WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:04.919 Risen Christ, you are our all in all. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:14.080 And this morning as we hear you call us to follow you, 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:18.660 I pray that you would give us ears to hear that. 00:00:20.260 --> 00:00:21.820 Hearts to respond. 00:00:23.480 --> 00:00:24.539 Yes and amen. 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:27.500 I will follow you. 00:00:27.500 --> 00:00:31.399 God, would you do a work in us this morning 00:00:31.399 --> 00:00:33.399 in which those who've come into this room 00:00:33.399 --> 00:00:36.340 who have never responded to your call, Lord Jesus, 00:00:36.480 --> 00:00:37.480 today they'll respond. 00:00:38.340 --> 00:00:41.920 And I pray for those of us who've been walking with you for some time 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:47.299 that this call would renew our desire to give it all for you. 00:00:48.260 --> 00:00:50.320 Would you unite us together as a church 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:55.000 who all together we are intentionally living for you. 00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:56.760 You're worthy. 00:00:58.039 --> 00:01:00.700 Now we ask that you would, by your spirit, 00:01:02.140 --> 00:01:03.380 God, give us eyes to see, 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:08.379 impress these words of Jesus onto our hearts afresh. 00:01:09.159 --> 00:01:10.260 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:11.200 Amen. 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:14.780 Children, you are now dismissed. 00:01:14.780 --> 00:01:18.659 And as you're going... 00:01:18.659 --> 00:01:33.340 If you'd open up your Bibles to Luke chapter 9, 00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:40.599 we're going to be looking at a passage from verses 18 through 26. 00:01:40.599 --> 00:01:42.280 I'm going to read that in a second. 00:01:42.439 --> 00:01:47.179 But this morning we're starting a series called 21st Century Disciple. 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:50.859 Last week I preached a message on Jesus saying, 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:52.739 go make disciples of the nations. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:56.780 And we can't assume that we all know what a disciple is. 00:01:56.780 --> 00:02:03.920 And so we're going to start teasing out this morning what it means to be a disciple of Jesus 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:09.240 in the 21st century living here in the city of Kenosha. 00:02:09.240 --> 00:02:14.320 So Luke chapter 9, verses 18 through 26. 00:02:15.040 --> 00:02:17.120 Now it happened that he was praying alone. 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:18.580 The disciples were with him. 00:02:19.540 --> 00:02:20.540 And he asked them, 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:22.800 who do the crowds say that I am? 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:24.780 And they answered, 00:02:24.920 --> 00:02:25.600 John the Baptist, 00:02:25.900 --> 00:02:26.939 but others say Elijah, 00:02:27.160 --> 00:02:30.100 and others that one of the prophets of old is risen. 00:02:30.460 --> 00:02:31.300 Then he said to them, 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:32.980 but who do you say that I am? 00:02:33.020 --> 00:02:33.920 And Peter answered, 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:36.100 the Christ of God. 00:02:37.880 --> 00:02:39.460 And he strictly charged 00:02:39.460 --> 00:02:42.260 and commanded them to tell this to no one, 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:42.720 saying, 00:02:42.880 --> 00:02:46.800 the Son of Man must suffer many things 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:50.060 and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes 00:02:50.060 --> 00:02:52.780 and be killed and on the third day be raised. 00:02:53.640 --> 00:02:55.180 And he said to all, 00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:57.759 if anyone would come after me, 00:02:58.580 --> 00:03:00.199 let him deny himself 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:02.780 and take up his cross daily and follow me. 00:03:03.699 --> 00:03:06.120 For whoever would save his life will lose it, 00:03:06.199 --> 00:03:09.860 but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 00:03:10.939 --> 00:03:12.180 For what does it profit a man 00:03:12.180 --> 00:03:14.280 if he gains the whole world 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:16.920 and loses or forfeits himself? 00:03:16.919 --> 00:03:20.079 For whoever is ashamed of me 00:03:20.079 --> 00:03:21.879 and of my words of him 00:03:21.879 --> 00:03:23.159 will the Son of Man be ashamed 00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:24.399 when he comes in his glory 00:03:24.399 --> 00:03:25.659 and the glory of the Father 00:03:25.659 --> 00:03:28.399 and of the glory or the holy angels. 00:03:28.919 --> 00:03:29.679 Verse 27, 00:03:29.779 --> 00:03:30.619 but I tell you truly, 00:03:31.179 --> 00:03:32.399 there are some standing here 00:03:32.399 --> 00:03:33.659 who will not taste death 00:03:33.659 --> 00:03:35.979 until they see the kingdom of God. 00:03:37.399 --> 00:03:38.139 You know what? 00:03:38.179 --> 00:03:40.099 It's amazing how two words 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:43.539 can completely reorient your life. 00:03:43.699 --> 00:03:44.339 So for example, 00:03:44.459 --> 00:03:46.439 those two words spring forward, 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:49.439 they're going to completely reorient our lives 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:50.079 for a couple days. 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:53.300 Or those two words, 00:03:53.659 --> 00:03:54.900 congratulations graduate, 00:03:55.939 --> 00:03:57.379 that can reorient your life. 00:03:58.620 --> 00:03:59.719 How about this? 00:04:00.020 --> 00:04:00.740 You're hired. 00:04:01.859 --> 00:04:04.039 That will reorient your life. 00:04:04.300 --> 00:04:06.300 Or you're fired. 00:04:07.740 --> 00:04:09.680 That will definitely reorient your life. 00:04:10.860 --> 00:04:12.180 You're standing at the altar 00:04:12.180 --> 00:04:13.300 and you say the two words, 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:14.260 I do. 00:04:15.260 --> 00:04:16.240 Just two words, 00:04:17.460 --> 00:04:18.340 reorient your life. 00:04:19.579 --> 00:04:22.280 But if you're standing in a courtroom 00:04:22.280 --> 00:04:24.300 and your former spouse is saying, 00:04:24.860 --> 00:04:25.639 it's over, 00:04:27.080 --> 00:04:28.520 that will reorient your life. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:32.280 It's cancer. 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:35.160 Reorientation. 00:04:35.160 --> 00:04:38.740 A doctor comes up 00:04:38.740 --> 00:04:39.960 and of your spouse says, 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:40.960 he's gone. 00:04:43.620 --> 00:04:44.580 Just two words 00:04:44.580 --> 00:04:46.800 can reorient your life. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:48.920 This morning, 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:50.560 we're looking at two words of Jesus. 00:04:52.420 --> 00:04:56.800 Two words that must reorient your life. 00:04:57.300 --> 00:04:58.400 And they're the two words, 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:00.260 follow me. 00:05:00.259 --> 00:05:02.439 And this morning, 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:04.279 I want us to understand 00:05:04.279 --> 00:05:07.779 who the me of follow me is 00:05:07.779 --> 00:05:10.819 and what exactly he means by follow. 00:05:11.779 --> 00:05:12.819 It's a command. 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:16.039 So this morning, 00:05:16.740 --> 00:05:18.339 in order to help us understand 00:05:18.339 --> 00:05:20.579 what it means to be a follower of Jesus 00:05:20.579 --> 00:05:22.000 in the 21st century, 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:26.399 let's be clear on what Jesus means 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:27.719 when he commands, 00:05:28.219 --> 00:05:28.939 follow me. 00:05:28.939 --> 00:05:32.600 So let's start off with the me. 00:05:34.620 --> 00:05:35.839 Who is this guy? 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:38.199 In verses 18 through 22, 00:05:38.459 --> 00:05:39.660 we see a couple questions 00:05:39.660 --> 00:05:40.939 that Jesus asks. 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:43.399 He's kind of like taking a poll. 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:47.759 We see it in verse 18. 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:50.560 Who do the crowds say that I am? 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:52.360 And basically what Jesus is doing 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:55.319 is he's taking a first century gallop poll 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:56.519 of the Jewish crowds 00:05:56.519 --> 00:06:00.459 and his disciples are the pollsters. 00:06:00.899 --> 00:06:02.439 And so when they ask the crowds, 00:06:02.699 --> 00:06:03.379 who do they say? 00:06:03.579 --> 00:06:04.240 He asked them, 00:06:04.299 --> 00:06:06.219 who did the crowds say that I am? 00:06:06.659 --> 00:06:08.759 His disciple pollsters come back 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:09.240 and they say, 00:06:09.359 --> 00:06:09.500 well, 00:06:10.180 --> 00:06:11.620 some are saying John the Baptist, 00:06:12.579 --> 00:06:12.759 you know, 00:06:12.799 --> 00:06:14.299 he was killed by Herod earlier. 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:15.299 He's come back. 00:06:15.939 --> 00:06:16.639 Others are saying, 00:06:16.740 --> 00:06:17.180 Elijah, 00:06:17.459 --> 00:06:18.419 he's come back. 00:06:19.419 --> 00:06:20.599 Others are saying that you're 00:06:20.599 --> 00:06:23.079 one of the ancient prophets of old 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:24.120 who's come back. 00:06:24.120 --> 00:06:25.500 And so they're all kind of 00:06:25.500 --> 00:06:26.540 working out of this fear. 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:28.259 You're kind of some kind of prophet 00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:30.480 is what the crowds are saying. 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:32.920 And to some degree, 00:06:33.019 --> 00:06:33.699 they were right. 00:06:34.340 --> 00:06:36.240 Jesus is a prophet. 00:06:37.300 --> 00:06:38.920 The greatest of all prophets. 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:43.680 He didn't come just proclaiming God's word. 00:06:44.060 --> 00:06:46.800 He is God's incarnate word. 00:06:47.459 --> 00:06:48.540 He's the ultimate prophet. 00:06:48.540 --> 00:06:53.220 How about if we just sped that up 00:06:53.220 --> 00:06:55.980 21 centuries to today? 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:01.280 Jesus asks to go to Kenosha 00:07:01.280 --> 00:07:03.160 and poll Kenosians 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:06.259 on who do Kenosians say that he is. 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:07.200 Be interesting. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:09.460 So we hop on 60th. 00:07:09.500 --> 00:07:11.040 We go down to 60th and age. 00:07:11.140 --> 00:07:12.780 There's an Albanian mosque right there. 00:07:13.180 --> 00:07:14.740 We walk in and ask the imam, 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:15.180 hey, 00:07:15.240 --> 00:07:16.560 who do you say that Jesus is? 00:07:16.780 --> 00:07:17.680 And you know what he would say? 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:19.459 We believe that he's a great prophet. 00:07:20.840 --> 00:07:21.900 And then we say, 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:22.660 well, 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:24.100 we believe he's God. 00:07:24.900 --> 00:07:25.540 He would say, 00:07:25.780 --> 00:07:26.280 no, he's not. 00:07:26.740 --> 00:07:27.360 We would say, 00:07:27.560 --> 00:07:28.379 he was raised from the dead. 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:29.259 He would say, 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:29.960 no, he wasn't. 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:32.480 They believe he was a great prophet. 