty, and no suffering?
Will it mean living in victory and gaining the whole world?
Perhaps you’ve been a Christian for some years now and you thought it would be easier? Perhaps you are tempted to think there is something wrong with your faith because your Charismatic friends always seem to be so victorious, successful and conquering? Perhaps their latest prophet is again speaking about breakthroughs, deliverance and anointing?
Contrary to this so-called victorious, conquering life, Jesus calls us to put ourselves last and Him first. Jesus’ calling to would-be disciples is massively counter-cultural.
Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
DENY YOURSELF
This doesn’t mean denying yourself chocolate or rugby.
This means denying yourself the right to run your own life.
Imagine your life as a car. Where is Jesus sitting?
Is Jesus in the boot?
You take him out on Sundays, Christmas and Easter, and dust him off. You don’t listen to him, because he’s simply an added extra. He goes back in the boot on Monday.
Is Jesus in the passenger seat?
He makes helpful comments from time to time. Sometimes, when it suits you, you listen. Jesus is a nice security blanket when the kids get sick or work gets tough.
Or is Jesus where he ought to be: in the driver’s seat?
You’ve denied yourself the right to run your own life, and you’ve given Jesus the keys to your car.
That’s what it means to be a disciple.
It’s no longer, what do I want? Rather, what do I think Jesus would have me do?
The world says, “Be your authentic self!”
Jesus says, “Deny your authentic self!”
TAKE UP YOUR CROSS
This does not mean bearing your problems with perseverance.
If you were living in the Roman Empire in the 1st Century, you would know exactly what taking up your cross meant. It meant that you were on your way to your death. You were carrying the cross-beam en route to your crucifixion.
The Romans were experts in crucifixion. Thousands upon thousands of people were crucified at the time.
The symbol of Christianity is a cross, but remember that it’s a method of execution. It’s like wearing a silver electric chair pendant on your necklace.
When someone takes up their cross it’s means there going to die.
It means their lives are no longer in their own hands. It means they submit their will to another. It means humiliation, scorn and mocking. It means you die to self and live for Jesus.
Jesus said, take up your cross daily.
Not only at Easter or on Sundays. You can’t be a part-time disciple.
Do you see how mistaken modern so-called Christianity is?
Modern Christianity says that Jesus wants you to be healthy, wealthy, to prosper and to walk in breakthroughs, anointing, victory and power.
But the real Jesus said: take up our cross DAILY. Die to your own pride, selfish ambitions and egocentric desires. Die to your favourite sins and counterfeit gods.
Stop thinking you’re the king.
The glory is coming; but before glory it’s the way of the cross.
FOLLOW ME
That is, don’t follow John MacArthur, your pastor, a theology or your church – they may be good things, but follow Jesus.
Many people leave church because a pastor let them down. Perhaps they were following the wrong person? Of course, pastors do let people down, and sometimes it is best to leave a church. But make sure you get connected to another church and keep following Jesus.
Denying yourself, taking up your cross, and following Jesus is another way of describing faith. My faith is no longer in myself to save me; but in Jesus.
GAIN
Being a disciple of Jesus sounds really tough.
Is it worth it?
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?”
(Luke 9:24-25)
We need to do a comparison. Do we want the whole world now or do we want live forever in the new world with Jesus?
Compare two people.
The first person is Hugh Heffner.
He was famous for founding Playboy magazine and normalizing pornography. He was many men’s hero. He had young women living with him and satisfying his every pleasure. He enjoyed regular parties with the rich and famous. He lived for himself and gained the world.
At the age of 91, Mr. Heffner died in his mansion.
Second person is Jim Elliot.
As a young man, his aim was to take the gospel to an unreached, remote people group in South America. On January 8, 1956, the 28-year-old American missionary Jim Elliot was martyred, along with four friends, by the tribe they were trying to evangelize. He was survived by his wife and their 10-month-old daughter.
A few days before they were murdered, the friends had gathered together and sang this hymn.
We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender;
Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise.
When passing through the gates of pearly splendour;
Victors, we rest with Thee through endless days.”
As a direct result of their bravery and martyrdom, many hundreds of missionaries have gone out into the world to many unreached people groups, including that remote tribe.
The question is: who is better off now? Hugh Heffner or Jim Elliot?
One died in a mansion, the other as a martyr.
Jesus said: If you try to hang on to your life, you will ultimately lose it. But if you lose your life, deny your lowly ambitions and give Jesus the driving seat, you will ultimately save your life.
Jesus commended us to take the long-term view.
You might not have the biggest house, the nicest car, the best clothes, or the most comfortable life; but you have Jesus.
You might be experiencing great hardship and trial; but you have Jesus.
If you do happen to have a big house, a nice car, good clothes and a comfortable life; say thank you to Jesus and serve Jesus with what you have.
May the silver crosses on necklaces remind us to daily die to self and live for Jesus.