Sermon Tone Analysis

Missing the forest for the trees.

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For some of us, the focus of our lives is just that - it’s only about our lives in the here and now and what affects us.

But in today’s passage, Jesus invites us to look at the bigger picture.

Passage intro

Pray.

When you see the bigger picture, you deny yourself.

For the first century Christians - the ones that Jesus is talking to - this verse means something more literal.

It’s about not avoiding the struggle that is to come.

For us, the principle is the same.

We need to embrace a degree of self-denial in order to grow in our faith.

Examples: saving money now to have better later / refusing to eat junk to hit the weight goal.

Leads to spiritual disciplines (put away that which distracts you to gain intimacy with God).

1 Timothy 4:7-8 “...train yourself to be godly.

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.””

When you see the bigger picture, you take up your cross.

This is a literal thing in many parts of the world - as it was for Jesus.

Spoiler alerts - Jesus will be arrested, beaten, and “tried” sometime after this event.

And then he has to carry the cross from the Roman Praetorium through the city and up the hill to Calvary, where he will be crucified and die.

But he is so weak, that he can’t carry his cross and continue so they forced Simon of Cyrene to carry it for him.

Carrying your cross was about humiliation and showing the onlookers that Rome always wins.

But the cross that once was the emblem of suffering and shame is now the symbol of power and victory over the darkness.

Because of his resurrection, Jesus forever altered the meaning of the cross.

That’s why so many Christians can wear it as a symbol on their clothing or as a necklace.

What used to mean defeat and death now means victory and salvation - Praise be to God.

So, for us, who do not face death for following Jesus, to take up our cross means to publicly live out your faith.

We have a personal relationship with Jesus but it is not a private relationship.

It is meant to be lived out loud in the world, on display for others to see so that they too may find the hope that you have found in Jesus.

Let me ask you a question: do the people in your life know you follow Jesus?

And if they do, what impression of Jesus have you given them?

Paul gives us a mini-testimony of his life in the book of Galatians.

To take up your cross is to publicly live out the truth that you have wholly surrendered to Jesus.

That the life you had before, the life that was filled with self-satisfaction - has been crucified with Jesus on the cross and the new person that was resurrected after now lives in such a way, that when people see you, they want to get to know Jesus more.

When you see the bigger picture, you follow Jesus.

I don’t mean you go to church.

I mean you follow Jesus

Rabbi culture

Jesus doesn’t just invite us to go to church.

Jesus invites us follow him.

What does that look like?

Love God like Jesus loved God.

Love the poor, the outcasts, the diseased and the dying like Jesus did - Jesus touches the leper

Love the church like Jesus loves the church - Eph. 5:25-27 “... Christ loved the church.

He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.

He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish.

Instead, she will be holy and without fault.”

Love those who reject Jesus like Jesus loves them - rich young ruler

Love those who hate on you like Jesus loved his enemies - “Father forgive them”

To follow Jesus is to become like Jesus in your character (who you are) and in your cause (what you do).

No one has arrived there yet, though.

No one always emulates Jesus in every area of their lives.

We are still people who are battling against sin in our hearts, minds and world.

But following Jesus means finding those areas of your life where you don’t act or think in a way that is consistent with how Jesus would think and act and bringing those things to God, asking him to transform you so that you are more like Jesus in your character and cause.

Why should we do all this?

Why should we try to see the bigger picture and deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus?

When we see the bigger picture, we find the bigger reward (vs.

36-38)