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:36.519 Or let's say that we show up 00:07:36.519 --> 00:07:38.460 at one of the liberal churches around town. 00:07:39.460 --> 00:07:41.240 Who do you say that Jesus is? 00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:44.019 And they would say, 00:07:44.100 --> 00:07:44.180 well, 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:45.519 the Jesus of the New Testament 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:48.699 was probably more of a fabrication 00:07:48.699 --> 00:07:51.319 than an accurate historical depiction. 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:54.099 And if you actually believed he died, 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:54.579 well, 00:07:54.620 --> 00:07:56.199 his death was a great example 00:07:56.199 --> 00:07:57.219 of loving people. 00:07:57.379 --> 00:07:58.859 But if you actually think 00:07:58.859 --> 00:08:00.180 that he died for people's sins, 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:00.839 you must believe 00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:02.740 in some kind of cosmic child abuse. 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:08.039 He's an example, 00:08:08.040 --> 00:08:10.240 but did he pay for sins? 00:08:10.460 --> 00:08:10.680 Well, 00:08:10.840 --> 00:08:12.439 if it works for you. 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:15.540 Or how about we go to one of the bars, 00:08:16.020 --> 00:08:16.920 Zazie B's, 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:18.319 or Captain Mike's 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:19.660 on a Friday or Saturday night, 00:08:19.760 --> 00:08:21.360 and we pull up to the bar 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:22.580 and we start polling people 00:08:22.580 --> 00:08:24.040 who are patronizing the place, 00:08:24.140 --> 00:08:25.660 and we ask them, 00:08:25.720 --> 00:08:27.100 who do you say that Jesus is? 00:08:29.200 --> 00:08:29.439 Well, 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:31.340 we get all sorts of different responses. 00:08:31.339 --> 00:08:35.399 I visited a church once, 00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:37.939 and I got the message loud and clear. 00:08:38.139 --> 00:08:39.019 Stay out! 00:08:41.179 --> 00:08:41.579 Bartender, 00:08:41.699 --> 00:08:42.720 do you let anybody in here? 00:08:45.779 --> 00:08:46.699 The defiant, 00:08:46.819 --> 00:08:47.860 you and your Jesus. 00:08:48.819 --> 00:08:50.240 If you want me to be truthful with you, 00:08:50.259 --> 00:08:51.199 if you want me to tell you 00:08:51.199 --> 00:08:52.199 who I think Jesus is, 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:52.899 let me tell you, 00:08:53.159 --> 00:08:55.179 he is just some convenient 00:08:55.179 --> 00:08:57.120 religious crutch 00:08:57.120 --> 00:08:59.600 for those who are simple and weak. 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:01.519 Bartender, 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:02.740 can you give me another one? 00:09:02.779 --> 00:09:03.940 It's been a hard week. 00:09:09.580 --> 00:09:10.399 In that bar, 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:12.040 we find people who are spiritual. 00:09:12.560 --> 00:09:12.820 Jesus, 00:09:13.080 --> 00:09:13.480 you know what? 00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:14.540 You want me to tell you? 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:15.680 I'm religious. 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:16.399 Well, 00:09:16.420 --> 00:09:16.899 I'm not religious, 00:09:17.060 --> 00:09:17.960 but I am spiritual, 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:19.519 and I believe people are free 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:20.820 to express their spirituality 00:09:20.820 --> 00:09:21.639 in any way they want. 00:09:21.899 --> 00:09:23.120 Just don't force it on me. 00:09:25.800 --> 00:09:27.540 The crowds of Jesus' day 00:09:27.540 --> 00:09:29.060 definitely had an opinion 00:09:29.059 --> 00:09:31.019 of who Jesus was. 00:09:31.099 --> 00:09:32.239 He was some kind of prophet. 00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:34.539 In the crowds of Kenosha 00:09:34.539 --> 00:09:35.699 in the 21st century, 00:09:35.899 --> 00:09:37.239 there are all sorts 00:09:37.239 --> 00:09:38.659 of opinions out there. 00:09:38.959 --> 00:09:39.679 All sorts. 00:09:40.139 --> 00:09:40.879 It's more like 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:42.219 first century Athens 00:09:42.219 --> 00:09:44.659 than first century Judea. 00:09:47.459 --> 00:09:49.179 But Jesus has another question. 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:51.959 He moves from polling 00:09:51.959 --> 00:09:53.419 the crowds 00:09:53.419 --> 00:09:55.339 to polling the pollsters 00:09:55.340 --> 00:09:56.519 in verse 20. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:58.920 But who do you say 00:09:58.920 --> 00:09:59.480 that I am 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:00.480 to his disciples? 00:10:02.040 --> 00:10:02.519 And Peter, 00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:04.000 as the representative leader 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:04.680 of the disciples, 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:05.139 says, 00:10:05.800 --> 00:10:07.300 you are the Christ 00:10:07.300 --> 00:10:08.460 of God. 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:12.440 You just don't come up 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:14.360 with that on your own. 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:16.440 To equate Jesus 00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:18.180 with the Christ 00:10:18.180 --> 00:10:20.040 requires a revelation 00:10:20.040 --> 00:10:21.540 from God in heaven. 00:10:21.639 --> 00:10:22.480 That's why in Matthew, 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:24.120 when Peter makes 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:24.840 this confession, 00:10:25.019 --> 00:10:26.460 Jesus responds by saying, 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:27.399 flesh and blood 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:28.639 has not revealed this to you, 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:29.279 but my Father 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:29.960 who's in heaven. 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:32.800 And when Peter's talking 00:10:32.800 --> 00:10:33.259 about you are 00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:34.340 the Christ of God, 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:34.820 he's saying, 00:10:35.220 --> 00:10:36.560 you are the Messiah, 00:10:37.080 --> 00:10:38.200 the anointed one, 00:10:38.300 --> 00:10:39.860 the long-awaited king 00:10:39.860 --> 00:10:40.920 who would come 00:10:40.920 --> 00:10:42.460 and sit on David's throne, 00:10:42.659 --> 00:10:44.259 and you would reign forever, 00:10:44.680 --> 00:10:46.379 and the ancient of days 00:10:46.379 --> 00:10:47.659 would give you authority 00:10:47.659 --> 00:10:48.379 and dominion 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:49.580 over all things. 00:10:49.580 --> 00:10:55.220 After this confession, 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:55.460 though, 00:10:55.520 --> 00:10:56.840 it quickly becomes apparent 00:10:56.840 --> 00:10:58.360 that Peter in the 11, 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:00.259 they may get 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:01.480 that Jesus is the Christ, 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:02.080 but they've got 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:03.220 a limited understanding 00:11:03.220 --> 00:11:04.780 of who the Christ is. 00:11:06.139 --> 00:11:09.100 They've typecasted him. 00:11:10.220 --> 00:11:10.660 You know what it means 00:11:10.660 --> 00:11:11.200 to typecast? 00:11:11.820 --> 00:11:12.660 Let's say that we're 00:11:12.660 --> 00:11:13.500 putting a film together, 00:11:13.560 --> 00:11:14.660 an action film here 00:11:14.660 --> 00:11:15.680 in Kenosha, 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:16.679 and we need 00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:19.339 a muscle-bound warrior guy 00:11:19.339 --> 00:11:21.659 who can overcome the odds 00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:23.039 to win a great victory, 00:11:23.199 --> 00:11:23.620 and he's got 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:24.579 a really good smile. 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:27.199 Who would we select? 00:11:29.459 --> 00:11:30.419 Dwayne Johnson, 00:11:31.699 --> 00:11:32.500 The Rock. 00:11:33.819 --> 00:11:35.199 He is typecast 00:11:35.199 --> 00:11:36.139 for those kind of roles, 00:11:36.239 --> 00:11:36.539 isn't he? 00:11:39.339 --> 00:11:40.899 The Jews of Jesus' day 00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:42.339 had an expectation 00:11:42.339 --> 00:11:43.799 of the Christ. 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:46.599 They were expecting him 00:11:46.599 --> 00:11:48.599 to play a particular role, 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:50.539 to deliver the nation 00:11:50.539 --> 00:11:51.120 of Israel 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:52.479 from the rule of Rome 00:11:52.479 --> 00:11:53.759 and to liberate Jerusalem 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:55.740 in order to reestablish 00:11:55.740 --> 00:11:57.479 a geopolitical dominance 00:11:57.479 --> 00:11:58.459 of ethnic Israel 00:11:58.459 --> 00:11:59.879 throughout the world. 00:12:01.259 --> 00:12:02.019 They thought he was going 00:12:02.019 --> 00:12:03.899 to be a conquering king 00:12:03.899 --> 00:12:05.240 in a militaristic 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:06.339 and political sense. 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:09.799 They had been culturally 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:12.939 informed of who Christ is. 00:12:12.940 --> 00:12:15.220 They kind of absorbed that 00:12:15.220 --> 00:12:16.960 from everyone around them. 00:12:17.040 --> 00:12:19.420 They had a similar expectation. 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:22.260 If you were to pull 00:12:22.260 --> 00:12:23.520 the same crowds 00:12:23.520 --> 00:12:25.720 in first century Judea 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:26.160 and you say, 00:12:26.260 --> 00:12:27.060 what's your greatest need? 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:28.920 They thought their greatest need 00:12:28.920 --> 00:12:30.280 was deliverance 00:12:30.280 --> 00:12:32.960 from a political oppression 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:34.040 in Rome. 00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:37.600 And what Jesus is about 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:38.380 to say is, 00:12:38.880 --> 00:12:39.320 no, 00:12:39.680 --> 00:12:40.820 that's not your greatest need. 00:12:40.820 --> 00:12:42.760 your greatest need 00:12:42.760 --> 00:12:45.420 is a spiritual deliverance 00:12:45.420 --> 00:12:46.420 from the oppression 00:12:46.420 --> 00:12:47.660 of sin. 00:12:50.300 --> 00:12:51.600 Well, that was then. 00:12:51.680 --> 00:12:52.360 How about now? 00:12:53.460 --> 00:12:55.300 How would self-professed 00:12:55.300 --> 00:12:56.720 followers of Jesus 00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:58.560 in the 21st century, 00:12:59.160 --> 00:13:00.960 how would they respond 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:02.540 to Jesus asking them, 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:04.040 well, who do you say 00:13:04.040 --> 00:13:04.640 that I am? 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:07.720 If we pulled all the churches 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:08.779 gathered this morning 00:13:08.779 --> 00:13:09.819 across America 00:13:09.819 --> 00:13:11.299 and we asked the individual 00:13:11.299 --> 00:13:12.860 Christians in those churches 00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:14.139 to answer the question, 00:13:14.460 --> 00:13:15.340 who do you say 00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:16.100 that I am? 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:17.740 Really? 