WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.440 Well, good morning. It's good to see you all here. We're glad you have joined us this morning on this 00:00:06.440 --> 00:00:13.380 Palm Sunday. You know, on that first Palm Sunday that happened, there was a victory parade. Jesus 00:00:13.380 --> 00:00:21.160 came in humility on a donkey, but the crowds looked at him and they said, our king has come. 00:00:21.960 --> 00:00:29.480 But in their minds, this king had come to overthrow Rome. They were looking for an army, 00:00:29.480 --> 00:00:35.219 whether it be a physical army or an army of angels, to overthrow the great oppressor 00:00:35.219 --> 00:00:44.159 that they lived under and to establish a new nation state of Israel with its former glory, 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:53.219 its prosperity, its power. They thought that Jesus had come to bring an earthly kingdom 00:00:53.219 --> 00:00:57.280 and they misunderstood him deeply. 00:01:00.439 --> 00:01:07.900 I wonder, friends, this morning, as we gather, if we are prone to similarly misunderstanding Jesus 00:01:07.900 --> 00:01:17.579 in different ways. In our culture today, maybe we misunderstand Jesus as coming to make our lives 00:01:17.579 --> 00:01:24.539 easier and better. Jesus is a self-help, a self-advancement program where we connect with 00:01:24.539 --> 00:01:30.500 the divine and that brings us a little bit better life than we thought before. Jesus is like an add-on, 00:01:30.579 --> 00:01:36.299 a new app in our phone that helps produce a little bit greater spiritual productivity in our lives. 00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:46.879 Maybe we think that Jesus has come to give us a manual for self-salvation. That is, if we can be good people, 00:01:47.099 --> 00:01:53.739 good enough in the right ways to the right people, that maybe God will accept us because we've met the standard. 00:01:55.179 --> 00:02:00.560 If you were a Jew in the first century, you might think, well, if I follow the law, that will be enough. 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:07.900 Certainly, Christians over the centuries have thought that being good moral people and being a part of 00:02:07.900 --> 00:02:12.439 attendance at a gathering like this, isn't that enough? 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:19.099 There are lots of ways in which we misunderstand the gospel. 00:02:19.780 --> 00:02:26.259 Today, perhaps one of the great challenges is what I'm going to label an over-realized eschatology. 00:02:26.259 --> 00:02:29.359 What does that mean? We think that because Jesus has risen from the dead, 00:02:29.560 --> 00:02:33.479 he's come here now to fix everything, all of our problems. 00:02:34.139 --> 00:02:40.459 This is what the prosperity gospel promises, that Jesus has come to make you healthy, wealthy, and wise 00:02:40.459 --> 00:02:44.099 in this life with all of that. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:50.259 Why is it such a big deal if we misunderstand? 00:02:50.259 --> 00:02:57.340 Well, because misunderstanding Jesus can lead to spiritual ruin. 00:02:58.219 --> 00:03:03.500 Because when we think that Jesus is promising something that he hasn't promised us, 00:03:04.539 --> 00:03:07.680 those false expectations are disappointed, 00:03:08.399 --> 00:03:13.159 and that disappointment leads to despair and a crisis of faith. 00:03:13.539 --> 00:03:17.340 How can I believe? Because Jesus hasn't come through for me. 00:03:17.340 --> 00:03:22.479 How often do we come to Jesus with conditions? 00:03:22.640 --> 00:03:28.379 As long as Jesus says, these things for me, my expectations, my standards, 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:32.120 I will believe. 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:36.060 But if not, I don't know anymore. 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:40.379 So the stakes are high in understanding Jesus rightly. 00:03:40.780 --> 00:03:44.400 The stakes are high in knowing what he's actually come to do. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:46.840 And this leads us to our text today. 00:03:47.300 --> 00:03:49.740 If you're visiting, we're in a series in the book of Mark. 00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:52.800 We'll be looking at Mark chapter 8. 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:56.259 We'll be looking at verses 34 through 38. 00:03:56.500 --> 00:03:59.120 In the Pew Bible, it's page 793. 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:02.439 So you can turn there if you'd like to have that. 00:04:03.140 --> 00:04:04.860 And if you remember, as you're turning there, 00:04:05.020 --> 00:04:08.939 remember that this is, chapter 8 is sort of the high point, 00:04:09.040 --> 00:04:10.700 the apex of the book of Mark. 00:04:10.699 --> 00:04:15.659 It is the gravitational center where leading up to it, it is, who is this Jesus? 