Last night at West Citrus Tom Quinn began a study from one of Wilson Adams’ workbooks Simple Scenes from the Life of Jesus.
The first lesson was based on Jesus statement in Luke 9:23. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
My thoughts immediately went to the issue of discipleship which can be summed up with Jesus’ two word command “Follow Me.” And its symbol is often characterized by the cross. Furthermore, this text reminds us two important aspects of discipleship.
First of all, it’s important to understand that a disciple is more than just being a student. While discipleship involves learning, it demands doing. Being. Becoming. Experiencing. Warren Wiersbe compared a disciple to an apprentice who lives and works with his mentor. It’s a “hands on” experience. “Too many Christians, Wiersbe wrote, “are content to be listeners who gain a lot of knowledge but who have never put that knowledge into practice.”
Secondly, discipleship is process. Not an event. Baptism is an event. It happens once. But discipleship is a lifetime endeavor. Just like a wedding ceremony is an event, but the marriage requires relationship development, reoccurring enrichment, and growing together.
Furthermore, Jesus’ command issues itself in three important daily challenges.
(1) Discipleship requires a cost.
Jesus asks us to deny ourselves. To say “no” to our selves. This is more than just denying one’s self of personal comfort, pleasures or possessions. It is giving up self-gratification. Self-indulgence. Self-centeredness. Self-interest.
Denying self goes against the grain. It’s not what our self-seeking culture is about. Everything today is geared toward self-satisfaction. Self-love. Self-devotion.
Jesus calls for self-denial. Self-sacrifice. Self-abasement. Self-control. Self-discipline.
(2) Discipleship demands a cross.
Every year at Easter there is usually someone who decides to reenact Jesus’ bearing the cross to Calvary. A few years ago, I remember a fellow, Nick Moore from Memphis, walking across Texas with a cross. He claimed he was doing it to commemorate Christ’s suffering, sacrifice and death. However, Nick’s cross ironically had wheels attacked to it and a thermos of water strapped to it.
This is not what Jesus had in mind. He already bore His cross. The text is speaking of YOUR cross. MY cross. It is our sacrifice. Our devotion. Our personal dedication. It’s our gift. It is using our time, talent and treasure to benefit His Cause, instead of selfishly using it all for our own. It is working for his glory, and not our own praise.
By the way, this is not once a year. Or once a month. Or once a week. Like on Sunday. Jesus said, “daily.” Each day we take up our cross. Every day we live for the Lord. Daily we look for ways to make a difference. To give. To serve. To shine. Even in tough times.
Stop and rethink what it means to be “crucified with Christ.” To bear the cross. To be a disciple. Read the book of Luke. And put yourself in the picture.
(3) Discipleship calls for a commitment.
Jesus simply says, “Follow Me.” This is the natural result of self-denial and cross bearing. He is the motivation for what we do, who we are, and how we live.
Following Jesus leads to ministry. Following Jesus leads us to involvement in the lives of others. And not just the comfortable environment of fellow Christians. But it leads us to interact with the less fortunate who need our help. With sinners with whom we can share the Word. With opponents of Christianity to whom we can present a defense of the gospel.
Following Jesus leads us to Bible study. Prayer. Worship. And fellowship. Following Jesus leads to an intimate relationship with the Father.
Ironically, following Jesus leads us to save ourselves by losing our ourselves as His disciple. The disciple’s question to paraphrase Barclay is not “What can I get?” But “What can I give?” Not “What is the safe thing?” But “What is the right thing?”
However, following Jesus is so much more than church attendance, daily Bible reading, or periods of prayers. Though all of these are important and help us grow spiritually, discipleship directs every aspect of our lives–our homes, our professions, our relationships, our innermost thoughts, and our everyday actions.
An old time, circuit riding preacher, Alex Johnson, in his sermon “It’s easy to become a Christian, but harder to live as a Christian,” observed that “the mark of a great leader is the demands he makes upon his followers.”
Following Jesus requires a cost, demands a cross, and calls for a commitment.
Who will follow Jesus?
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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