00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:20.580 I think we'd get 00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:21.939 some pretty interesting answers. 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:24.799 And what would it, 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:25.860 it would reveal 00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:28.080 how culturally informed 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:30.019 our view of the Christ is. 00:13:30.580 --> 00:13:31.799 Here's some of the answers. 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:34.240 Jesus, well, 00:13:34.299 --> 00:13:34.939 he's my ticket 00:13:34.939 --> 00:13:35.639 out of eternity 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:36.139 in hell. 00:13:37.819 --> 00:13:38.919 Which is true. 00:13:40.719 --> 00:13:41.699 But is that it? 00:13:43.979 --> 00:13:44.699 Jesus, well, 00:13:45.459 --> 00:13:46.139 he's helping me 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:47.259 to be the best version 00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:47.939 of myself. 00:13:51.439 --> 00:13:52.139 Jesus, well, 00:13:52.199 --> 00:13:53.459 when I can't figure things out, 00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:54.419 I call in Jesus. 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.839 When I mess things up, 00:13:56.839 --> 00:13:58.039 I call in Jesus 00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:58.899 to be my fixer. 00:13:59.599 --> 00:14:00.819 When I'm down, 00:14:00.820 --> 00:14:02.260 Jesus reminds me 00:14:02.260 --> 00:14:03.560 of how special I am. 00:14:06.060 --> 00:14:07.460 Well, Jesus is my all of all. 00:14:07.520 --> 00:14:08.480 I don't need anyone else. 00:14:08.780 --> 00:14:09.640 I've got Jesus 00:14:09.640 --> 00:14:10.680 in the internet. 00:14:10.900 --> 00:14:11.740 I don't need the church. 00:14:15.780 --> 00:14:17.200 Jesus is my dream maker. 00:14:18.040 --> 00:14:19.020 He knows my dreams 00:14:19.020 --> 00:14:19.980 and he will make 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:21.400 my dreams happen. 00:14:25.160 --> 00:14:26.300 In our culture, 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:27.799 Americans believe 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:31.159 that our greatest deliverance, 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.419 what we need most, 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:33.899 is any deliverance 00:14:33.899 --> 00:14:35.459 from anything oppressing 00:14:35.459 --> 00:14:38.359 our sense of self-sovereignty, 00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:41.839 our sense of what is owed me. 00:14:41.839 --> 00:14:44.439 It's American individualism. 00:14:44.440 --> 00:14:49.140 And so, 00:14:49.340 --> 00:14:50.380 what can happen is 00:14:50.380 --> 00:14:50.880 we can have 00:14:50.880 --> 00:14:52.380 an Americanized Christianity 00:14:52.380 --> 00:14:54.200 that takes Jesus 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:55.900 and makes him 00:14:55.900 --> 00:14:58.040 into what I really want 00:14:58.040 --> 00:14:58.880 and that is 00:14:58.880 --> 00:15:00.380 life all about me. 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.540 Americanized Christianity 00:15:06.540 --> 00:15:07.720 has a way of making 00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:08.440 Christianity 00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:10.120 about the followers 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:10.960 of Jesus 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:12.660 instead of the one 00:15:12.660 --> 00:15:13.600 who's calling us 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:14.600 to follow him, 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:15.340 Jesus. 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:21.680 Who do you say 00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:22.180 that I am? 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:26.240 This morning, 00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:27.420 as we're talking about 00:15:27.420 --> 00:15:29.019 this me of follow me, 00:15:29.300 --> 00:15:30.480 we've got to be clear 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.500 on who he is. 00:15:31.900 --> 00:15:32.960 We've got to be clear 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:33.400 on it 00:15:33.400 --> 00:15:35.340 because what he's about 00:15:35.340 --> 00:15:36.180 to call us to 00:15:36.180 --> 00:15:38.360 is really hard. 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:40.320 We've got to be clear 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:41.240 on who he is. 00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:43.659 So, 00:15:43.779 --> 00:15:45.259 is your functional Jesus 00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:47.539 the real Jesus 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:48.379 of the Bible 00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:50.659 or is he a version 00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:51.820 of Jesus 00:15:51.820 --> 00:15:53.399 for your convenience? 00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:59.000 Have you typecasted him 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:01.080 through a cultural lens? 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:01.180 Jesus. 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:04.820 So, 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.440 this morning, 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:07.320 just as Jesus 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:08.600 asked his disciples 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:11.540 about 2,000 years ago, 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:12.280 who do you say 00:16:12.280 --> 00:16:12.680 I am? 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:13.920 He's asking you 00:16:13.920 --> 00:16:14.540 this morning, 00:16:15.020 --> 00:16:16.280 who do you 00:16:16.280 --> 00:16:17.879 say that he is? 00:16:18.560 --> 00:16:18.980 Really? 00:16:22.220 --> 00:16:23.600 In order to follow him 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:25.040 in the way 00:16:25.040 --> 00:16:26.060 he commands us to, 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:28.520 we must know 00:16:28.520 --> 00:16:29.320 who he is. 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:29.580 So, 00:16:29.660 --> 00:16:30.220 we've seen him 00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:31.420 ask a question 00:16:31.420 --> 00:16:31.980 of the crowds, 00:16:32.300 --> 00:16:32.840 we've seen him 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.700 ask a question 00:16:33.700 --> 00:16:34.280 of the disciples, 00:16:34.640 --> 00:16:35.700 now let's us 00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:36.640 ask Jesus 00:16:36.640 --> 00:16:37.320 a question. 00:16:37.820 --> 00:16:38.100 Jesus, 00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:38.900 who do you say 00:16:38.900 --> 00:16:39.440 that you are? 00:16:40.920 --> 00:16:41.860 And he tells us 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:43.379 in verses 21 and 22, 00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:44.360 and he strictly 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:45.360 charged and commanded 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.180 them to tell this 00:16:46.180 --> 00:16:47.060 to no one, 00:16:47.280 --> 00:16:48.220 that he's the Christ. 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:49.080 And he says, 00:16:49.420 --> 00:16:50.080 the son of man 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.220 must suffer many things 00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:51.820 and be rejected 00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:52.420 by the elders 00:16:52.420 --> 00:16:53.020 and chief priests 00:16:53.020 --> 00:16:53.540 and scribes 00:16:53.540 --> 00:16:54.360 and be killed 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:55.080 and on the third day 00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:55.680 be raised. 00:16:57.160 --> 00:16:57.560 Now, 00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.480 this might surprise 00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.060 you a little bit 00:16:59.059 --> 00:17:00.319 because here we are, 00:17:01.199 --> 00:17:02.139 Peter just confesses 00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:03.019 him as the Christ 00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:04.240 that he is the king 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.159 of all 00:17:05.159 --> 00:17:06.500 and it's kind of like, 00:17:06.579 --> 00:17:07.500 why would Jesus 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:08.279 want to keep that 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:08.799 under wraps? 00:17:08.919 --> 00:17:09.119 I mean, 00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.720 doesn't he want 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.359 the nations 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:12.220 knowing that he's 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:13.359 the king of kings 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:14.200 and lord of lords, 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:15.500 that he is the Messiah, 00:17:15.659 --> 00:17:16.220 the Christ? 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:18.319 Shouldn't they be doing that? 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:19.359 Why is he telling 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:19.879 them to be quiet? 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:23.100 Well, 00:17:23.140 --> 00:17:24.300 they should be doing that 00:17:24.300 --> 00:17:26.180 provided that they know 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:27.140 who the Christ 00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:27.900 really is 00:17:27.900 --> 00:17:28.960 and what the Christ 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:29.800 has come 00:17:29.800 --> 00:17:30.620 and must do. 00:17:32.300 --> 00:17:33.180 If they're going to go 00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:34.140 proclaim Jesus 00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:36.120 as the liberator 00:17:36.120 --> 00:17:37.460 of national Israel, 00:17:37.700 --> 00:17:38.460 they got it wrong. 00:17:40.560 --> 00:17:41.860 And so what Jesus does 00:17:41.860 --> 00:17:42.660 in verse 21 00:17:42.660 --> 00:17:44.180 is he says, 00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:45.200 hey guys, 00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:46.480 before you start going 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:47.400 to tell other people 00:17:47.400 --> 00:17:47.960 about me, 00:17:48.280 --> 00:17:49.860 get all the information 00:17:49.860 --> 00:17:50.940 about me first. 00:17:51.560 --> 00:17:53.400 Make sure you truly know 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:54.960 who I am as the Christ 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:56.240 and what I must do 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:57.100 as the Christ 00:17:57.100 --> 00:17:58.740 and then go proclaiming. 00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:06.160 Jesus is essentially saying, 00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:07.500 I am the Christ 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:10.019 but not the Christ 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:11.280 that you want me to be. 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.840 I have not come 00:18:14.840 --> 00:18:16.140 to liberate the nation, 00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:17.220 I have come 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:19.040 to liberate sinners. 00:18:20.120 --> 00:18:21.000 And that leads us 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:21.900 to verse 22. 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.140 The Son of Man 00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:24.700 must suffer many things 00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.360 and be rejected 00:18:25.360 --> 00:18:25.960 by elders 00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:26.640 and chief priests 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:27.300 and scribes 00:18:27.300 --> 00:18:28.380 and be killed 00:18:28.380 --> 00:18:29.540 and on the third day 00:18:29.540 --> 00:18:30.440 be raised. 