00:04:16.459 --> 00:04:23.019 And then from here on, it's Jesus living out what that calling looks like 00:04:23.019 --> 00:04:25.139 and calling his disciples to follow him. 00:04:25.420 --> 00:04:30.339 And if you were here last week, you'd remember that the context of verse 34 is, 00:04:31.060 --> 00:04:35.319 Jesus has come to the disciples and said, what do people think I am? 00:04:35.339 --> 00:04:37.259 And Peter said, you are the Christ. 00:04:37.259 --> 00:04:40.879 And then Jesus responded and said, you're right. 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:46.839 And then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer and must die and must rise again. 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:49.899 And Peter said, whoa, whoa, whoa, that's not right. 00:04:50.719 --> 00:04:54.779 That doesn't match my understanding of why you've come. 00:04:55.560 --> 00:05:01.599 And Jesus rebukes him and says, you are thinking of the things of man, not the things of God. 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:04.900 And that leads us to our text this morning. 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:09.879 So Mark 8, we're going to start in verse 34. 00:05:10.320 --> 00:05:12.580 We're going to read through verse 38. 00:05:13.260 --> 00:05:16.660 The slides will include chapter 9, verse 1. 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:18.500 Some Bibles put it with this. 00:05:18.640 --> 00:05:22.000 I actually think there's a good reason to say it goes with the passage afterwards. 00:05:22.780 --> 00:05:24.660 And I'm just not going to deal with it. 00:05:24.760 --> 00:05:27.600 Come see me afterwards if you want to know what I think it says. 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:32.379 But Mark 8, verse 34. 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:39.160 And he, that is Jesus, called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, 00:05:39.800 --> 00:05:46.100 if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 00:05:46.780 --> 00:05:49.000 For whoever would save his life will lose it. 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:54.580 But whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 00:05:54.579 --> 00:06:00.560 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 00:06:01.659 --> 00:06:05.039 For what can a man give in return for his life? 00:06:06.159 --> 00:06:11.379 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, 00:06:11.860 --> 00:06:14.799 of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed 00:06:14.799 --> 00:06:19.000 when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:22.899 Let's pray and ask God to help us understand this text. 00:06:22.899 --> 00:06:28.959 Lord, we do come before you and we thank you. 00:06:29.819 --> 00:06:33.819 We thank you that you have not left us to grope and grasp to understand you, 00:06:33.919 --> 00:06:35.539 but that you have revealed yourself. 00:06:36.979 --> 00:06:39.139 Lord, you've revealed yourself in the person of Jesus 00:06:39.139 --> 00:06:43.159 and you've revealed yourself in your word, the Bible. 00:06:44.279 --> 00:06:47.199 Your revelation to us so that we might know you. 00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:49.379 And Lord, we pray now that you will help us. 00:06:49.379 --> 00:06:53.939 Lord, help us to understand what you are saying to us. 00:06:54.699 --> 00:06:57.180 Lord, help our minds to grasp the truths. 00:06:57.399 --> 00:07:01.079 Help our hearts to treasure them and to submit to them. 00:07:02.379 --> 00:07:05.779 Lord, I pray for your help that I might speak clearly this morning. 00:07:06.060 --> 00:07:07.740 We pray these things in Jesus' name. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:09.399 Amen. 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:09.600 Amen. 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:16.660 Friends, the big idea of this passage is very simple. 00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:22.140 And that is that Jesus calls us to walk the way of the cross. 00:07:22.760 --> 00:07:24.840 We're going to look at this in two sections. 00:07:25.420 --> 00:07:29.340 Verse 34 is the call to walk the way of the cross. 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:35.080 And verse 35 through 38 is going to tell us about the shape of the way of the cross. 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:39.800 So that's what we're going to do for those of you who are taking notes. 00:07:40.019 --> 00:07:42.219 Each of our points will have three sub points. 00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:44.039 It'll break down really nicely. 00:07:44.740 --> 00:07:51.060 So, and hopefully we'll get through this and it will help bring clarity to us. 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:56.399 So in verse 34, Jesus calls us to walk in the way of the cross. 00:07:56.500 --> 00:07:59.579 Because of Peter's rebuke, Jesus recognizes, 00:07:59.579 --> 00:08:04.599 I need to clarify with these guys and not just with his disciples, 00:08:04.859 --> 00:08:07.319 but more broadly, he calls the crowd to him and says, 00:08:07.459 --> 00:08:11.279 I need to clarify what I have actually come to do. 00:08:11.359 --> 00:08:16.680 And more importantly for, in this context, it's what it means to follow me. 