One-Week 6

STORY - As a parent, some things change when your kids or spouse aren’t around.

But there are some things that we push for our kids as values, that we absolutely practice when they aren’t around.

It shows you how many things are foundational to who you are - versus what things you’re doing just because it may be a good idea.

Last week, we talked about this story between Jesus and Peter (Good job! GET BEHIND ME SATAN).

This is what Jesus taught DIRECTLY after that.

Mark 8:34–38 NIV

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

So, Jesus sees in Peter that peter’s following Jesus - BUT. Is following Jesus foundational to who Peter is, or is it more of a surface thing.

So Jesus in his typical fashion,drills RIGHT DOWN to what the core issue is with Peter.

Being a disciple costs us everything

Jesus reminds him - he says, being a disciple is about denying ourselves.

Matthew 10:37–39 NIV

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Now, Jesus isn’t saying here, you have to abandon your family to follow him. (CULT LIKE)

The thing is - Jesus is right. About everything. And he knows the past, the future, he knows the beginning and the end. And being a disciple is about understanding that being connected to him is more important than anything.

And sometimes, the truth brings us into conflict with people around us. Even people we love dearly.

STORY - Wearing a helmet. I love my kids, I don’t love their opinion of what is right over what is actually right. Being a parent involves times of saying, I don’t care if I make you angry or you hate me - I need to protect you here.

Jesus is saying -this is the only real, true way to life. And if you’re willing to give it up for some other reason - any other reason - you’ll miss it.

This principle - that being a disciple costs is - is so important that Jesus in Luke 14 literally tells the crowds of people, if you’re going to follow me - you need to understand the cost. He likens it to building a tower and running out of money, or being a king at war and running out of soldiers.

Then he says, in the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciple.

That begs the question:

Will you give everything to Jesus?

The thing is, we can’t follow Jesus halfway. It won’t get us there. (FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS ONLY HALFWAY)

The only way this works is if we’re all in. And Jesus knows that - and we need to trust him on that.

But we hear this, and we think, ok, i’m gonna lose everything. We think that maybe Jesus is in this just to take stuff apart. And I can understand that - this is a cruel world, and lots of people would certain jump at that chance.

But that’s not Jesus. His goal is restoring us, healing us, saving us, bringing us into perfection.

There’s another side to this coin:

Being a disciple rewards us with everything

But in this same section for Peter, he says, ‘Whoever seeks to save their life will lose it, but whoever is willing to lose their life for Jesus and for the gospel will save it.’ That almost sounds paradoxical.

On another occassion, Jesus has this encounter with a man.

Matthew 19:16–22 NIV

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Notice a little thing this man missed. Jesus didn’t say, go sell your possessions, give to the poor - and then follow me. He said (THAT) and then you’ll have treasure in heaven.

Matthew 19:27–29 NIV

Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

Jesus knows he’s calling us to sacrifice. But it’s not sacrifice for nothing at all

Jesus has amazing things in store for us - now and in eternity.

I can say from experience - the eternal things are way more rewarding.

So it’s less, just get rid of stuff. And it’s more, trade the small things you have for the big things Jesus has.

Jesus once called this process of trusting Him and his priorities ‘putting our treasures in heaven’.

When we recognize that HERE is temporary, and THERE is eternal, it shifts our perspective of value.

Temporary things give temporary rewards. Eternal things give eternal rewards.

STORY - They say in a marriage, ask yourself - when you have a fight, are you going to care about this topic that much next week? Are you going to remember the topic in a month? If not - how important is it?

Jesus teaches us - some topics are eternal topics. Our sins, our faith, our trust, how we direct our lives.

And some topics are temporary ones - our wealth, our jobs, our vacation plans.

Jesus says - when we follow him, he’ll start trading the temporary for the eternal.

One day, we’ll stand before the Lord, and he’ll weigh the value of our lives (pile things up and burn).

Jesus’ goal on that day is that our lives are gold.

The Cost is Worth It

John 3:16–17 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Jesus loves us, and he gave everything so that we didn’t have to face death - that we could have life instead.

Whatever we may lose - it’s all perishing. But this is real, eternal life that Jesus is offering us.