00:18:30.520 --> 00:18:31.720 You see that word must? 00:18:31.860 --> 00:18:33.200 The Son of Man must, 00:18:33.520 --> 00:18:35.100 must suffer, 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.700 must be killed, 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:38.500 must be raised. 00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:42.140 Jesus is clarifying 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:44.000 who he is 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.240 as the Christ. 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:46.380 This is the one 00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:46.960 that calls us 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:47.700 to follow him. 00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:49.880 The Christ who suffered, 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:50.980 was crucified, 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:52.440 and raised. 00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:56.279 He recasts 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:57.799 for his disciples 00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:58.640 and us 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:00.660 what the Christ 00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:01.740 came to do. 00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.579 He didn't come initially 00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:05.220 as a victorious warrior 00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:06.140 to liberate 00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:06.660 the nation 00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:07.700 of ethnic Israel. 00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:09.980 He came as a suffering servant 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:11.420 to liberate sinners 00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:13.420 through his sacrificial death 00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:14.720 on the cross. 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:16.720 Now, 00:19:17.100 --> 00:19:18.660 this sounds good, 00:19:19.080 --> 00:19:20.160 but really, 00:19:20.600 --> 00:19:21.440 why does it matter? 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:22.960 Who cares? 00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:26.779 Here's what's at stake. 00:19:28.620 --> 00:19:29.820 The goal 00:19:29.820 --> 00:19:31.060 of what Jesus 00:19:31.060 --> 00:19:32.120 died for. 00:19:32.800 --> 00:19:33.980 The purpose 00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:35.259 of his sacrifice. 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:37.279 That's what's at stake. 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:40.039 If you believe 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:41.079 that Jesus 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:42.220 has come 00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:42.980 and died 00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:44.039 just to make 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:44.599 your life 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:45.579 a little bit better, 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:47.180 you are missing 00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:48.460 the depth 00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:49.399 and the beauty 00:19:49.399 --> 00:19:50.359 and the glory 00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:51.359 of what he did 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:52.000 on the cross 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:52.879 on your behalf. 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:56.180 If you're making 00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:57.740 Jesus' death 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.759 on the cross 00:19:58.759 --> 00:19:59.759 something that 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:00.299 is just 00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:01.480 to complete you 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:02.420 in some way, 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:04.279 you've bought into 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.819 kind of a skim coat 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:06.700 Christianity. 00:20:06.859 --> 00:20:07.859 You know what a skim coat is? 00:20:09.139 --> 00:20:10.099 You just kind of 00:20:10.099 --> 00:20:10.899 fill a little hole 00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:11.679 by skimming 00:20:11.679 --> 00:20:12.919 some filling over it. 00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:15.240 It's just superficial. 00:20:17.639 --> 00:20:18.519 It's cheap. 00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:21.659 As Dietrich Ponhofer 00:20:21.659 --> 00:20:22.139 would say, 00:20:22.179 --> 00:20:23.119 it's a cheap grace. 00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:27.220 What we see 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:28.359 Jesus talking about 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:29.059 is a work 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:29.759 that he's going to do 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.419 on the cross 00:20:30.419 --> 00:20:31.500 that is not 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.439 a cheap grace 00:20:32.439 --> 00:20:33.559 with a skim coat 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:34.119 salvation. 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:35.500 What he does 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:36.359 on the cross 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:38.059 is a deep 00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:39.500 work of grace 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.659 that brings 00:20:40.659 --> 00:20:41.579 about 00:20:41.579 --> 00:20:43.239 a costly 00:20:43.239 --> 00:20:44.319 salvation. 00:20:44.939 --> 00:20:46.019 Jesus paid 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.679 it all. 00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:48.199 He gave his life 00:20:48.199 --> 00:20:48.859 for sinners 00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:50.679 and not just 00:20:50.679 --> 00:20:51.399 to forgive them 00:20:51.399 --> 00:20:53.519 but to call them 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.319 to live for him. 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.879 He didn't die 00:20:57.879 --> 00:20:58.399 to make you 00:20:58.399 --> 00:20:59.039 a better version 00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.619 of yourself. 00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:01.359 He died on the cross 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.399 to deliver you 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.180 from yourself. 00:21:04.840 --> 00:21:05.740 Jesus didn't die 00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:06.300 for you to be 00:21:06.300 --> 00:21:07.620 an add-on 00:21:07.620 --> 00:21:08.340 to your life. 00:21:08.560 --> 00:21:09.220 He died 00:21:09.220 --> 00:21:11.280 to be your life. 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:12.720 Jesus didn't die 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:14.019 for you 00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:15.160 in order to somehow 00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:16.740 add the missing piece 00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.560 to your life. 00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:18.600 He died 00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:19.580 for you 00:21:19.580 --> 00:21:20.560 in order that 00:21:20.560 --> 00:21:21.200 he would be 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:22.340 the organizational 00:21:22.340 --> 00:21:23.220 center 00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:24.480 of your life. 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:28.839 I've shared 00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.579 this illustration 00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:30.099 before 00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:30.700 and so if you've 00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.019 heard it 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:32.019 bear with me 00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:32.900 but I think 00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:33.660 it gets the job 00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:33.960 done. 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:38.079 In the 16th century 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:38.640 there was 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:41.000 a mathematician 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:42.339 named Copernicus 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:43.200 Polish guy 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:44.519 he loved math 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:46.059 he loved economics 00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:47.200 he loved studying 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:47.599 the stars 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:50.279 and at that time 00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.159 the common belief 00:21:51.159 --> 00:21:52.039 was what's called 00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:53.579 a geocentric 00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:54.519 understanding 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.599 of the solar system 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:56.219 and the idea 00:21:56.219 --> 00:21:56.839 there is that 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.419 the earth 00:21:57.419 --> 00:21:58.059 was believed 00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:58.659 to be at the 00:21:58.659 --> 00:21:59.019 center 00:21:59.019 --> 00:22:00.119 of the solar 00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:00.519 system 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.240 in the sun 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.599 and all the 00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:03.019 planets 00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:04.039 orbited 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:04.980 the earth 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:05.759 but what 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.419 Copernicus 00:22:06.419 --> 00:22:07.399 discovered 00:22:07.399 --> 00:22:08.599 basically through 00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:08.980 math 00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:09.839 is that we 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.500 don't live 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.719 in a geocentric 00:22:11.719 --> 00:22:12.500 solar system 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.379 we live in 00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:15.019 a heliocentric 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:16.179 solar system 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:17.200 the sun 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:18.140 is at the 00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:18.420 middle 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:19.060 of our 00:22:19.060 --> 00:22:19.720 solar system 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.400 and the 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:20.779 earth 00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:21.500 orbits 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.340 the sun 00:22:22.340 --> 00:22:23.380 it was a 00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:23.759 complete 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:25.140 reorientation 00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:26.160 of how people 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:26.779 thought about 