Walking As Jesus Walked

We Christians in America we have a pretty nice and easy life, compared to other Christians around the world. From November 1, 2017 to October 31, 2018

Over 245 million Christians experience high levels of persecution

4,305 Christians killed for their faith

1,847 churches and other Christian buildings attacked.

3,150 believers detained without trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned

We have a much beloved hymn here in America entitled “In the Garden.” It describes a wonderful and comforting image of a pleasant day in a garden, conversing with Jesus, a good friend, while walking along quite casually and with no apparent destination or schedule. However, I am positive those who are suffering for the faith today — bearing the cross — would paint a much different image, as does today’s Gospel reading. Jesus is not a sweet friend but a teacher making clear the demands of being his disciple. Nor is the image that of a pleasant stroll. We are to walk not merely with Jesus but behind him; “follow me,” He says. And that demands a cost.

Being a Christian demands a cost that many believers in our society do not understand. So, this is what we are going to talk about this morning by unpacking three realities: (1). We have our own way to walk; (2). Jesus walked the way of the perfect disciple of God; and (3). We have been united with Christ to walk the way of his death, so that we can walk in newness of life.

Jesus Walked the Way of the Cross for Us; Now We Are to Walk that Way for Him.

I. The Problems is, We Have Our Own Way to Walk.

A. Man was created to live. Immortality in communion with God was to be the destination of man’s way ().

Wisdom of Solomon 1:13 NRSV

because God did not make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living.

Genesis 1:26–31 NASB95

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 1:26–31 NASB95

1. Man knew God and trusted him from the bounty and beauty of creation ().

Psalm 19:1 NASB95

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

Psalm 19:1 NASB95

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

2. God was there to supply ().

Psalm 145:16 NASB95

You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

B. But now man loves created things more: money, success, family, health, we love our recreation ().

Luke 14:25–27 NASB95

Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

1. Such love is the source of many evils ().

1 Timothy 6:10 NET

For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.

a. Evils such seeking our own pleasures at any cost ().

Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 NASB95

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility. I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives. I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves and I had homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men—many concubines. Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 NET

I thought to myself, “Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile.” But I found that it also is futile. I said of partying, “It is folly,” and of self-indulgent pleasure, “It accomplishes nothing!” I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives. I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself. I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees. I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock—both herds and flocks— than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem. I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight—a harem of beautiful concubines! So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity: I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort. Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: “All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless— like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”

b. Evils such as a variety of insensitivities ().

Ecclesiastes 5:8–10 NET

If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them! The produce of the land is seized by all of them, even the king is served by the fields. The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money, he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income. This also is futile.

c. Evils such as idolatry (). Note especially idolatry’s baneful effects on trust, hope, love.

Wisdom of Solomon 13:1–14:19 NRSV

For all people who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know the one who exists, nor did they recognize the artisan while paying heed to his works; but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air, or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world. If through delight in the beauty of these things people assumed them to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty created them. And if people were amazed at their power and working, let them perceive from them how much more powerful is the one who formed them. For from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator. Yet these people are little to be blamed, for perhaps they go astray while seeking God and desiring to find him. For while they live among his works, they keep searching, and they trust in what they see, because the things that are seen are beautiful. Yet again, not even they are to be excused; for if they had the power to know so much that they could investigate the world, how did they fail to find sooner the Lord of these things? But miserable, with their hopes set on dead things, are those who give the name “gods” to the works of human hands, gold and silver fashioned with skill, and likenesses of animals, or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand. A skilled woodcutter may saw down a tree easy to handle and skillfully strip off all its bark, and then with pleasing workmanship make a useful vessel that serves life’s needs, and burn the cast-off pieces of his work to prepare his food, and eat his fill. But a cast-off piece from among them, useful for nothing, a stick crooked and full of knots, he takes and carves with care in his leisure, and shapes it with skill gained in idleness; he forms it in the likeness of a human being, or makes it like some worthless animal, giving it a coat of red paint and coloring its surface red and covering every blemish in it with paint; then he makes a suitable niche for it, and sets it in the wall, and fastens it there with iron. He takes thought for it, so that it may not fall, because he knows that it cannot help itself, for it is only an image and has need of help. When he prays about possessions and his marriage and children, he is not ashamed to address a lifeless thing. For health he appeals to a thing that is weak; for life he prays to a thing that is dead; for aid he entreats a thing that is utterly inexperienced; for a prosperous journey, a thing that cannot take a step; for money-making and work and success with his hands he asks strength of a thing whose hands have no strength. Again, one preparing to sail and about to voyage over raging waves calls upon a piece of wood more fragile than the ship that carries him. For it was desire for gain that planned that vessel, and wisdom was the artisan who built it; but it is your providence, O Father, that steers its course, because you have given it a path in the sea, and a safe way through the waves, showing that you can save from every danger, so that even a person who lacks skill may put to sea. It is your will that works of your wisdom should not be without effect; therefore people trust their lives even to the smallest piece of wood, and passing through the billows on a raft they come safely to land. For even in the beginning, when arrogant giants were perishing, the hope of the world took refuge on a raft, and guided by your hand left to the world the seed of a new generation. For blessed is the wood by which righteousness comes. But the idol made with hands is accursed, and so is the one who made it— he for having made it, and the perishable thing because it was named a god. For equally hateful to God are the ungodly and their ungodliness; for what was done will be punished together with the one who did it. Therefore there will be a visitation also upon the heathen idols, because, though part of what God created, they became an abomination, snares for human souls and a trap for the feet of the foolish. For the idea of making idols was the beginning of fornication, and the invention of them was the corruption of life; for they did not exist from the beginning, nor will they last forever. For through human vanity they entered the world, and therefore their speedy end has been planned. For a father, consumed with grief at an untimely bereavement, made an image of his child, who had been suddenly taken from him; he now honored as a god what was once a dead human being, and handed on to his dependents secret rites and initiations. Then the ungodly custom, grown strong with time, was kept as a law, and at the command of monarchs carved images were worshiped. When people could not honor monarchs in their presence, since they lived at a distance, they imagined their appearance far away, and made a visible image of the king whom they honored, so that by their zeal they might flatter the absent one as though present. Then the ambition of the artisan impelled even those who did not know the king to intensify their worship. For he, perhaps wishing to please his ruler, skillfully forced the likeness to take more beautiful form,

