Jump Start # 893

Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

We have been looking at this passage the past few days, which defines discipleship. Jesus identifies three principles: denying self, taking up your cross daily. There is one final thought, follow Me. After denying self, after taking up your cross, a person must still follow Jesus.

Following Jesus is the reason why a person will deny self. That is the cause, the motivation and the reason. Following Jesus is the reason why a person will take up their cross daily. These steps are hard. They require about all we have to do it. Without following Jesus, we would never do those things.

Follow Jesus. That’s what the apostles did. They left their nets and followed Jesus.

He showed them things that they had never seen before, such as lepers being cleansed and demons being cast out. They saw withered hands restored and the lame walking. They saw the dead coming back to life. He calmed storms and stilled fears. It was amazing what they saw. No one could do what Jesus was doing. Nearly every day was a journey of amazement.

Following Jesus took them places that they probably had never been before. Jesus took them to Samaria, a place where Jews didn’t travel. Following Jesus took them to the middle of heated debates about who Jesus was and His right to say and do what he was doing. For most of the apostles, their lives were pretty simple, spent on the lake, catching and selling fish. The arrest of Jesus put them around armed soldiers and a very tense situation. Jesus took them places that they would have never gone on their own.

Following Jesus led them to doing things that they had never done before. They preached. They cast out demons. One walked on water. They healed the sick. They must have looked at their hands and marveled at how these things were happening.

Following Jesus made them witnesses to the most pure, holy, perfect and selfless example that they would ever see. No one equaled Jesus. No one topped Jesus. No one always said the right thing, did the right thing, and thought the right thing, other than Jesus. They saw Jesus’ compassion. They saw Jesus when He was thrown into the storm with those who opposed Him. They saw Jesus forgive when others wanted to throw rocks. They heard those passionate lessons about the coming kingdom and the way of righteousness. They saw Him pray.

No one knew Jesus as well as the apostles did. They had their very feet washed by Jesus. After His ascension into Heaven, those witnesses spoke passionately from both the Holy Spirit and their hearts. They knew. They saw. They heard. They had followed Jesus.

One of my favorite hymns is “Footprints of Jesus.” Love that song. It is a song about following Jesus. Deny self, take up your cross and FOLLOW Jesus. Follow Jesus in purity. Out goes trashy shows, border line talking, suggestive language, immodest clothing. Follow Jesus.

Follow Jesus in service. Jesus had the heart of a servant. He cared and He helped. Denying self will help you. Serving others. Doing things for the sake of helping out. Being a true friend. Being one that can be counted upon. Dependable. A person of your word. A servant. Following Jesus will take you there.

Follow Jesus in worship. Jesus loved His Father. He prayed. He worshipped. He followed His will. He spoke the message of the Father. Following Jesus will lead us to doing the same. Sunday is the best day of the week. Sundays are so different from all the other days. Our routines are different on Sundays. We gather with God’s people on Sundays. We sing. We pray. We remember the Lord’s death. We read God’s word. Sunday is good day, no matter what the weather. Sunday reminds us that God is still upon the throne. Sunday helps us get our order in order, our perspective. Sunday is about God. Sunday reminds us of righteousness, Heaven, and holiness. Without Sundays, our world seems dark and messy.

Follow Jesus. Follow Jesus all the time. Follow Jesus when you don’t feel like it. Follow Jesus when it takes you to uncomfortable places, such as forgiving someone who has hurt you. Follow Jesus in sharing His story. Follow Jesus when others won’t. Follow Jesus when it is hard. Follow Jesus when you want to quit. Follow Jesus all the way to Heaven.

You follow Jesus by doing what the Bible says. I can’t say that I’m following Jesus when I’m not following His word. The way of Jesus is the Bible way.

Deny self…take up your cross daily…follow Jesus. Three principles. There is an order to those principles. If you follow without first denying, you’ll soon part ways with Jesus and start doing what you want to do. Deny self, that must be first. Take up your cross, if you don’t, you won’t follow long. There are sacrifices. Without my cross, I won’t do that. Then, follow.

Follow, follow, follow. The Bible way becomes your way. You start seeing things from Heaven’s side of things. Your interests become deeper and more spiritual, the more you follow.

Not everyone will do this. They could, they just don’t want that commitment. They will follow at a distance and follow Jesus into the things that they feel are nice and easy. Standing alone for what is right is something few will do. Calling sin, sin, is not something many will do. Following that simple N.T. pattern is outdated for most. Follow Jesus.

Will you do it? Will you do it if it makes you different from others? Will you do it if it means most will not agree with you? Will you do it?

Follow Jesus

Roger