00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:27.660 our solar system 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:30.240 maybe you know 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:30.660 where I'm going 00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:31.120 with this 00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:33.060 when Jesus Christ 00:22:33.060 --> 00:22:34.120 died on the cross 00:22:34.120 --> 00:22:34.759 and was raised 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.360 from the dead 00:22:35.360 --> 00:22:36.920 and when he 00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:37.600 calls someone 00:22:37.600 --> 00:22:38.420 to come follow 00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:38.840 him 00:22:38.840 --> 00:22:41.240 that grace 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:42.120 that deep 00:22:42.120 --> 00:22:42.920 and costly 00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:43.360 grace 00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:44.080 that he poured 00:22:44.080 --> 00:22:45.100 out for sinners 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:46.359 do you know 00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:47.119 what that does 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:48.699 it moves you 00:22:48.699 --> 00:22:49.740 from a me 00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.819 centered view 00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:52.179 of your life 00:22:52.179 --> 00:22:54.199 into a Christ 00:22:54.199 --> 00:22:55.480 centered view 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.899 of your life 00:22:56.899 --> 00:22:58.159 when Jesus 00:22:58.159 --> 00:22:58.819 died and was 00:22:58.819 --> 00:22:59.719 raised he did 00:22:59.719 --> 00:23:00.859 that to deliver 00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:02.099 you from a 00:23:02.099 --> 00:23:02.759 little life 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.519 live for you 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.319 to a huge 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:05.119 life live for 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:05.599 Christ 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:08.899 he died in the 00:23:08.899 --> 00:23:09.740 place of sinners 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:09.859 sinners 00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:12.480 who are completely 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.240 absorbed with 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:13.660 themselves 00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:15.299 in order to 00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:16.160 move them off 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:16.720 themselves 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:18.299 and onto him 00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:18.819 and becoming 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:20.180 completely absorbed 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:21.059 and compelled 00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:21.720 by him 00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:23.420 do you know 00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:23.880 what's amazing 00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:24.359 about all this 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:24.579 stuff 00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:26.299 we did not 00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:26.920 invite Jesus 00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:27.599 to do this 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:29.579 he initiated 00:23:29.579 --> 00:23:29.980 this 00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:31.599 God initiated 00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:31.980 this 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:33.099 he in his 00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:34.039 grace sent 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.660 his son 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.500 and paid 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.460 a huge 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.180 cost 00:23:37.180 --> 00:23:38.360 with huge 00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:39.100 ramifications 00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:40.259 in order for 00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:41.640 us to get 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.340 off ourselves 00:23:42.340 --> 00:23:42.920 and get 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.600 onto him 00:23:43.600 --> 00:23:47.060 so when we 00:23:47.060 --> 00:23:47.720 come to 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.880 this part 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:49.320 of 00:23:49.320 --> 00:23:51.580 Luke 9 00:23:51.580 --> 00:23:52.140 and we're 00:23:52.140 --> 00:23:52.660 asking the 00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.220 question who 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:54.080 is this guy 00:23:54.080 --> 00:23:55.360 he's more 00:23:55.360 --> 00:23:55.980 than a prophet 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:58.060 and he's 00:23:58.060 --> 00:23:59.400 the Christ 00:23:59.400 --> 00:23:59.840 who was 00:23:59.840 --> 00:24:00.380 crucified 00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:01.259 and raised 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:01.900 and what 00:24:01.900 --> 00:24:02.480 Jesus would 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:03.420 say I 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.320 am your 00:24:04.320 --> 00:24:05.039 salvation 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:06.320 and what 00:24:06.320 --> 00:24:06.880 Jesus would 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:07.160 say 00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:07.900 and I 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:08.519 am a 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:08.980 deep 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.779 and costly 00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:10.480 salvation 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.800 that radically 00:24:11.800 --> 00:24:12.620 reorients 00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:13.240 your life 00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:13.940 from living 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:14.600 for yourself 00:24:14.600 --> 00:24:15.460 to living 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.080 for me 00:24:16.080 --> 00:24:17.220 that is 00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:17.920 who is 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:18.920 calling us 00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:19.620 to follow 00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:20.160 him 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:21.980 he's worthy 00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.540 of it all 00:24:22.540 --> 00:24:26.259 he is the 00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:26.880 king of kings 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:27.380 and lord of 00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:27.640 lords 00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:28.300 all things 00:24:28.300 --> 00:24:28.540 have been 00:24:28.540 --> 00:24:29.019 put under 00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:29.560 his feet 00:24:29.560 --> 00:24:29.900 and he 00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:30.360 calls us 00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:30.800 to follow 00:24:30.800 --> 00:24:31.060 him 00:24:31.060 --> 00:24:33.500 now that 00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:33.740 we've 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.040 looked at 00:24:34.040 --> 00:24:34.380 the me 00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:35.300 now let's 00:24:35.300 --> 00:24:35.840 look at 00:24:35.840 --> 00:24:36.500 the follow 00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:38.920 verse 23 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:40.779 and he 00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:41.220 said to 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:41.940 all if 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.539 anyone would 00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:43.019 come after 00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:43.500 me let 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:43.960 him deny 00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:45.000 himself and 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.539 take up his 00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:46.279 cross daily 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:46.940 and follow 00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:47.319 me 00:24:47.319 --> 00:24:51.039 in this 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.680 call to 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:52.240 follow 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.859 we see 00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:54.799 an invitation 00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:55.500 and then we 00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.680 see some 00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:57.359 commands 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.660 and then he 00:24:58.660 --> 00:24:59.160 gets into 00:24:59.160 --> 00:25:00.180 some crossroads 00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:01.839 and if we 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.220 have time 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:02.660 we'll get 00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:03.200 there but 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:03.920 let's 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:04.180 look at 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:04.380 this 00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:05.220 invitation 00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:05.759 in verse 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.360 23 00:25:06.360 --> 00:25:06.840 he says 00:25:06.840 --> 00:25:07.980 if anyone 00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.480 would come 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.100 after me 00:25:09.100 --> 00:25:09.900 if anyone 00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:10.319 would come 00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:10.759 after me 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.460 remember that 00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.519 me is the 00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:13.220 crucified and 00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:14.019 risen Christ 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.080 if anyone 00:25:15.080 --> 00:25:15.480 would come 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.120 after me 00:25:16.120 --> 00:25:17.080 it's an 00:25:17.080 --> 00:25:17.559 invitation 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:19.039 and notice 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:19.640 it's a broad 00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:20.220 invitation 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:21.779 if anyone 00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:23.779 I'm not sure 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.240 about you 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:24.779 but I'm used 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:25.059 to getting 00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:25.640 invitations 00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:26.120 that are 00:25:26.120 --> 00:25:26.600 limited in 00:25:26.600 --> 00:25:26.880 nature 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:28.600 or I hear 00:25:28.600 --> 00:25:29.279 about someone 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:29.920 