Deuteronomy 8:11–20 NET

Be sure you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments, ordinances, and statutes that I am giving you today. When you eat your fill, when you build and occupy good houses, when your cattle and flocks increase, when you have plenty of silver and gold, and when you have abundance of everything, be sure you do not feel self-important and forget the Lord your God who brought you from the land of Egypt, the place of slavery, and who brought you through the great, fearful desert of venomous serpents and scorpions, an arid place with no water. He made water flow from a flint rock and fed you in the desert with manna (which your ancestors had never before known) so that he might by humbling you test you and eventually bring good to you. Be careful not to say, “My own ability and skill have gotten me this wealth.” You must remember the Lord your God, for he is the one who gives ability to get wealth; if you do this he will confirm his covenant that he made by oath to your ancestors, even as he has to this day. Now if you forget the Lord your God at all and follow other gods, worshiping and prostrating yourselves before them, I testify to you today that you will surely be annihilated. Just like the nations the Lord is about to destroy from your sight, so he will do to you because you would not obey him.

2. Such love compromises our love of Christ and his kingdom (–49; ; ).

Such love brings death: “Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die” ().

II. Jesus Walked the Way of the Perfect Disciple of God.

A. He was sent to do the will and works of the Father (, ).

John 5:36–37 NASB95

“But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me. “And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form.

John 5:30 NASB95

“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

B. He was the obedient Son, even to death (, , ; ; ).

C. Christ’s obedience was a love for God wholly and completely.

1. He emptied himself of all majesty to become the obedient Son ().

Philippians 2:6–8 NET

who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death —even death on a cross!

2. He was the Son of Man who had no place or home ().

Luke 9:58 NASB95

And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

3. He “hated” his mother and brothers ().

Matthew 12:46–50 NASB95

While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.” But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

Christ’s willing death was the ultimate “leaving” the world behind to follow after his Master, his heavenly Father; and this is what He calls us to. For you see,

III. In Baptism, we are united with Christ to walk the way of his death, that we may walk in the newness of his life ().

A. We “put on” Christ () and so share his nature and example.

Romans 13:14 NET

Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires.

1. We share his mind ().

1 Corinthians 2:16 NASB95

For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

2. We share his humility ().

3. We share his way (; ).

1 Peter 2:21–25 NET

For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps. He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

John 14:6 NASB95

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

B. But let us recognize what it means to “count the cost” (): this is the way of the cross.

1. The way of the cross is the way of death to self.

a. Freedom from lusts and passions ().

Romans 6:12–14 NASB95

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

b. Freedom from bondage to temporal goods ().

Luke 9:57–62 NET

As they were walking along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”Jesus said to him, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”Jesus said to another, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.”Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

2. The way of the cross is the way of love and sacrifice.

a. Freedom for human commitments rooted in love and service.

b. Marriage, children, co-workers, friends, society.

3. The way of the cross is the way of life that leads to God ().

John 14:6 NET

Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

a. Jesus would go to the Father via the cross.

b. Jesus’ cross gives us life with the Father.

C. “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” ().

Every way we walk has a destination and every path has an end. The way Jesus has called us to walk leads to the cross. For, He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him.

1 Corinthians 1:30 NASB95

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,