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:17.560 Right? 00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:21.099 Because this is the subject of what he's talking about throughout this. 00:08:21.299 --> 00:08:23.819 What does it mean to actually follow Jesus? 00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:27.299 And Jesus says, there are three things. 00:08:27.300 --> 00:08:32.500 If anyone would come after me, he must first deny himself. 00:08:35.340 --> 00:08:41.700 Now friends, this is a very simple, but very profound and difficult thing to do. 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:46.240 To say, it's not about me anymore. 00:08:46.680 --> 00:08:49.919 It's about something else outside of me. 00:08:50.139 --> 00:08:52.940 I have to deny that I am the center of the world. 00:08:52.940 --> 00:08:58.360 I have to deny that I am the most important thing about me or about my life. 00:09:00.740 --> 00:09:05.340 To follow Jesus is to say, my life is no longer about me. 00:09:06.100 --> 00:09:10.940 And of course, we know that this is how we enter into faith with Jesus, isn't it? 00:09:11.580 --> 00:09:11.800 Right? 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:16.899 Recognizing that when we come to faith, what we're doing is recognizing, 00:09:17.399 --> 00:09:20.179 I have nothing to commend myself to God. 00:09:20.379 --> 00:09:24.899 And my sin is so great that he is right to bring judgment upon me. 00:09:25.099 --> 00:09:26.539 And so I am undone. 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:33.039 I have nothing by which I might cross this gulf between myself and a holy God. 00:09:33.439 --> 00:09:37.099 And yet that holy God has come and done something for me. 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:43.920 But I need to recognize that the way to get to that thing, that person, Jesus, who has come for me, 00:09:44.060 --> 00:09:50.800 is by denying myself, surrendering my right, and clinging to him instead. 00:09:53.840 --> 00:10:01.000 One commentator mentioned, noticed that denying oneself is not denying the things that the self wants, 00:10:01.379 --> 00:10:04.180 but it is denying the self itself. 00:10:04.179 --> 00:10:09.899 Jesus calls for a deliberate refusal to be guided by self-interest, 00:10:10.079 --> 00:10:13.459 for a conscious surrender of control of one's life, 00:10:13.579 --> 00:10:18.239 for an intentional renunciation of self-determination. 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:24.620 Nothing in my hands I bring, only to the cross I cling. 00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:29.779 To deny oneself is to say, my life is no longer my own. 00:10:29.779 --> 00:10:33.939 I have surrendered it to Jesus in faith. 00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:41.799 Jesus then says, not only are you to deny yourself, but you to pick up the cross. 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:44.819 Now what does this mean? 00:10:45.199 --> 00:10:49.779 Fundamentally it means you need to embrace a path of suffering. 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:57.039 Now, in the first century, what picking up the cross meant was, 00:10:57.399 --> 00:11:02.439 for those who were condemned to die by this horrific means of execution, 00:11:02.819 --> 00:11:04.639 they would be paraded through the streets, 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:10.039 and they would be compelled to carry the crossbar of their cross, 00:11:10.379 --> 00:11:14.899 that then they would be nailed to when they were crucified and lifted up, 00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:18.620 and then hung there in public shame and humiliation, 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:23.699 as well as unbelievable physical pain. 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:26.159 Right? 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:29.659 This is what happened with Jesus. 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:32.399 He was compelled to carry the cross. 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:42.759 And Jesus says, we too need to recognize that we are called to walk in his footsteps, 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:47.679 a path of suffering, a path of humiliation, 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:50.919 in the eyes of others. 00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:57.519 So Jesus says we're to deny ourselves, we're to pick up the cross, 00:11:57.559 --> 00:11:59.679 and then we're to follow him. 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:02.719 And here's what I want you to see. 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:06.399 This is, in some ways, the pattern of our salvation 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:09.019 becomes the pattern of our life. 00:12:10.339 --> 00:12:14.459 We follow Jesus who died for us by dying to ourselves 00:12:14.459 --> 00:12:16.079 so that we might live for him. 00:12:18.959 --> 00:12:21.759 And the life that we now live, we spend, 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:26.219 not for ourselves, but for Jesus and for his glory. 