going somewhere 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:30.360 that I didn't 00:25:30.360 --> 00:25:30.860 get invited 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:31.159 to 00:25:31.159 --> 00:25:33.519 we live 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:34.199 in a world 00:25:34.199 --> 00:25:35.000 that puts 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:36.039 limits on 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:36.819 inviting people 00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:37.439 to things 00:25:37.439 --> 00:25:39.319 and what 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:39.979 Jesus does 00:25:39.979 --> 00:25:40.859 here is he 00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:42.079 invites anyone 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.559 to come 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:43.179 after him 00:25:43.179 --> 00:25:44.939 so it 00:25:44.939 --> 00:25:45.679 doesn't matter 00:25:45.679 --> 00:25:47.579 how well 00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.779 educated or 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.740 poorly educated 00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:50.339 you are 00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:52.000 Jesus says 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:53.679 come after 00:25:53.679 --> 00:25:53.939 me 00:25:53.939 --> 00:25:55.719 it doesn't 00:25:55.719 --> 00:25:56.619 matter how 00:25:56.619 --> 00:25:57.559 old you are 00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:58.439 Jesus says 00:25:58.439 --> 00:25:59.479 come after 00:25:59.479 --> 00:25:59.779 me 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.440 it doesn't 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:00.819 matter if 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:01.000 you are 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.559 a man 00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.099 or a woman 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:03.119 come after 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:03.500 me 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.220 it doesn't 00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:04.740 matter your 00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:05.259 race 00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:06.200 Jesus says 00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:07.319 come after 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:07.819 me 00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:09.279 it doesn't 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:09.740 matter your 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.200 income 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:11.480 it doesn't 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:11.940 matter your 00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:12.460 address 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:13.399 it doesn't 00:26:13.399 --> 00:26:13.879 matter your 00:26:13.879 --> 00:26:14.740 criminal record 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:16.339 Jesus says 00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:17.440 if anyone 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.619 would come 00:26:18.619 --> 00:26:19.680 after me 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:20.599 there's none 00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:21.240 of those kinds 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:21.839 of limits 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:24.019 this is an 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.500 invitation 00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:26.720 what's an 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:27.879 invitation to 00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:30.600 an invitation 00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:31.140 to what 00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:32.900 if anyone 00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:34.080 would come 00:26:34.080 --> 00:26:35.760 after me 00:26:35.760 --> 00:26:40.140 those words 00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:41.400 come after 00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:41.940 me 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:43.180 is an 00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:43.840 invitation 00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:45.580 to anyone 00:26:45.580 --> 00:26:46.580 to become a 00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:47.260 lifelong 00:26:47.260 --> 00:26:48.640 disciple of 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:49.340 the crucified 00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:50.160 and risen 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:50.760 Christ 00:26:50.760 --> 00:26:52.340 to be a 00:26:52.340 --> 00:26:52.960 disciple of 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:54.100 Jesus is to 00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:55.020 truly know who 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:55.740 Jesus is 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:57.279 crucified Christ 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:57.960 and risen 00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.900 and to 00:26:58.900 --> 00:27:00.099 intentionally live 00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:00.720 for Jesus 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:02.039 to become a 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.839 disciple of 00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:03.759 Jesus is enter 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.339 into a 00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:05.500 relationship with 00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:05.900 a living 00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:06.539 Christ 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:08.920 in which you 00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:09.599 will learn 00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:10.119 from him 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:10.379 you're going 00:27:10.379 --> 00:27:11.559 to enter into 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.059 the Jesus 00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:13.139 school and 00:27:13.139 --> 00:27:13.339 you're going 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:13.900 to learn from 00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:14.339 him in order 00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:14.940 to obey 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.759 him and when 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:16.220 you start to 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:17.059 obey him you 00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:17.599 start end up 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:18.799 becoming like 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.500 him and when 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:20.099 you start becoming 00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:20.839 like him you 00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.700 end up wanting 00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:22.680 things that he 00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:23.339 wants 00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:25.459 so to 00:27:25.459 --> 00:27:26.419 become a 00:27:26.419 --> 00:27:27.119 disciple of 00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:29.179 Jesus is to 00:27:29.179 --> 00:27:29.980 have your life 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:31.939 completely reoriented 00:27:31.939 --> 00:27:33.720 off yourself and 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:35.439 onto Jesus I'm no 00:27:35.439 --> 00:27:36.220 longer living for 00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:37.480 myself I'm living 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.779 for Jesus now 00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:44.480 so what we see 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:45.559 happening here in 00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:46.919 verse 23 is that 00:27:46.919 --> 00:27:48.379 the Jewish Messiah 00:27:48.379 --> 00:27:50.059 is throwing the 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:51.119 door wide open 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:52.279 for anyone to 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:53.299 come after him 00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:54.000 and become his 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:56.500 disciple but 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:56.799 there's an 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:57.460 interesting word 00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.139 here you can't 00:27:58.139 --> 00:28:01.180 pass if anyone 00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:03.359 would come after 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:04.379 me you see that 00:28:04.379 --> 00:28:05.859 word would it's a 00:28:05.859 --> 00:28:06.559 really important 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:07.940 word a better 00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:08.859 translation of it 00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:10.139 would be if anyone 00:28:10.139 --> 00:28:12.079 is willing to come 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:14.599 after me if anyone 00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:16.599 is willing to come 00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.859 after me and at the 00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:18.659 heart of this 00:28:18.659 --> 00:28:20.180 willingness is a 00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:23.099 heart of humility a 00:28:23.099 --> 00:28:24.179 recognition of who 00:28:24.179 --> 00:28:26.439 Jesus is and a 00:28:26.439 --> 00:28:27.500 feeling of the 00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:29.139 appropriateness to 00:28:29.139 --> 00:28:31.419 follow him in 00:28:31.419 --> 00:28:33.099 humility a 00:28:33.099 --> 00:28:38.079 willing response 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:39.339 starts saying things 00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:40.019 like this I 00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:41.000 understand who 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:42.699 Jesus is and I 00:28:42.699 --> 00:28:44.399 understand that to 00:28:44.399 --> 00:28:45.559 follow Jesus is to 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:46.779 intentionally live for 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.879 Jesus let's not 00:28:47.879 --> 00:28:49.119 surprise people with 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:50.259 saying oh come to 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:50.939 Jesus he's going to 00:28:50.939 --> 00:28:51.899 make you really happy 00:28:51.900 --> 00:28:52.640 and then they learn 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.200 out three months 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:54.019 later that they 00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:55.120 actually have to deny 00:28:55.120 --> 00:28:56.300 themselves to follow 00:28:56.300 --> 00:29:04.380 Jesus when we're 00:29:04.380 --> 00:29:05.740 invited by Jesus to 00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:07.300 say if anyone is 00:29:07.300 --> 00:29:08.480 willing to come after 00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:10.920 me Jesus doesn't 00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:11.980 strong arm anybody 00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:14.680 into the kingdom he 00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:16.920 he doesn't force 00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:18.180 people to follow 00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:20.120 him what he's 00:29:20.120 --> 00:29:21.900 