The Cost to Follow (Luke 9:18-26)

Luke 9:18–26 NLT

18 One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 19 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead.” 20 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!” 21 Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. 22 “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” 23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.

In Matthew’s telling of this story, he details that Jesus and the disciples are at Caesarea Philippi

Before there was a city in Caesarea Philippi there was a spring. It flowed from a cave in the limestone bedrock and became a place of worship to the infamous Baal gods. 

After Alexander the Great’s conquest of the region 1000 years of Hellenization transformed the culture. The spring and emerging city became the place of worship to the pagan god Pan. Pan was the goat-footed god of victory who created panic in its enemies and the lord of desolate places. The spring was named Panias or Banias and was part of the headwaters for the Jordan River flowing south.

A few years before Jesus was born, Phillip the Tetrarch established the city as an administrative capital for his governance. It sits 117 KM or about 73 miles north of Jerusalem. The ruins from Phillips time remain intact to this day and reveal the deep influence of the Roman Empire during the time of Christ. While Jesus was a teenager the city was formally named Caesarea. It would later be referred to as Caesarea Philippi to distinguish it from the Coastal city of Caesarea Maritima. (Matt 16, Mark 8, Luke 9) 

The synoptic gospels tell of Jesus coming to this area. It was here that Jesus asked his disciples what people were saying about him. He concludes this dialog with the poignant question that all believers must answer, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon son of Jonah declared that Jesus was the Son of the Living God. Jesus responded by changing his name to Peter and announcing, “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18)

This declaration is deeply rooted in the geography of this place. The pagan worship and the cave from which the spring bubbled were known as “The Gates of Hell.” 

Later extra-biblical traditions tell of a woman named Veronica being from here. She being the “bleeding woman” who was healed by touching Jesus’ garment. After the Muslim conquest in the 600’s the city rapidly declined and is today an archaeological site.

Pilgrims visit from all over the world because of the well preserved ruins and to come face to face with Jesus most poignant question, “Who do you say that I am?”"

Definitions are Important

Luke 9:18–20 NLT

18 One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 19 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead.” 20 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!”

Before heading to Jerusalem, Jesus wants to KNOW for certain whether or not those who are with him UNDERSTAND WHO he is and WHAT his mission/purpose is.

So while alone with the disciples he asks 2 questions

1 - Who do others say that I am?

2- Who do YOU say that I am?

These questions are valuable.

First, that get a temperature, so to speak, of the room. What are others saying about me?

The answers are that Jesus’ ministry is like that of the prophets. And, this is partially true. Jesus’ ministry, like that of the prophets, was aimed a challenging the political and religious authorities and their assumptions. It was a ministry aimed at highlighting God’s desires and God’s truth against the backdrop of the misunderstandings of God’s ways. And, it was a ministry that called people to SEE AND EXPERIENCE the NEW that God was bringing about.

But, this is what OTHERS say about Jesus...

So, Jesus asks the disciples the more important question. And, truthfully, it is the question we ALL must ask ourselves about Jesus. Really, it is NOT important what others say or think about Jesus, what is important is what WE TESTIFY about Jesus.

So, Jesus asks, what about YOU? Who do YOU say that I am?

And Peter answers, “You are the Messiah”

Messiah? = The One Anointed by God who had been promised to usher in God’s Kingdom and God’s Reign.

The definitions of other people about Jesus were correct. Jesus DID have a prophetic ministry that drew people to see that God was doing something New.

However, Peter’s confession was NOT SIMPLY that he was a prophet who called people to SEE what God was doing. Jesus was the Messiah, the Anointed One from God, who GOD WAS USING TO BRING IN THE KINGDOM!

In other words, Jesus wasn’t ismply a spokesperson providing a commercial about God’s Kingdom Coming - Jesus was the PRODUCER - the Messiah- who was bringing in the Kingdom.

But, what is meant by Messiah?

By the time of Jesus’ ministry the people knew that the Messiah would bring God’s Kingdom, but the RUB, so to speak, was HOW the Messiah would do such a thing.

For us, rooted in 2,000 years of Christian thought, we have a difficult time understanding the Messiah differently than how Jesus portrayed the Messiah.

However, for Jews in Jesus day, the expectation was that the Messiah would be like King David. He would be one who would slay his enemies and remove all the evil, non chosen people from Israel. He would again unite the Hebrew people as the true chosen and called people of God.

The people expected a political leader who would rebel against Roman rule, who would kill Romans and those who side with Rome. And who would set up an earthly, political kingdom, with Jerusalem as its capitol. They EXPECTED God’s Kingdom to come in a COMPLETELY, and SOLELY physical way...

But, that is NOT the way of Jesus the Messiah… He defines Messiah differently.

Jesus Redefines “Messiah” as Suffering Servant

Jesus combines 2 ideas in how He defines His role as Messiah.

There is indeed the political idea that Jesus comes to bring God’s Kingdom. But this Kingdom doesn’t have physical boundaries and land attached to it. Ultimately, Jesus calls us to recognize that ALL THE COSMOS is the Kingdom of God. So, Jesus is come to restore the ENTIRE KINGDOM. But, this Kingdom was not taken from the Kings hands by politics and wars over land - those are symptoms.

This Kingdom is molested by the Great Enemy - SIN and Death. And, in order for the Messiah to restore this Kingdom to its rightful King the Messiah MUST deal with the enemy (not Rome or Greece or Spain or Greenland or Canada or Russia or Ukraine...) HE MUST DEAL WITH SIN AND DEATH!

And that it where the 2nd idea of the role of Messiah comes into play.