00:12:26.220 --> 00:12:32.940 This is the call that Jesus puts forth before us today. 00:12:33.379 --> 00:12:35.200 So what does it look like? 00:12:36.899 --> 00:12:39.720 Well, in some ways, the whole New Testament, 00:12:40.180 --> 00:12:41.940 all of the epistles and letters, 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:43.820 and even much of the gospel teachings 00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:47.259 is teaching us about what does it look like to live in God's kingdom, 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:50.540 to live this path that Jesus has laid out for us. 00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:53.139 But that would be too much for us today. 00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:57.279 Thankfully, Jesus gives us three things 00:12:57.279 --> 00:12:59.139 for us to think about very carefully 00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:03.080 as we think about what's the shape of this discipleship, 00:13:03.179 --> 00:13:06.199 this following Jesus that we're called to do. 00:13:06.919 --> 00:13:09.639 The way of the cross looks like three things. 00:13:10.259 --> 00:13:12.139 It looks like dying to self-protection 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:14.639 and giving your life away. 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:18.100 It means dying to self-gratification 00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:20.600 and living for a greater good. 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:23.920 It means dying to self-identity, 00:13:24.300 --> 00:13:27.779 to be identified with Christ by faith. 00:13:28.820 --> 00:13:31.040 So we're going to look at those three things 00:13:31.040 --> 00:13:34.200 for a few minutes as we think about what's the shape. 00:13:34.560 --> 00:13:36.899 Verse 35, the way of the cross 00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:39.320 means dying to self-protection 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:41.659 and giving your life away for Christ. 00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:44.220 Look with me at the verse and see what he says. 00:13:44.800 --> 00:13:44.980 Right? 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:46.080 Verse 35, 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:49.220 For whoever would save his life will lose it. 00:13:49.540 --> 00:13:52.259 But whoever loses his life for my sake 00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:54.800 and the gospel will save it. 00:13:56.040 --> 00:13:57.820 Now look, Jesus is using life 00:13:57.820 --> 00:13:59.500 in two different senses here. 00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:00.180 Right? 00:14:00.280 --> 00:14:01.700 Because at one level he's saying 00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:04.860 he's using life in the first one. 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:06.379 Whoever would save his life, 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:08.920 whoever would seek to save or preserve 00:14:08.920 --> 00:14:10.460 this earthly life, 00:14:10.640 --> 00:14:12.720 which means both your physical existence, 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:15.940 but also all the things that you call your life. 00:14:16.040 --> 00:14:17.360 Everything that it makes up. 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:18.180 Your hopes, your dreams, 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:20.080 all those things. 00:14:20.300 --> 00:14:20.480 Right? 00:14:20.940 --> 00:14:21.660 So he's saying, 00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:23.399 if you seek to save that, 00:14:24.040 --> 00:14:25.200 you'll never succeed. 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:26.720 You will lose that. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:30.620 But if you surrender your desire to protect, 00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:31.600 to save, 00:14:31.700 --> 00:14:32.600 to promote that 00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:34.040 and make your life about that, 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:36.560 you will actually gain a different life, 00:14:36.660 --> 00:14:38.920 an eternal life that comes from me. 00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:41.080 And this eternal life is, 00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:43.100 both in the present world 00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:44.500 and for eternity, 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:46.560 something of greater value 00:14:46.560 --> 00:14:48.320 than you will ever know. 00:14:48.980 --> 00:14:49.600 But he says, 00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:52.040 you have to die to saving your life 00:14:52.040 --> 00:14:54.580 so that you might receive the life 00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:56.160 that I have for you. 00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:58.420 You can't have both. 00:14:58.920 --> 00:15:00.519 You must give up one 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:02.639 to gain the other. 