calling people anyone 00:29:21.900 --> 00:29:22.900 to do there here is 00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:24.279 to humble themselves 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:26.160 and to come after 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:29.320 him to come under 00:29:29.320 --> 00:29:31.720 his gracious holy 00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:37.060 holy rain he moves 00:29:37.060 --> 00:29:38.799 from invitation if 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.860 anyone is willing to 00:29:39.860 --> 00:29:41.660 come after me broad 00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:43.660 God got to be willing 00:29:43.660 --> 00:29:45.519 and humble and now 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:46.360 he's going to raise 00:29:46.360 --> 00:29:49.279 the cost what it 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:51.700 requires in light of 00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:53.480 his deep and costly 00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:54.640 grace that he poured 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:57.279 out on the cross he 00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:59.380 says come after me and 00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:00.240 for you to come after 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:01.460 him you're going to 00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:03.860 have to obey him he 00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:05.000 gives us three commands 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:08.200 if anyone would come 00:30:08.200 --> 00:30:09.519 after me if anybody is 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.500 willing to come after 00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:12.440 me he must deny 00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:14.559 himself and he must 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:15.500 take up his cross 00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:17.259 daily and he must 00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:20.799 follow me three costly 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:23.000 commands and the cost 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:26.019 is you we're going to 00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:27.319 deny ourselves in order 00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:31.420 to follow Jesus if 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:32.140 you're willing to come 00:30:32.140 --> 00:30:34.619 after Jesus you must 00:30:34.619 --> 00:30:36.819 deny yourself it's a 00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:38.220 command it's not 00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:40.380 optional Jesus says 00:30:40.380 --> 00:30:41.320 if you want to follow 00:30:41.320 --> 00:30:43.800 me you got to deny 00:30:43.800 --> 00:30:45.400 yourself in order to 00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:46.040 live for me 00:30:46.040 --> 00:30:53.100 the costly grace that 00:30:53.100 --> 00:30:54.020 God poured out through 00:30:54.020 --> 00:30:56.240 Christ on the cross is 00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:58.120 a grace that totally 00:30:58.120 --> 00:31:00.440 reorients us to Jesus 00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:02.520 and so we no longer live 00:31:02.520 --> 00:31:03.680 for ourselves and we've 00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:05.580 got to deny ourselves so 00:31:05.580 --> 00:31:06.920 that we can live for 00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:10.759 Jesus now so here's what 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.980 it means that word to 00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:13.740 deny yourself can it 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:17.039 means to say no so a 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:18.600 follower of Jesus one 00:31:18.600 --> 00:31:20.279 who follows him they're 00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:22.180 going to have to say no 00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:24.660 to their right to my 00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:26.840 where am I going to live 00:31:26.840 --> 00:31:30.860 my life self-direction I'm 00:31:30.860 --> 00:31:32.019 going to say no to that so 00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:33.140 that I can say yes to 00:31:33.140 --> 00:31:36.400 Jesus directing my life if 00:31:36.400 --> 00:31:37.020 I'm going to follow 00:31:37.020 --> 00:31:39.120 Jesus I've got to say no 00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:40.960 to my perceived right of 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:43.280 self-preservation so that 00:31:43.280 --> 00:31:45.560 I can say yes to Jesus 00:31:45.560 --> 00:31:47.100 even if that means I'm 00:31:47.100 --> 00:31:48.759 being exposed to danger 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:53.280 those who follow Jesus 00:31:53.280 --> 00:31:56.220 may they must say no to 00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:58.180 self-glory thinking that 00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:59.860 it's all about me so that 00:31:59.860 --> 00:32:01.080 they can say yes to Christ's 00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:02.460 glory because it's all 00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:06.000 about him you know this 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:08.139 self-denial boils down to 00:32:08.139 --> 00:32:11.579 we we renounce our 00:32:11.579 --> 00:32:13.899 perceived right to self 00:32:13.899 --> 00:32:15.919 determination so that I 00:32:15.919 --> 00:32:18.460 can follow my great God 00:32:18.460 --> 00:32:23.019 and King Jesus man this 00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:26.299 hangs Americanized 00:32:26.299 --> 00:32:27.199 Christianity of 00:32:27.199 --> 00:32:29.039 individualism it puts it 00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:29.740 right out the door 00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:32.819 so this is what it means 00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:33.819 if you're unwilling to 00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:36.299 deny yourself in order to 00:32:36.299 --> 00:32:38.440 live for Jesus you can't be 00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:40.960 his disciple that's what he 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:43.799 calls us to do you know 00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:45.120 what the real question is 00:32:45.120 --> 00:32:49.299 is he worth it that's the 00:32:49.299 --> 00:32:52.380 real question is this guy who 00:32:52.380 --> 00:32:54.240 died 2,000 years ago and was 00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:55.620 raised from the dead and 00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:57.200 apparently is raining on is 00:32:57.200 --> 00:33:00.279 he worth it to deny myself oh 00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:03.539 yeah let's keep going the 00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:05.019 second command if anyone is 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:06.440 willing to come after me he 00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:08.740 must take up his cross daily 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:12.019 he must take up his cross daily 00:33:12.019 --> 00:33:13.759 Jesus is just reference his 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:15.440 death he's going to be 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:18.660 crucified and we all know that's 00:33:18.660 --> 00:33:21.319 by the cross the cross is a 00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:22.779 symbol of death and when we 00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:24.960 think of the cross nowadays it is 00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:27.660 linked to Jesus death here's what 00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:30.120 Jesus is saying we must do you 00:33:30.120 --> 00:33:33.360 must identify with Jesus if 00:33:33.360 --> 00:33:34.700 you're going to follow him you 00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:37.200 must identify with him to the 00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:38.480 point that you're going to be 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:40.920 humiliated and put to shame in the 00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:43.940 eyes of the world you know how 00:33:43.940 --> 00:33:45.680 humiliating it was to be 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:46.740 crucified on a cross 00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:52.620 and notice this is a daily taking 00:33:52.620 --> 00:33:56.039 up of the cross it's a daily dying 00:33:56.039 --> 00:33:58.279 out of being identified with 00:33:58.279 --> 00:34:02.160 Christ we must take up our 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:08.019 crosses daily it's one thing to 00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:09.900 deny yourself in order to live for 00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:13.880 Christ it's another thing to suffer 00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:16.180 the consequences for living for 00:34:16.180 --> 00:34:18.220 Christ and that's what Jesus is 00:34:18.220 --> 00:34:20.720 getting at here to bear your cross 00:34:20.720 --> 00:34:22.880 is what Jesus he's making explicit 00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:26.019 that there is a unique suffering 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:28.099 Christians will experience because 00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:30.079 they are living for Christ that they 00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:32.300 are being identified with him so 00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:34.039 every morning it would be very 00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:35.640 appropriate for you to get up and 00:34:35.640 --> 00:34:37.460 you say Jesus you're awesome so 00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:40.099 therefore I'm going to deny myself in 00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:41.740 order that I can live for you and 00:34:41.739 --> 00:34:43.739 whatever comes as a consequence for 00:34:43.739 --> 00:34:47.259 that let it come because I'm 00:34:47.259 --> 00:34:54.679 identifying with you if you're 00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:56.379 unwilling to experience the 00:34:56.379 --> 00:34:58.299 humiliation of being identified with 00:34:58.299 --> 00:35:01.799 Christ on a daily basis you can't be 00:35:01.799 --> 00:35:07.319 his disciple are you willing to be 00:35:07.319 --> 00:35:08.979 the butt end of people's jokes because 00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:12.559 you're a follower of Jesus are you 00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:13.960 willing to be labeled the religious 00:35:13.960 --> 00:35:15.960 guy or gal in your family and be 00:35:15.960 --> 00:35:18.500 avoided are you willing to lose your 00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:20.699 position at work or be overlooked at 00:35:20.699 --> 00:35:23.820 work because you are unwilling to look 00:35:23.820 --> 00:35:25.940 the other way or somehow be unethical 00:35:25.940 --> 00:35:27.740 because you're living for Jesus now 00:35:27.740 --> 00:35:33.980 are you willing to be gossiped about and 00:35:34.500 --> 00:35:35.980 to be avoided by your neighbors because 00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:39.219 they think you're a freak living for 00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:39.619 Jesus 00:35:39.619 --> 00:35:47.480 and when it comes to our church are we 00:35:47.480 --> 00:35:50.360 willing as a church to suffer the 00:35:50.360 --> 00:35:54.199 fallout of being a prophetic voice of 00:35:54.199 --> 00:35:58.079 Jesus to this city for this city's good 00:35:58.079 --> 00:35:59.440 are you willing 00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:05.000 the question that we end up having to 00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:09.800 