Cost of Following Jesus

What’s something in your life that you’ve wanted badly enough that you were willing to sacrifice for it?

When we care about something—when we believe it’s worth it—we’re willing to pay the price.

Does anyone know who this is?

Eric Liddell refused to run in his best race, 100m sprint, because it was held on a Sunday. He later won gold in the 400m which was held on a weekday. Raise by missionaries, and later became one himself. His story inspired the movie Chariots of Fire.

We will be talking about something similar tonight.

Recap: Week 1-The King has come. Week 2-Jesus redefined greatness as service.

This week Jesus tells his disciples that following Him is going to cost something. It will require surrender.

People love the idea of Jesus as Savior, but not so much Jesus as King.

They are want to call Him Lord, but when He starts causing disruptions, that devotion begins to fade.

We like the parts about grace, love, and heaven. And those are real, true, and beautiful! But when Jesus says, “Follow Me,” He also says, “Deny yourself. Take up your cross.”

This is difficult because we live in a world that says, “Do whatever makes you happy.” Jesus says, “Lose your life to find it.”

So the question is this: what do we really believe is worth our lives? Is Jesus worth it? Is participating in His Kingdom worth it?

Let’s dive into Mark 8:34-38.

For context: Jesus has just asked His disciples who they believe He is. Peter nails it—“You are the Christ.” But then, when Jesus starts talking about His suffering and death, Peter tries to shut it down. It was unimaginable that Jesus would suffer, be rejected, and ultimately die on the Cross. And Peter had a really hard time with it.

Jesus is laying out the cost. To follow Him means…

V34-35)

Deny yourself: Put your wants and control aside.

Easier said than done, right? Worshipping at camp. Mission trips. Serving on Sundays.

But what about serving our siblings, donating money, helping the elderly.

Sometimes these seemingly smaller tasks are the “rocks in our shoe” that create discomfort, angst, or even frustration.

Its about shifting from a self-centered person to an others-centered person, and we look to Jesus as our example.

Take up your cross: Be willing to face pain, rejection, or sacrifice.

When Jesus said “Take up your cross”, everyone knew what He meant. The cross was a death sentence. Not just a death sentence, but a slow, absolutely horrifying, and painful death.

At the time, the cross was not a religious symbol or sign of hope. It was a way to execute criminals. If someone had to take up their cross, they knew it was a one-way trip to death. So bad Roman didn’t talk about it in public.

Most of us want to avoid them! But Jesus says these things will be realities for those who say “yes” to Him as Savior and King.

Follow Him: Walk in His ways—even when it’s hard.

Jesus modeled for us what it looks like to live as a part of His Kingdom. We can take Jesus’s example of love, generosity, righteousness, truth speaking, and pursuing justice and apply that example in our contexts.

Following Jesus is the mark of a disciple or someone who loves Him. We follow Him by denying self, carrying our cross, and serving others.

V.36-37)

In other words: you can chase the whole world—status, success, stuff—but if you lose who you are in the process, what’s the point?

We follow Jesus this way because it is the only way that leads to true life, both here and in eternity. True life is found in a life surrendered to Jesus.

Look at how He ends:

V.38)

This isn’t a halfway thing.

Following Jesus means surrendering your life to find true life in Him.

There’s no dual citizenship. Living in God’s Kingdom costs you to give up living in your own and choose to be a servant in His.

What this look like?

This might mean choosing what’s right over what’s popular. Saying no to things everyone else is saying yes to. Being honest when it costs you. Staying faithful when it’s hard. It might mean letting go of the image. Or being bold when it’s uncomfortable. Or walking away from something that pulls you away from Jesus.

I’ll be honest, sometimes it’ll feel like a loss. It’s not easy; that’s why Jesus calls it a cross. But it’s a loss that leads to life. It’s death to the false version of life, so you can step into the full life Jesus offers.

Jesus is worth everything, and following Him will cost you. It’s not hindering or restricting. It brings freedom and new life.

But Jesus doesn’t hide the cost. He says pretty plainly, if you want to follow Me, it’ll require denial, surrender, and sacrifice. But we know we don’t have to do it alone. God has sent us His Spirit to go with us and be with us.

Following Jesus is a way of life. And it’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.

The beautiful thing about this is that it’s not an invitation to “go it alone”. You get to walk in this flourishing life alongside others who are pursuing Jesus and denying themselves.

Jesus isn’t asking us to do anything He hasn’t done Himself.

He denied Himself. He took up His Cross—literally. He surrendered completely, not because He had to, but because He loves you.

That’s the Gospel. Jesus laid down His life so we could find ours in Him. He didn’t say, “Figure it out and follow Me.” He said, “I’ll go first. I’ll carry the Cross. I’ll make the way for you to experience life to the full.”

And He invites us into that same story.

Will you follow him?

Jesus is worth everything—and following Him will cost you.

But you’re not alone. Jesus walks with you. His Spirit strengthens you. His grace covers you. He’s given you community to help you along the way.

Let’s pray.