Be with Jesus

Introduction

Two weeks ago was Easter, we celebrated the empty tomb and discovered that this was just the beginning. "There is more to the story" when it comes to the resurrection—and today, we continue this journey by exploring how Jesus invites us into living a cross-centered life.

The empty tomb wasn't the end of the story; it was the beginning of a new way of living. Jesus didn't rise from the dead simply to prove He could, but to invite us into a completely new way of being human—what I'm calling the "Cross-Shaped Life.”

Central Idea:

The Cross-Shaped Life: Choosing to lose the world's way to win God's way.

Last week I asked you - "What would choosing to lose look like in this situation?"

Situation at: home, work, school - wherever.

How did it go?

Did you have a moment where your way of doing things collided with the Jesus way?

Over the next few weeks we will be exploring the invitation of Jesus to discipleship through three profound purposes:

Be with Jesus

Become like Jesus

Do what Jesus did

Today, we're diving deeper into that first purpose with this truth:

Before we can carry His cross, we must first sit at His feet.

The power to live a cross-shaped life flows from the presence of Christ within us.

The Mary and Martha Perspective

Let's turn to:

Luke 10:38–42 NIV

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

This story reveals two fundamentally different approaches to following Jesus:

Martha represents the world's way: proving our worth through constant activity and productivity

Mary represents God's way: finding our worth by simply being in His presence

The world tells us there is glory in busyness, achievement, and production. But Jesus commends Mary, saying she has chosen "what is better." There is more to the story than just serving Jesus—there is knowing Him more deeply.

The Paradox of the Cross-Shaped Life

Jesus taught a radical paradox about following Him. In Matthew 16:24-25, He said,

Matthew 16:24–25 NIV

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “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 will find it.

The cross represents:

Losing to win,

Surrendering to gain,

Dying to live.

But notice the sequence: before Jesus mentions carrying the cross, He talks about denial of self and following Him. The cross-shaped life begins not with our sacrifice, but with our surrender to His presence.

Being With Jesus Through the Holy Spirit

You and I experience the presence of Jesus today through the Holy Spirit.

In,

John 14:16 NIV

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.

This Advocate—the Holy Spirit—is described as "another like me"—a counselor, intercessor, helper, one who encourages and comforts.

There is more to the story than just trying to follow Jesus' example from a distance. Through the Holy Spirit, we can experience His actual presence guiding us moment by moment. The first and primary goal of apprenticeship to Jesus is learning to live in a constant state of awareness of and connection to the Holy Spirit.

I want to let you know now that we will have a response time at the end of service for those that would like to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, to empty your soul of sin through confession/repentance, to receive prayer for the indwelling of the spirit of God. 

The Vine and Branches: The Power Source of the Cross-Shaped Life

Jesus gives us a powerful metaphor in John 15:1-8 about remaining in Him. The Greek word used here is "menō"—meaning to remain, stay, dwell, live, or lodge with.

John 15:1–8 NIV

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

This is the essence of the cross-shaped life: dying to self-sufficiency and abiding in Christ. The cross isn't just a symbol of sacrifice; it's a symbol of connection—our life united with His. The branch has no life apart from the vine. It must surrender its independence to gain life.

Brother Lawrence called this "practicing the presence of God." He wrote:

"The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees before the Blessed Sacrament." Brother Lawrence

The Upside-Down Kingdom

Our culture celebrates what looks like success: self-promotion, independence, achievement, and building our own kingdoms. But Jesus revealed that there is more to the story—the kingdom of God operates by completely different principles:

The World's Way:

Power through strength

Greatness through position

Success through accumulation

Significance through visibility

Fulfillment through comfort

The Cross-Shaped Way:

Power through surrender

Greatness through service

Success through sacrifice

Significance through giving

Fulfillment through suffering

“The general human failing is to want what is right and important, but at the same time not to commit to the kind of life that will produce the action we know to be right and the condition we want to enjoy. This is the feature of human character that explains why the road to hell is paved with good intentions. We intend what is right, but we avoid the life that would make it reality.”

Dallas Willard

We want the resurrection without the cross,

The crown without the thorns,

The glory without the surrender.

But there is more to the story—the path to true life goes through death of self.

Distraction: The Enemy of Presence

Just as Martha was "distracted with much serving," we face countless distractions that pull us away from being with Jesus.

Research shows that heavy smartphone users touch their phones over 5,400 times per day, while the average person still touches their phone 2,617 times daily. Our hyper-connectivity often leads to spiritual disconnection.

“It is unlikely that we will deepen our relationship with God in a casual or haphazard manner. There will be a need for some intentional commitment and some reorganization in our own lives. But there is nothing that will enrich our lives more than a deeper and clearer perception of God's presence in the routine of daily living.”

William Paulsell

No single thing in this world will deepen our relationship with our Creator outside of Him—not self-help techniques, not income, not work, not degrees—only being with Him.

1 John says this about our lifestyle,

1 John 2:4–6 NIV

Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

The Lifestyle of Jesus: The Pattern for a Cross-Shaped Life

If you want to experience the life of Jesus, you must adopt the lifestyle of Jesus. Your life is the byproduct of the lifestyle you have chosen.

In the gospels, we see Jesus:

Never in a rush, always unhurried

Spending significant time in prayer and solitude

Embracing simplicity and rejecting worldly status

Valuing relationships over productivity

Taking time for rest and sabbath

Submitting completely to the Father's will

The cross-shaped life isn't just about what Jesus did at Calvary—it's about the entire pattern of His life that led Him there. There is more to the story than just the crucifixion moment; it's about the daily dying to self that prepared Him for that ultimate sacrifice.

Fruits of the Spirit: The Evidence of Being With Jesus

In Galatians Paul writes:

Galatians 5:22–26 NIV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Notice that these qualities are not produced by our effort but by the Holy Spirit as we remain connected to Jesus. Love, joy, and peace are not a matter of willpower but a disposition of the heart that comes from being with Jesus.

You can "act" more loving, but you can't "be" more loving through sheer determination.

This fruit is produced in you through the Holy Spirit as you keep in step with the Spirit—as you learn to sit at His feet before trying to carry His cross.

The Cross-Shaped Application

As we conclude, I want to propose two practical applications for living the cross-shaped life:

Long-term: Simplify your life down to what really matters.

Slowly cut out the unnecessary activities and gradually add in the practices of Jesus that center on being with Him. Remember—there is more to the story than just doing things for Jesus; there is being with Jesus.

Short-term: Set aside time each day for prayer—not just talking to God, but sitting at His feet like Mary, listening to what He says.

Before you pick up your cross each morning, sit at His feet and receive His strength.

Remember: Before we can carry His cross, we must sit at His feet. The power to live a cross-shaped life flows from the presence of Christ within us.

Closing Prayer

We believe in the triune Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each equal in every divine perfection and attribute, fulfilling distinct but complementary roles in the great work of redemption.

Today, we recognize that the Holy Spirit is present among us. Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer's life from the moment of salvation.

We also believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a second expression—an invitation to live a Spirit-empowered life and experience His gifts in fullness.

Let us pray together:

"Lord Jesus, we thank You that there is more to the story than what the world can see. You've invited us into a cross-shaped life that begins not with our strength but with our surrender. Forgive us for trying to carry Your cross without sitting at Your feet. Teach us to abide in You as branches in the vine. Help us to lose the world's way so we can win Your way. May we experience the transforming power of Your presence as we learn to be with You before we try to work for You. Holy Spirit, fill us anew today as we open our hearts to Your leading.”