Following Jesus, Not What You Think

Focus: Following Jesus will cost you everything, including relationships.

Function: To radically follow Jesus. Even at the cost of losing family ties.

CUT OUT FILLER WORDS

Matthew 10:34–39 NASB95

34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 “For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. 37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

The problem

These five verses are very controversial.

We think Jesus came to bring peace.

In some verses, Jesus is known as the Prince of Peace.

The general ministry of Jesus speaks against these verse.

He healed the sick, fed the hungry, raised the dead, and brought message of hope, love, and restoration.

Fact is, Jesus did come to bring peace.

Peace that Jesus brings isn’t the “world peace.” It is not peace between nations, or peace between individuals.

Peace that Jesus brings is peace between God and man who follows Him.

This peace demands you die

This peace between God and man comes with a price.

Price is that you have to wholeheartedly follow Jesus.

Follow Jesus even at the cost of your most dear relationship.

What is the most important thing in your life?

Family and friends. AKA human relationships.

The word “Worthy” in v. 37 and 38 carries a more of a traditional sense of “deserving.”

If your devotion to family is greater than that of Jesus, you do not “deserve” Jesus.

When you turn away your convictions for the sake of keeping your friends, you do not “deserve” Jesus.

Break down of v. 38

For us, carrying a cross can seem slight disconnected.

But for the listeners of Jesus in that time, carrying the cross was a very real and vivid image.

When someone was condemned by the Romans to be crucified, the condemned carried their cross beam to the place of execution.

To never return. It was ending of their life as they knew it. One way trip.

Carrying the cross is clearly a metaphoric statement. Jesus does not mean we all need to go outside and carry a cross beam.

It means us our life as we want it to end.

Your desires, your pleasures, your relationships must die for the sake of following Jesus

Conclusion

Nowhere in the scripture will you find a verse that says, “Go to church every Sunday, attend bible studies, give your offering and you shall be saved.”

No, Jesus is very forthcoming and says, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who losses his life for My sake will find it.”

You see, Jesus did not come to bring peace between you and your friends or family. Jesus didn’t come to make your life comfortable and fulfill the American dream of big houses, nice cars, and big bank account.

He came to bring a sword, a sword that divides and determines whether you deserve Him or don’t deserve Him.

Now is the time. Not tomorrow or next week. Right now, find your life in Christ. There is grace and mercy. He will forgive those who repent and He will restore the brokenness in your life.