"The Cost of Discipleship: Bearing the Marks of Christ"

Main Text: Luke 14:25-27 (NASB 1995) "Now large crowds were going along with Him, and He turned and said to them, 'If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.'"

Introduction: Jesus’ call to discipleship in this passage is one of the most convicting and challenging commands in the New Testament. It confronts our modern comfort-seeking, self-preserving tendencies with the radical cost of following Him. In a world that elevates personal comfort and individual rights, Jesus calls His disciples to total allegiance, self-denial, and suffering. This is not an invitation to easy-believism or consumer Christianity but a call to carry our cross, renounce ourselves, and follow Him wherever He leads. In this sermon, we will explore three points that reveal the depth of this call, using cross-references to reinforce the biblical foundations of these truths. Point 1: Renouncing Earthly Ties: The Radical Demand of Allegiance to Christ Key Verse: Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple." Biblical Cross References: Matthew 10:37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." Jesus restates the priority of loyalty to Him over family ties. Our love for Christ must be greater than even the closest relationships we have on earth. Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before Me." This command from the Decalogue serves as a foundation for understanding Jesus’ words. Any love, loyalty, or relationship that supersedes Christ can become an idol, competing for the throne in our hearts.

Theological Term: Christocentricity Jesus' demand here centers around the concept of Christocentricity—making Christ the absolute center of our lives. Jesus uses the strong word "hate" to emphasize that our love and devotion to Him must be so great that all other affections seem insignificant in comparison. He does not literally mean we should despise our families, but rather that our allegiance to Him should take priority over even the most intimate human bonds. Word Study: "Hate" (miseō): This term is used hyperbolically here, meaning to love less or subordinate. It emphasizes the high cost of following Christ and the totality of the devotion required. "Disciple" (mathētēs): In Greek culture, a disciple was more than just a student; it was someone who sought to emulate their teacher’s life and teachings. Jesus’ use of this term challenges us to not merely admire Him but to truly follow Him in every aspect of our lives.

Biblical Illustration: In Genesis 22, Abraham is called to sacrifice Isaac, his beloved son, demonstrating that even the most cherished relationships must be subordinate to obedience to God. Abraham’s willingness to offer up Isaac on the altar prefigures the kind of radical faith and devotion Jesus calls for. In the end, God provided a substitute, but Abraham’s act of trust shows what it means to prioritize God above all else.

Point 2: Carrying the Cross: The Cost of Sacrifice and Suffering

Key Verse: Luke 14:27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." Biblical Cross References: Matthew 16:24-25 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.'" Jesus consistently teaches that discipleship involves self-denial and a willingness to bear suffering for His sake. The cross is not just an emblem of faith; it is the reality of a disciple’s life. Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Paul exemplifies the life of cruciformity, being identified with Christ’s death so that Christ's life might be manifested in him. Bearing the cross means death to self and living by the power of Christ.

Theological Term: Cruciformity The call to "carry the cross" signifies a life of cruciformity, meaning that our lives are shaped by the pattern of the cross. The cross is not merely a symbol of salvation but the pathway to a transformed life of sacrificial obedience. Cruciformity calls us to embrace the suffering and hardship that comes with following Christ, trusting that through it, God brings resurrection life.

Word Study: "Cross" (stauros): In Roman times, the cross was a brutal instrument of execution, symbolizing shame, suffering, and death. To "carry the cross" is a call to embrace the suffering and self-denial that come with following Christ. "Come after" (erchomai opisō): This phrase implies more than mere intellectual assent or casual following. It calls for an active, ongoing pursuit of Christ, even if it leads to suffering or death.

Biblical Illustration: In Acts 7, Stephen, the first Christian martyr, carries his cross literally to the point of death. As he is stoned for his testimony of Christ, he prays for his persecutors, embodying cruciformity by following in the footsteps of his Lord. Stephen’s example challenges us to consider: Are we willing to endure hardship, shame, or even death for the sake of Christ? Point 3: Losing Your Life to Gain It: The Call to Die to Self Key Verse: Luke 14:26b "Yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple." Biblical Cross References: John 12:24-25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal." Jesus illustrates that true life comes through death—dying to self in this life in order to gain eternal life. The principle of self-sacrifice is embedded in the natural order, as well as in the spiritual life of a believer. Philippians 3:8 "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." Paul echoes Jesus’ teaching by expressing that everything else is worthless in comparison to gaining Christ. To lose one's life is to renounce personal gains for the sake of knowing Christ.

Theological Term: Kenosis Kenosis, or self-emptying, refers to the humility and surrender of one’s own will for the sake of Christ, as described in Philippians 2:7 where Jesus "emptied Himself" by becoming a servant and dying on a cross. Just as Christ emptied Himself, we are called to empty ourselves of our own ambitions, desires, and plans in order to follow Him fully.

Word Study: "Life" (psychē): Refers not just to physical life but to the totality of a person’s soul and identity. Jesus demands the renunciation of our personal autonomy and control, surrendering our very sense of self to Him.Biblical Illustration: In Luke 9:23-24, Jesus declares that those who want to follow Him must "deny themselves, take up their cross daily," reinforcing the idea that following Him is a continuous act of self-denial. The rich young ruler in Mark 10 is an example of someone who was unwilling to renounce his life to follow Christ, highlighting the challenge of Jesus’ call to die to self.

Conclusion: The call to discipleship is costly. It requires us to renounce earthly ties, bear our own cross, and lose our very lives for the sake of Christ. In a world that promotes self-fulfillment, Jesus calls us to self-denial. In a culture that values comfort, He calls us to take up our cross. In a society that seeks to preserve life at all costs, He calls us to lose our lives so that we may find them in Him. The question before us is not whether we admire Jesus but whether we are truly willing to follow Him, no matter the cost.