Discipleship: How To Follow Jesus Christ - Matthew 16:24-28

Introduction: How long have you been following Jesus Christ? Allow people to respond with their answers… (Wait).

   I came to Christ at the age of 17 (November 14, 1976). I have been walking with Christ for 48 years now! I can’t imagine living life without knowing Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Following Jesus Christ has been the most thrilling journey of my life—I wouldn’t trade it for anything! It is the BETTER LIFE! However, it has not been a journey free of problems. But in all my problems, Jesus Christ has never forsaken me. He has carried me through them all.

   Hear me today—following Jesus Christ is a call to discipleship, which is a radical surrender of one’s life. It’s like in the stories where someone saves a person, and then that person says, “I will be your slave, and serve you the rest of my life.” Discipleship is complete dedication to Jesus Christ. He is my Master teacher. I choose to imitate His life.

   A.W. Tozer penned, “The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven’t yet come to the end of themselves. We’re still trying to give orders, and interfering with God’s work within us.”

   As we approach Matthew 16:24-28, we are going to look at what is necessary for following Jesus Christ. How can we be disciples of Christ in today’s world? Is it possible? I would say, yes, it is possible, and here’s how…

1. Deny Yourself - 16:24

   “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

   I love the two words that this verse begins with: “If anyone”—those words include us. You and I are the “If anyone” in the text. Next, Jesus adds, “desires to come after Me.” Do you have a desire to pursue Jesus Christ? Are you going after Jesus Christ today?

   There is one of two ways we can live our lives:

1. We can pretend that we are following Jesus Christ, but in reality, we are doing our own thing and living for self.

2. We can surrender fully and completely to Jesus Christ. He has all of us. What will our choice be?

   J.C. Ryle said, “The flesh must be crucified daily. The devil must be daily resisted. The world must be daily overcome. There is a warfare to be waged and a battle to be fought.”

   Self-denial is a key to following Jesus Christ. True discipleship means saying no to fleeting desires of the flesh and yes to the eternal purpose God has for us.

   Jim Sowers, a former deacon here at SLBC, said to me, “When you ask me to do something, I will say yes, for how can I say no to the work of God.”

   There are three decisions this text tells us to make. All three of them are in what is called the present tense, which means that we must continually heed them. They are something we must do daily. Here they are:

1. Deny self—self must be placed last. This is only possible when you are following Jesus Christ.

2. Take up his cross—we must die to self. I have read that this means to “lift up”—it implies a lifting up of the cross on high so that all may see it. In Luke’s gospel, he adds, “daily.”

3. Follow Me—follow Jesus’ example—imitate Christ.

   What are some ways that we can carry out those three decisions today:

· Inspect our heart daily (Proverbs 4:23). What desires or habits do you need to surrender to God?

· Pray for strength to say no to things that hinder your walk with Christ.

· Practice self-discipline (under control of the Holy Spirit).

   Charles Spurgeon, the prince of preachers, stated, “There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below.” Denial of self is not loss but gain—an exchange of temporal for eternal.

   Oh, beloved, don’t miss what he has said in that quote: “denial of self is not loss but gain—an exchange of temporal for eternal.”

2. Lose Your Life - 16:25

   For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

   In verse 24, we read, “If anyone,” and verse 25 reads, “For whoever”—same idea! Also, the word “desires” carries the same meaning as it did in verse 24; however, in verse 24, the “desires” was directed at following Jesus Christ, whereas the “desires” here in verse 25 is directed at saving one’s life.

   B.B. Barton wrote, “The Greek word for ‘life’ is psuche, referring to the soul, the part of the person that includes the personality with all its dreams, hopes, and goals.”

   You can’t be a disciple of Jesus Christ if you are chasing your own dreams, hopes, and goals. The ultimate purpose for the believer is to live for Jesus Christ. If you try and save your own life, you will lose it.

   Underline the “but” used here in the text. This word provides a transition, a contrast between two thoughts.

   But whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

   David Platt, in his Exalting Jesus in Matthew Commentary, writes, “Oh, the great reversal. Live for yourself, and you will die. Die to yourself, and you will live.”

   We must lose our lives to truly find them. Surrender to Jesus all aspects of your life, and you will be amazed at what you will get back. I love the words that Jesus spoke in Matthew 6:33,

   But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

   You can either grab hold of this life with all you have, or you can let go of this life and let God lead. True disciples will let go of their lives and allow God to lead them.

   The hymn writer stated it well,

All to Jesus I surrender,

All to Him I freely give.

   How can we take steps to lose our lives to truly gain them?

· Acknowledge areas of self-interest. Give those areas to God.

· Commit your dreams, goals, ambitions, relationships, and all your possessions to God.

· Look back over your life and see how surrendering key areas of your life to Jesus Christ has deepened your faith.

   I absolutely love the quote that martyred missionary Jim Elliot wrote in his journal, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

   Hear this: Losing our lives for Christ is the path to eternal joy.

3. Pay the Price - 16:26

   For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

   Please note here that this verse is two questions:

1. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

2. Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

   Years ago, I read about a guy who said that he climbed the corporate ladder, sacrificing his family, his health, and his integrity for success. But once at the top, he discovered how hollow it was because he had forfeited what truly mattered. He said, “I climbed the ladder of success only to discover that the ladder was on the wrong wall.” Jesus reminds us that nothing—not wealth, not power, not fame, not anything—is worth the price of our souls.

