What’s In It For Me?

If you suddenly came up on $10M, enough to live more than comfortably, would you quit your job?

I mean, why do you work?

Faced with a decision, maybe a new job, house, etc., you make a list, right?

Pros and Cons - how will this benefit ME!

The disciples, and us, can often ask that same question when faced with surrendering to Jesus: What’s in it for me?

The reality of encountering Jesus, pushing back against our human, selfish self - and that question comes up

READ: John 13:21-38

Jesus knows our potential responses

He is affected by each

1) Betrayal

Truly saddens Jesus

Troubled - deep anguish, emotional - facing the prospect of death and a friend is the betrayer

Yeah, He knew it - but He experiences the reality of a true side of human nature

Both in Judas and His own realization

Betrayal is the reality, the result, when Jesus doesn’t fit your wants

Because your wants are not shaped by what Jesus wants you to desire

We’ll turn away from someone or something that doesn’t provide us what we want

Because that person or situation can’t put enough in the “Pros” column

? We’ll quit a job that isn’t superficially satisfying

We’ll quit a family that isn’t superficially satisfying

We’ll quit a church that isn’t superficially satisfying

Judas found Jesus “unsatisfying” to him - superficially, selfishly

Q - Does Jesus truly satisfy you? If not, the issue is not Jesus…

Jesus then suggests something NEW, even RADICAL

(Even though it’s not really new)

2) Loving One Another

Here is what you get from following Jesus

The great opportunity to put yourself aside and give to others - that is love

Because of His love for us, first

This is the way God has always related to people, loving them first

10 Commandments - starts with love and what Yahweh did for them

Look at Exodus 20 - (GO THERE) Yahweh initiated action, response of obedience makes sense

You cannot love - self-giving - without understanding that action of Jesus

You cannot say you understand the loving action of Jesus and not love others.

Christian Motorcyclists Association story

LOVE IN ACTION!

Church community is supposed to be like this

Finding opportunities to give, to love

Most people mentally make a pros and cons list of church (sure, no perfect church)

People have left here, for something they expected to GET, and now go NOWHERE

I challenge people to come, understand their gifts, and use them here

Giving, serving, being an active part of the body

TRUTH - Too many people in too many churches can end up as unsatisfied if they do not understand giving and loving one another

If you come seeking what you want from church, you will ALWAYS be disappointed, or you will have an itch scratched short-term

If you come to give, in the true spirit of Christ, you will enjoy fellowship the way God intended

Jesus then brings it home with the response He truly desires

3) Laying Down Your Life

Peter’s issue - “What’s in it for me?” Recall the context of Matt 19:27

Matthew 19:27 NASB95

Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?”

Peter would have been good to leave off that last part

But he’s honest

And to be fair, Jesus says to count the cost…Luke 14:28

Luke 14:28 NASB95

“For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?

You don’t build a house without knowing what it will cost

You don’t go on vacation…

Maybe a better example

You don’t (or shouldn’t) get married without being prepared for the cost and the work ahead

Believer - you are part of the bride of Christ

Let me, no - let JESUS - tell you what it costs to be in this relationship with you…

YOUR LIFE

Your old life - rubbish, as Paul says - old self is put away, Phil 3:8

Philippians 3:8 NASB95

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

Your old life, the one you lived for YOU - gone - if you are a surrendered disciple

Your new life - set apart for Christ

He now owns you - He bought you

1 Corinthians 6:20 NASB95

For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

NOW - glorify GOD with that body, since the spirit is born again

You now have the power to fight back against the flesh, the desires, the sin

Peter makes a bold statement

“I will lay down my life for You”

Easy to say, difficult to do

Jesus is right to say “Will you?”

To sacrifice one’s life for a cause - that is laying down one’s life

You won’t do this for something you don’t believe in or trust in

So-called Christians who live in the flesh, for the flesh, for themselves - they don’t really believe in or trust in the cause of Christ

Jesus the example:

Laid down His life for His friends

John 10:11, 15, 17, 18

CLOSE:

Jesus is hurt by betrayal

…yet he forgives anyone who will ask

Jesus is the perfect example of loving, selflessly giving

He initiated the love He now expects you to share

GOD HAS ALWAYS MOVED FIRST - Loving

A response is required

Live for YOU, or…

Lay down your life

Maybe something is keeping you from a fully-surrendered disciple-life

Whatever it is in your life that is not worth giving up for Christ

You need to decide, count the cost

Jesus asks Peter - “Will you…?”

Jesus asks you - “Will you…?”

Well, He’d like an answer

OH…what’s in it for you? JOY…PEACE - “Well done”