Crosswalk: Living Out the Cost of Following Jesus

Matthew 16:24–25 “24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.”

Luke 9:23, is a passage that boldly invites us to explore that there is a true cost of following Jesus.

It costs to follow Jesus Christ, but it costs more not to.

Anonymous

Here, amidst the echo of Christ’s call in red letters, is an invitation to a life of radical self-denial and unyielding commitment—a call not to mere belief, but to a vibrant, active discipleship that aligns our lives with the divine purpose.

"Crosswalk: Living Out the Cost of Following Jesus," this message is a message that takes us to examine our personal cross amidst the chaos of life’s struggles, societal demands, and cultural distractions.

In embracing these crosses, daunting as they may seem, we uncover pathways to deeper faith and personal growth.

The journey to carrying the cross is not a journey of isolation but of communal transformation—a pilgrimage from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness.

Transition Statement:

As we reflect on the profound words of Luke 9:23, we are confronted with the challenging call to put self aside, carry the cross, and follow Jesus faithfully. Let us now explore the implications of these verses and consider how we can practically apply them to our lives.

1. Putting Self Aside

Luke 9:23a

Today, we find ourselves living in a world of self-gratification. Self-gratification is glorified.

With the rise of platforms like instagram and TicToc. There is an emphasis on presenting a curated idealized version of yourself that seeks the likes and attentions of others.

When it comes to consumer culture: There is a prevalence in our culture to seek out new experiences, products and services that provide and fill the necessities of individuals.

However, there is a counter culture message that screams from the pages of the bible.

That message says “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him/her deny themselves.

The world today is about self gratification, however.

If you want to follow Jesus, there is a prerequisite.

The prerequisite is to deny self.

Self-denial is sacrificing personal desires for the benefit of others or a greater goal, requiring discipline and humility.

This phrase literally means “to completely disown, to utterly separate oneself from someone.”

This is the same word that is described when peter denied Jesus 3 times.

What are we willing to disown, or separate from in order to follow Jesus.

The biggest thing that we got to do is to let go of the control.

Anyone who intends to follow him must let him lead.

Some of us tell Jesus to take the wheel and then we snatch it back from him.

What are the things in your life that are not allowing him to lead you.

Denying yourself is not something that is fun.

We don’t typically wake up every morning and say “I can’t wait to deny myself today!”

But in order to experience the lordship and provision of Christ on earth, you must be willing to say “No” to yourself

Application:

I see a type of automatic negative thinking that affects a lot of people. Often so many people are often quick to defend themselves when something goes wrong. Instead of blaming others take responsibility for your part. We often focus on protecting how we look, because we don’t want to look bad. But by focusing on on solutions you demonstrate humility and self denial.

2. Carrying the Cross

Luke 9:23b

In order to pick something up you have to lay something down first.

Not everyone is fit to carry the cross.

When Jesus says that we are to take up the cross we are to do it as dead men.

To pick up the cross “is a death march.”

To take your cross is not dealing with your wife or husband.

To take your cross is not dealing with your problematic children.

Your cross is not even the difficulties or bad situations that you are facing.

When we take up the CROSS it means to willingly pick up and carry the shame that Jesus did.

illustration: Those who carried the cross were men that were mocked. Today when someone carries a cross people cheer. But in the biblical days men were made fun of.

The cross meant rejection.

The cross meant suffering and death.

There were two other men at Golgotha with Jesus. These two men went to the cross against there will. Nonetheless, Jesus chose to pick up his cross for everyone to see.

Jesus could of refused to take up the cross but he didn’t

A.W. Tozer said that the difference between sainthood and mediocrity is the decision to pick up the cross.

He left us an example to follow.

Taking up your Cross means following jesus regardless of what it costs you.

3. Following Faithfully

Luke 9:23c

Jesus says that we have deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him.

Jesus’ call to follow him is not a one time event, it is a journey.

This is a journey that requires persistence and resilience.

Miriam Webster dictionary says that persistence is an uninterrupted or lasting existence.

Resilience is the ability to bounce back.

We need both of these things in order to be faithful in our journey.

A faithful person takes up his cross daily and doesn’t abandon it.

Your going to fall, but you got to get up in faith.

Brother and sisters you got to support each other. We have got to encourage each other and uplift each other in this communal journey.

The cross got difficult to carry.

The cross can get difficult to carry at times, but there is always help.

I believe that GOD places a man by the name Simone of Cyrene to be at the right place and right time.

Mark 15:21 “21 They forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus’s cross. He was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.”

What are you going to do when your brother needs you and he needs help carrying the cross.

Matthew 5:41 “41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.”