   One problem that I see is that people often pay the price far too long before they realize all that they have really lost in life. You and I cannot regain lost time, family relationships, or even marital bliss. If we sacrifice all these things for the things that have no lasting value, we are the ones who have lost so much.

   How can we pay the price today to keep what is eternal—our soul? I would suggest that we take the following steps:

· Reassess your priorities. Are you pursuing temporary gains at the expense of eternal rewards?

· Align your daily decisions with spiritual values.

· Spend time in Scripture to cultivate an eternal perspective.

· Tithe your time to the Lord. Give Him 10% of your week. Look for ways to serve God in your church and community.

   Randy Alcorn writes, “You can’t take it with you, but you can send it ahead.” Investing in God’s kingdom is the only investment with eternal returns. It has been said that God pays dividends that are out of this world.

4. Anticipate Christ’s Return - 16:27

   For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

   This verse finds its fulfillment in Revelation 19:11-16. Jesus will COME AGAIN! As KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!

   As I read this verse, my mind went to the word, incentive. Believers have an eternal incentive for following Jesus Christ. When Jesus comes a second time, He will reward those following Him according to their works (deeds).

   The ESV Commentary states, “The Lord will forget no good deed, will leave no sacrifice unrewarded.”

   Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:10,

   For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

   We are not saved by works, but we are saved unto good works. Amen.

   When Jesus comes a second time, He will see through the smoke screen and immediately determine if we lived for self-interest or if we lived for kingdom-interest.

   Now, bear in mind that this is not a salvation issue, but a reward issue. Salvation is by grace through faith plus nothing. Rewards require effort and engagement. The Bible speaks of five different crowns. Time doesn’t allow me to walk through them, but you can find them as you do some self-study in the New Testament.

   What do we know about Olympians? Athletes train tirelessly for years—they know what they are living for. Many of them are up at dark and train all day long—8 to 12 hours. They do the same thing over and over again, time and time again, day in and day out. They train so hard that they face physical pain, but they know that the sacrifice they make will be worth it when they stand on the podium to receive their medal. Likewise, our sacrifices for Christ will be richly rewarded when He returns. As believers, we must keep our eye on the prize (Hebrews 12:1). Ultimately, it is Jesus alone, but we also know that there will be rewards for faithfulness.

  Here are a few steps that will help us get across the finish line as we run the race that God has put before us (1 Corinthians 9:24-27):

· Focus on eternity and leave the rewards to Christ.

· Serve others selflessly, knowing your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

· Look at God's faithfulness in your life to spur you on to greater faithfulness in your own life.

   Apologist C.S. Lewis wrote, “If we consider the unblushing promises of reward promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.” The reward for following Christ far exceeds any earthly sacrifice.

5. Embrace Christ’s Kingdom - 16:28

   Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.

   Pastor Chuck Smith wrote, “This verse ought to be the first verse of chapter 17.”

   Jesus’ words here have been interpreted in various ways, but many scholars believe He was referring to the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8), where Peter, James, and John witnessed His divine glory. Others see it as a foreshadowing of His resurrection, ascension, or even the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2).

   Regardless of the specific fulfillment, the message is clear: The kingdom of God is a present reality, not just a future hope. Some of the disciples would witness glimpses of His glory before experiencing physical death, affirming that Christ’s kingdom was already breaking into the world.

   Warren Wiersbe wrote, “This statement would be fulfilled within a week on the Mount of Transfiguration.”

   There is a note in the Life Application Bible that reads, “Some people reading this passage have assumed that Jesus was promising that the disciples would not die before he came back to set up his glorious kingdom. Perhaps the disciples themselves at first thought that Jesus was referring to his glorious rule on earth. But the disciples have died, so this passage must be interpreted differently. Jesus’ transfiguration, which immediately follows (17:1–13), was a preview of that coming glory. At the Transfiguration, Peter, James, and John saw Jesus’ glory, identity, and power as the Son of God. In 2 Peter 1:16–18, Peter definitely says, ‘We told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ … we were eyewitnesses of his majesty’ (NIV). Thus, certain disciples were eyewitnesses to the power and glory of Christ’s kingdom. Jesus’ point was that his listeners would not have to wait for another Messiah because the kingdom was among them, and it would soon come in power.”

   So, once again, how do we take this final point and apply it to our daily lives? We can…

· Live with expectancy. Recognize that Christ’s kingdom is both a present reality and a future fulfillment. Live for Him today, and you will live with Him forever!

· Share the hope of Christ. Let others know that His return is certain, and His kingdom is at hand.

· Experience glimpses of His kingdom now. Through worship, service, and obedience, we see the power and presence of God in our lives.

Conclusion:Discipleship is not a casual decision; it is a commitment to surrender, sacrifice, and serve. But the rewards—both now and in eternity—are beyond measure.

  In Mark 10:29–30, we read,

   29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

   Jesus’ call to follow Him is a call to exchange the temporal for the eternal, the fleeting for the lasting, and self-interest for Christ-centered living. What will your decision be?

   Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.” Yet, in that death, we find true life, joy, and purpose. The question remains: Are you ready to follow Him, whatever the cost?