Going the Distance

Preliminary:

Invite to John 19. and also Matthew 16.

Read John 19:17

John 19:17 KJV 1900

17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Matthew 16:24 “24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Introduction:

Did you know there is a big difference with being engrossed with Jesus and embracing Jesus?

Let me explain what I mean....

en·grossed /inˈɡrōst,enˈɡrōst/

adjective having all one's attention or interest absorbed by someone or something.

em·brace /əmˈbrās/ verb gerund or present participle: embracing 1.hold (someone) closely in one's arms, especially as a sign of affection. 2. accept or support (a belief, theory, or change) willingly and enthusiastically.

Its not about being engrossed with Jesus its about Embracing Jesus

being all consumed, all taken up with him finding our satisfaction in him not in the things of this world.

Being engrossed just having our attention or being absorbed by him or things about him is so different than embracing Christ and all he wants us to know and have. To accept and support willingly and enthusiastically all that Christ says and has for us.

One goes only so far the other goes the distance

One is an “Almost persuaded” the other says, “

Ruth 1:16 “...for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: ”

Jesus went all the way- Jesus went the distance

He didn’t stop in the wilderness of temptation

He didn’t stop on the road with Peter’s suggestion

He didn’t stop in the Garden when he prayed if it be your will let this cup pass from me nevertheless not my will but your will be done

He didn’t stop on the cross when he could have called ten thousand angels - all he’d have to do is nod his head - but he didn’t nod, he didn’t call them- he went all the way

He didn’t stop in the tomb- it wasn’t over yet, sure it was Friday, but Sunday was coming - He wasn’t keeping the tomb, he was only borrowing it, He only needed a place for the weekend but he didn’t stop - Come Sunday morning the earth trembled, a bright light came and the Son of God who was dead resurrected in life and power!!!

He didn’t stop at the sea shore asking Peter if he really loved him and to feed his lambs

He didn’t stop in the upper room when he made a stop to assist Thomas’s faith

He didn’t stop on the Mountain when he started to rise and he ascended up into the clouds and the disciples received the promise that He would return again

He still hasn’t stopped - He went all the way - He went the distance

There are several examples in scripture of those who were just enamored or engrossed with Jesus that I want to bring to our attention.

Judas - was a called disciple, was sent out two by two, apparently was used to perform miracles, but he didn’t fully subscribe to all that Jesus taught.

He embezzled money from the treasury, he made plans and carried them out to betray Jesus

can I just say a surface disciple will betray Jesus every time -

Looking on you might not have been able to tell the difference between Peter and Judas - but Peter with all of his problems was going to go the distance - Judas was only going for what he could get out of it and it cost him everything

I think of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 who agreed together to only go part of the way, to almost give all, to keep back part of the price- what a terrible tragedy ensued.

You will always loose when you only go part way

If the KS City chiefs wide receiver, running back, or whoever has the ball stops before the line, or fumbles the ball, or is tackled and looses the ball - this is what we’re talking about in Judas and Ananias and Sapphira

We don’t have to let the enemy win

I’ve been repeating recently the saying, “God hasn’t brought us this far to only bring us this far”

we are going the distance

Peter is a prime example to us did you know the first and last things said to him in the Bible by Jesus is “Follow me”

And we see Peter in all of his mistakes and blunders follow Him all the way.

When he fell he always fell forward

He was going to go the distance!!!

The challenge to us today - are we willing to go all the way? Are we willing to go the distance???

I challenge you to not just be interested and engrossed with Jesus or his teachings (as good as that is) embrace Christ and the cross - deny yourself, take up your cross, follow Christ

GO THE DISTANCE!!!