“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:23, 24)
Yesterday we looked at the necessity for “willingness” to be a part of sacrifice. We say with the prophet Isaiah, “Here I am, send me”. It is the beginning of discipleship. We are submitting to the leadership of Jesus. Jesus talked about what it meant to come after Him in the verses above very plainly and the first requirement is to deny ourselves. Yielding our heart and life to Him involves sacrifice. It means that we give up our rights to govern our own lives and allow Him to direct us. It does not mean that we deny our individuality or our unique place in His creation. Quite the opposite, we turn from our selfish ideas of what we should become and embrace what we were created to be. Paul said it this way:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
This discipleship begins with sacrifice but it is followed by obedience. Jesus not only asks us to deny ourselves but to “take up our cross daily and follow”. Jesus knew why He had come…to demonstrate his love for us by dying on the cross and restoring a broken relationship. But He also came as an example for us to follow. He did more than demonstrate love, He calls us to “follow” His example! The cross is not only what Christ did for us but something He leads us to. “This is how you should love”.
Jesus turns the definition of life upside down. If you want to save your life you will lose it. If you think this is all about you and what’s best for you…you missed the point. True life, a fulfilled life, a life of love can only be experienced when it is given up. Jesus went to the cross for us and now bids us to follow. Are you willing? Jesus said this:
“Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)