Isaiah, in his prophecy, deals with one who is called by God (anointed, you could actually say) to suffer on behalf of the people. And, through this one’s suffering the community would be made better and whole.

Jesus fuses the expectation of Messiah with the promise of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah to define WHAT exactly the Messiah would do.

Yes, HE is the Messiah - but that looks like one who would SUFFER on behalf of the people/Kingdom.

Twice in the readings this week Jesus predicts his suffering

Luke 9:21–22 NLT

21 Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. 22 “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

Luke 9:43–45 NLT

43 Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power. While everyone was marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, 44 “Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.” 45 But they didn’t know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

So, Peter is Correct that Jesus is the Messiah, but now the Disciples are informed that Jesus as the Messiah would suffer, die, and through THAT DEATH conquer the enemy of the Kingdom.

And, that is the Messiah we are invited to follow! And, this is a difficult pill to swallow. Are we prepared to follow this Messiah?

Jesus invites His Followers to Count the Cost of Following

There will be a cost to follow this type of Messiah!

It is EASY to follow someone in a parade that looks victorious.

How many people begin rooting for a team because they win all the time (or change sides at half to cheer for the winning team)

It is easy to side with the winning team. But, it takes COURAGE to side with those who look like losers. It takes COURAGE to be a Dallas Cowboys fan (or a Chicago fan of ANY sport...).

But, Jesus is clear, he will, for a time, look like a loser. In his loss will actually be the victory, but he will look like a loser.

But, it is more than that, those who follow, must follow the path of the loser. They MUST Be prepared to pay the Losers Price to follow Jesus.

Luke 9:23–26 NLT

23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.

So often we read this figuratively. We must be willing to “bear our cross” and deal with the annoyances of life.

BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT JESUS IS REFERRING TO

In carrying our cross, in giving up our life, in not being ashamed of Jesus and Jesus’ message… JESUS IS LITERALLY TALKING ABOUT OUR CRUCIFIXION JUST LIKE HIS...

When someone was crucified they had to carry their own cross (or the crossbeam) to the site of crucifixion...

Jesus is LITERALLY telling his disciples that they MUST be prepared to be killed JUST LIKE HIM!

Every one of the 12 disciples of Jesus (except for Judas who took his own life before the resurrection) was PERSONALLY persecuted for their faith that Jesus, although crucified, dead, and buried, lives again and they SAW HIM! The only one who didn’t die was John, but it is not because they didn’t try to kill him - he just didn’t die...

James (Son of Zebedee and brother of John) was beheaded (44Ad)

Philip evangelized upper Asia and was scourged (or whipped with the barbed whips like Jesus) and crucified (54 AD)

Matthew took the Gospel to Parthia and Ethiopia he was slain with a halberd (an ax with a spike on top) (60AD)

James (the half brother of Jesus) he was beat and stoned by the Jews and had his brains dashed out with a club

Matthias (who was elected to take Judas’ place) was stoned in Jerusalem and beheaded

Andrew (the brother of Peter) took the Gospel to many Asian countries. He was crucified on a cross that made the shape of an “X”

Mark was converted to Christianity by Peter. It is believed that he wrote Peter’s stories of the Gospel (we call it the Gospel of Mark today). Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria.

Peter was crucified outside the city of Rome. Declaring himself to be unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord, he asked to be crucified upside down. The Romans kindly obliged to his request.

Paul, not an original of the 12, but one who was converted about 3 years after the resurrection (VERY EARLY IN THE SCHEME OF HISTORY). He took the Gospel to Turkey, Asia, Greece, was beheaded in Rome, possibly after taking the Gospel further to Spain.

Jude was crucified in Edessa (Turkey) (72 AD)

Bartholomew translated Matthew’s Gospel from Hebrew into a language of India. He was beaten and then crucified.

Thomas preached in Parthia and also in India (where he took the Gospel to in India the Church of the Nazarene is forming a new district KEROLA). He was thrust through with a spear.

Luke who was converted by Paul and wrote a detailed account of Jesus and the Apostles (Luke and Acts). He was hanged on an olive tree in Greece.

Simon, the Zealot, took the Gospel to Africa and even Britain where he was crucified in 74 AD

John, the seven churches in Revelation, of modern day Turkey, were founded by him. He was thrown into a pot of boiling oil, but was unscathed! He was then banished to the Island of Patmos. He was the ONLY Apostle who escaped violent death...

Barnabas was martyred around 73 AD but it is unclear how. He was possibly stoned to death, or dragged through the city by his neck and then burned.

A little later in the story of Luke 9 we read...

Luke 9:57–62 NLT

57 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” 59 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” 62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

What is the cost?

Jesus provides the realization that the cost to follow COULD be our very life!

Are YOU prepared to pay that cost?

CONCLUDING REMARKS

What would it look like if EVERY Christian followed Jesus this way?If we all counted the cost of discipleship, put Christ’s will ahead of ours, and followed, even to the point of DEATH!?

What would it look like if we actually LIVED the crucified life that says

Galatians 2:20 NLT

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Colossians 3:1–3 NLT

1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.

What if we ACTUALLY surrendered ourselves and was willing to pick up a cross - even one that calls us to suffer for the Gospel?

What if we allowed ourselves to live like losers to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

THIS IS THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP! Are you willing to PAY that PRICE?

Sunday PM Discussion Questions

1. What sticks out to you most about this text?

2. What does a deeper commitment to Jesus look like in your life?

3. What area of your life do you need to fully surrender to God?

4. What’s standing between you and wholehearted devotion to Christ?

5. Share a story about a time in your life when living out God’s will came at great personal cost. If you cannot think of a story of your own, feel free to share one you know about another believer’s devotion.