ask is is Jesus worth it is he worth 00:36:09.800 --> 00:36:10.079 it 00:36:10.079 --> 00:36:14.579 the first two commands to follow Jesus 00:36:14.579 --> 00:36:17.300 are designed to reorient us off 00:36:17.300 --> 00:36:21.639 ourselves you got to die to yourself in 00:36:21.639 --> 00:36:24.099 order to live for Jesus and now he 00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:28.239 comes and says the two words follow me 00:36:28.239 --> 00:36:32.659 follow me if anyone would come after 00:36:32.659 --> 00:36:34.440 me he must deny himself take up his 00:36:34.440 --> 00:36:39.860 cross daily and command follow me it's a 00:36:39.860 --> 00:36:42.599 present tense command which means it has 00:36:42.599 --> 00:36:45.480 this sense of ongoing action I am 00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:48.799 commanded to continually follow Jesus in 00:36:48.799 --> 00:36:51.559 other words not just one time following 00:36:51.559 --> 00:36:54.360 Jesus or not just for kind of a spurt of 00:36:54.360 --> 00:36:56.820 three months following Jesus if I'm to 00:36:56.820 --> 00:36:59.519 follow Jesus I'm to follow him for the 00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:01.039 rest of my life 00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:07.599 when you become a disciple of Jesus 00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:13.579 Christ you enter the Jesus school he is 00:37:13.579 --> 00:37:18.239 our teacher and he teaches us to follow 00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:22.239 him in every area of our he gradually makes 00:37:22.899 --> 00:37:28.019 us more and more like him next week when 00:37:28.019 --> 00:37:30.699 we talk about a disciple is someone who is 00:37:30.699 --> 00:37:33.819 saturated with God's word will bring this 00:37:33.819 --> 00:37:38.239 out a little bit more but the call here is 00:37:38.979 --> 00:37:46.099 to follow him not to follow you you've got to 00:37:46.099 --> 00:37:49.259 deny yourself did not deny yourself call is to 00:37:49.259 --> 00:37:55.119 follow the crucified risen and reigning Jesus in 00:37:55.119 --> 00:37:58.679 every area of your life it means living for him 00:37:58.679 --> 00:38:05.619 so is this narrow and hard way of discipleship is it 00:38:05.619 --> 00:38:12.360 worth it is it worth it to deny myself daily to take up my 00:38:12.360 --> 00:38:16.519 cross daily to follow him daily is it worth it 00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:29.320 for those of us who know who Jesus is and we understand what exactly he has done in order 00:38:29.320 --> 00:38:37.160 to graciously call him to ourselves to himself oh yeah it's worth it he's the treasure hidden field 00:38:37.159 --> 00:38:40.319 he's the pearl of great price 00:38:40.319 --> 00:38:44.819 he's the one worthy of our lives 00:38:44.819 --> 00:38:52.139 in verses 24 and 26 after 00:38:52.139 --> 00:38:57.500 the invitation and after these three commands we see three crossroads 00:38:57.500 --> 00:39:00.159 and what it basically is it's 00:39:00.679 --> 00:39:01.079 Jesus 00:39:01.079 --> 00:39:05.920 Jesus lays out two ways to live there there are those who are living for Jesus 00:39:05.920 --> 00:39:13.260 and then those who are living for themselves and he says there are three crossroads that we will experience with everyone on the planet 00:39:13.260 --> 00:39:21.579 those living for Jesus and those living for themselves they will have very different perspectives on what it means to save your life 00:39:21.579 --> 00:39:31.960 whoever would save his life for his sake will lose it but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it 00:39:31.960 --> 00:39:39.300 in order to follow Jesus 00:39:39.300 --> 00:39:43.840 you must say no to a life lived for yourself 00:39:43.840 --> 00:39:46.220 in order to live a life 00:39:46.220 --> 00:39:47.059 for Christ 00:39:47.059 --> 00:39:49.320 and if you're wondering right now 00:39:49.320 --> 00:39:51.480 well that sounds awful 00:39:51.480 --> 00:39:54.960 it's no loss 00:39:54.960 --> 00:39:57.280 it's all gain 00:39:57.280 --> 00:40:00.680 Jesus is our gain 00:40:00.680 --> 00:40:07.120 Jim Elliot said he is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep in order to gain what he cannot lose 00:40:07.120 --> 00:40:12.480 the first crossroads is what it means to save your life 00:40:12.480 --> 00:40:17.519 those who are living for themselves think that saving your life means living for yourself 00:40:17.620 --> 00:40:23.260 and those who are living for Christ know that saving your life means living for Christ 00:40:23.260 --> 00:40:25.260 that's where life is 00:40:25.260 --> 00:40:29.100 the second crossroads is 00:40:29.100 --> 00:40:31.460 has anything to do with the world 00:40:31.460 --> 00:40:35.320 and I'm just going to skip that and move down to verse 26 00:40:35.320 --> 00:40:37.680 the third crossroads of what it means 00:40:37.680 --> 00:40:39.500 of being ashamed 00:40:39.500 --> 00:40:41.840 in this age 00:40:41.840 --> 00:40:43.920 if you are living for yourself 00:40:43.920 --> 00:40:46.100 you are going to be ashamed 00:40:46.100 --> 00:40:47.080 of Jesus 00:40:47.080 --> 00:40:48.420 and his words 00:40:48.420 --> 00:40:50.540 the two are vitally linked 00:40:50.540 --> 00:40:52.600 see that in verse 26 00:40:52.599 --> 00:40:56.980 for whoever is ashamed of me 00:40:56.980 --> 00:40:58.099 and of my words of him 00:40:58.099 --> 00:40:59.360 will the son of man be ashamed 00:40:59.360 --> 00:41:00.519 when he comes in his glory 00:41:00.519 --> 00:41:01.500 and the glory of the father 00:41:01.500 --> 00:41:02.360 and of the holy angels 00:41:02.360 --> 00:41:05.420 to be ashamed of Jesus 00:41:05.420 --> 00:41:06.299 means to 00:41:06.299 --> 00:41:08.460 disassociate yourself with him 00:41:08.460 --> 00:41:10.139 to deny him 00:41:10.139 --> 00:41:13.500 and so if you're living today 00:41:13.500 --> 00:41:15.739 and you are disassociating yourself 00:41:15.739 --> 00:41:17.219 because you're embarrassed by him 00:41:17.219 --> 00:41:18.319 do you know what he says 00:41:18.319 --> 00:41:19.839 when I come back 00:41:19.839 --> 00:41:20.920 I'm going to be ashamed of you 00:41:20.920 --> 00:41:22.940 I'm going to distance myself from you 00:41:22.940 --> 00:41:24.740 I'm going to deny you 00:41:24.740 --> 00:41:28.260 but for those of us 00:41:28.260 --> 00:41:29.940 who are living for Christ now 00:41:29.940 --> 00:41:32.280 we don't need to be ashamed 00:41:32.280 --> 00:41:35.340 we identify ourselves 00:41:35.340 --> 00:41:37.500 with him and his word 00:41:37.500 --> 00:41:40.680 we are living according to his word 00:41:40.680 --> 00:41:42.180 for his glory 00:41:42.180 --> 00:41:43.559 and so the prospect 00:41:43.559 --> 00:41:45.380 of his coming back 00:41:45.380 --> 00:41:47.440 that doesn't strike 00:41:47.440 --> 00:41:48.519 that doesn't strike fear into us 00:41:48.519 --> 00:41:51.260 that strikes joy into us 00:41:51.260 --> 00:41:52.579 come Lord Jesus 00:41:52.579 --> 00:41:53.140 come 00:41:53.140 --> 00:41:56.180 we want to hear 00:41:56.180 --> 00:41:56.760 well done 00:41:56.760 --> 00:41:57.800 good and faithful servant 00:41:57.800 --> 00:41:59.160 enter the joy of your master 00:41:59.160 --> 00:42:03.320 what this means 00:42:03.320 --> 00:42:04.680 is the way that we live 00:42:04.680 --> 00:42:05.940 for Christ now 00:42:05.940 --> 00:42:08.300 it's going to contrast 00:42:08.300 --> 00:42:10.039 with the way that people 00:42:10.039 --> 00:42:11.860 who are living for themselves now 00:42:11.860 --> 00:42:14.480 and there are eternal 00:42:14.480 --> 00:42:15.820 implications to it 00:42:15.820 --> 00:42:19.820 let me conclude by saying this 00:42:19.820 --> 00:42:24.340 what does it mean to be a Christian 00:42:24.340 --> 00:42:25.559 in the 21st century 00:42:25.559 --> 00:42:29.220 well you know what 00:42:29.220 --> 00:42:31.980 Jesus hasn't changed 00:42:31.980 --> 00:42:35.640 we may have different 00:42:35.640 --> 00:42:37.160 cultural contexts 00:42:37.160 --> 00:42:38.180 from the 1st century 00:42:38.180 --> 00:42:39.440 to the 21st century 00:42:39.440 --> 00:42:41.820 but Jesus hasn't changed 00:42:41.820 --> 00:42:44.940 and his costly call 00:42:44.940 --> 00:42:45.800 to follow him 00:42:45.800 --> 00:42:47.820 hasn't changed 00:42:47.820 --> 00:42:52.039 it's a corrective for us 00:42:52.039 --> 00:42:54.340 becoming a Christian 00:42:54.340 --> 00:42:55.639 is far more reaching 00:42:55.639 --> 00:42:57.300 than simply asking Jesus 00:42:57.300 --> 00:42:58.460 to come into your heart 00:42:58.460 --> 00:43:01.440 to become a Christian 00:43:01.440 --> 00:43:02.980 is to have your life 00:43:02.980 --> 00:43:05.200 completely reoriented 00:43:05.200 --> 00:43:06.579 by the costly 00:43:06.579 --> 00:43:08.179 deep grace of Christ 00:43:08.179 --> 00:43:09.719 from living for yourself 00:43:09.719 --> 00:43:12.099 to live for Christ 00:43:12.099 --> 00:43:15.219 so this 00:43:15.219 --> 00:43:16.579 here's what this means for us 00:43:16.579 --> 00:43:20.379 we got to call people 00:43:20.379 --> 00:43:21.279 to follow Jesus 00:43:21.279 --> 00:43:23.799 as he called people 00:43:23.799 --> 00:43:24.879 to follow Jesus 00:43:24.879 --> 00:43:27.379 we invite them 00:43:27.379 --> 00:43:29.379 to come after him 00:43:29.379 --> 00:43:31.339 who gave himself up 00:43:31.339 --> 00:43:32.000 for them 00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:33.599 and the cost 00:43:33.599 --> 00:43:35.079 is high 00:43:35.079 --> 00:43:38.319 we don't diminish 00:43:38.319 --> 00:43:39.400 the cost 00:43:39.400 --> 00:43:42.279 we make it known 00:43:42.279 --> 00:43:44.340 and let God 00:43:44.340 --> 00:43:45.159 do his work 00:43:45.159 --> 00:43:46.460 and what we will see 00:43:46.460 --> 00:43:47.460 as we step out 00:43:47.460 --> 00:43:47.900 in faith 00:43:47.900 --> 00:43:50.059 is that God 00:43:50.059 --> 00:43:50.960 is going to call 00:43:50.960 --> 00:43:52.519 followers to himself 00:43:52.519 --> 00:43:54.059 men and women 00:43:54.059 --> 00:43:54.779 boys and girls 00:43:54.779 --> 00:43:55.380 who are willing 00:43:55.380 --> 00:43:56.360 to give it all up 00:43:56.360 --> 00:43:57.819 so that they can 00:43:57.819 --> 00:43:59.340 live for the one 00:43:59.340 --> 00:44:00.980 who paid it all 00:44:00.980 --> 00:44:05.420 it's amazing 00:44:05.420 --> 00:44:06.400 what two words 00:44:06.400 --> 00:44:07.400 can do 00:44:07.400 --> 00:44:10.019 two words 00:44:10.019 --> 00:44:11.740 follow me 00:44:11.740 --> 00:44:14.599 these two words 00:44:14.599 --> 00:44:16.300 must 00:44:16.300 --> 00:44:17.740 radically 00:44:17.740 --> 00:44:18.579 reorient 00:44:18.579 --> 00:44:19.539 our lives 00:44:19.539 --> 00:44:21.860 off of ourselves 00:44:21.860 --> 00:44:24.519 and onto Jesus 00:44:24.519 --> 00:44:26.860 that's where 00:44:26.860 --> 00:44:27.500 true 00:44:27.500 --> 00:44:28.360 life 00:44:28.360 --> 00:44:29.300 is 00:44:29.300 --> 00:44:31.280 let's pray 00:44:31.280 --> 00:44:37.519 Lord Jesus 00:44:37.519 --> 00:44:38.280 you are worthy 00:44:38.280 --> 00:44:40.719 right now 00:44:40.719 --> 00:44:41.460 at the right hand 00:44:41.460 --> 00:44:42.340 of God the Father 00:44:42.340 --> 00:44:43.360 you are surrounded 00:44:43.360 --> 00:44:43.860 by 00:44:43.860 --> 00:44:47.099 elders 00:44:47.099 --> 00:44:47.860 and myriads 00:44:47.860 --> 00:44:48.759 of angels 00:44:48.759 --> 00:44:50.139 and the redeemed 00:44:50.139 --> 00:44:50.900 and they are 00:44:50.900 --> 00:44:51.900 worshiping you 00:44:51.900 --> 00:44:54.700 they are singing 00:44:54.700 --> 00:44:55.340 the glory 00:44:55.340 --> 00:44:55.940 and praise 00:44:55.940 --> 00:44:56.440 that are due 00:44:56.440 --> 00:44:57.119 your name 00:44:57.119 --> 00:45:00.059 Lord Jesus 00:45:00.059 --> 00:45:00.660 we ask 00:45:00.660 --> 00:45:01.380 that you would 00:45:01.380 --> 00:45:02.519 do a work 00:45:02.519 --> 00:45:03.320 in us 00:45:03.320 --> 00:45:04.320 where it's 00:45:04.320 --> 00:45:05.320 our joy 00:45:05.320 --> 00:45:06.420 to deny 00:45:06.420 --> 00:45:07.039 ourselves 00:45:07.039 --> 00:45:07.860 take up 00:45:07.860 --> 00:45:08.300 our cross 00:45:08.300 --> 00:45:08.720 daily 00:45:08.720 --> 00:45:09.660 and follow 00:45:09.660 --> 00:45:10.059 you 00:45:10.059 --> 00:45:11.420 you're worth 00:45:11.420 --> 00:45:11.820 it Lord 00:45:11.820 --> 00:45:12.200 Jesus 00:45:12.200 --> 00:45:16.039 we pray 00:45:16.039 --> 00:45:16.519 this all 00:45:16.519 --> 00:45:17.240 in your name 00:45:17.240 --> 00:45:18.740 amen