00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:05.560 And he's saying, 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:08.139 saving your life is futile. 00:15:08.940 --> 00:15:09.379 Now look, 00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:10.440 let's be very clear. 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:14.000 Jesus is not advocating self-martyrdom, 00:15:14.100 --> 00:15:14.860 let alone suicide. 00:15:15.220 --> 00:15:15.920 He's not saying, 00:15:16.060 --> 00:15:16.680 go kill yourself 00:15:16.680 --> 00:15:18.340 so that you can have the life with Jesus. 00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:19.320 Right? 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:21.320 But what he is saying is, 00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:22.000 let go. 00:15:22.540 --> 00:15:24.220 Let go of your grasping, 00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:25.420 of your control, 00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:26.679 of your protecting, 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:28.519 of this life. 00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:31.599 And again, 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:32.059 friends, 00:15:32.699 --> 00:15:33.019 see, 00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:34.419 this is the pattern of Jesus. 00:15:35.079 --> 00:15:36.559 Jesus had to die 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:38.339 so that you could live. 00:15:39.199 --> 00:15:40.079 So now, 00:15:40.319 --> 00:15:40.939 he says, 00:15:41.339 --> 00:15:42.519 die to yourself, 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:45.500 join yourself to me by faith, 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:46.719 and you will live. 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:48.940 You will live for what? 00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:51.580 For me, 00:15:51.820 --> 00:15:53.300 and for the gospel's sake. 00:15:53.680 --> 00:15:55.139 This is the good news, 00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:55.480 right? 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:58.080 Whoever loses his life for my sake, 00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:59.639 and for the sake of the gospel, 00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:03.580 this is something worth living for. 00:16:03.920 --> 00:16:05.800 Worth giving up everything else 00:16:05.800 --> 00:16:08.060 to spend your energy and your life. 00:16:08.059 --> 00:16:11.619 Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously said, 00:16:11.739 --> 00:16:12.899 when Christ calls a man, 00:16:13.319 --> 00:16:15.359 he bids him come and die. 00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:20.479 So Jesus calls us to die 00:16:20.479 --> 00:16:21.819 to self-protection 00:16:21.819 --> 00:16:24.059 and to live for something else. 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:26.979 Self-protection can take many forms. 00:16:27.619 --> 00:16:29.059 We might be obsessed 00:16:29.699 --> 00:16:31.719 with our physical life and health, 00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:33.279 desperately and fiercely, 00:16:33.459 --> 00:16:34.099 protecting it, 00:16:34.099 --> 00:16:34.819 promoting it, 00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:39.040 in a way that denies God's sovereignty 00:16:39.040 --> 00:16:40.900 over our physical strength 00:16:40.900 --> 00:16:41.820 and weakness. 00:16:44.140 --> 00:16:45.260 Maybe we do it 00:16:45.260 --> 00:16:46.660 not with our physical life, 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:48.400 but with the life of our hopes 00:16:48.400 --> 00:16:49.320 and our dreams, 00:16:49.800 --> 00:16:50.740 in our careers, 00:16:51.040 --> 00:16:51.879 in our successes, 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:53.080 in our relationships, 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:54.840 our desire for pleasure 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:55.940 or comfort. 00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:57.980 At the center, 00:16:58.140 --> 00:16:59.640 we seek to preserve the life 00:16:59.640 --> 00:17:01.020 that we are making 00:17:01.020 --> 00:17:02.980 rather than allowing God 00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:04.279 to give us the life 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:06.220 that he wants to give us. 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:08.259 And Jesus calls us 00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:09.480 to do something else. 00:17:10.379 --> 00:17:11.039 Jesus says, 00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:11.720 don't preserve, 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:13.539 but give your life away. 00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:16.899 Let the cause of the gospel 00:17:16.899 --> 00:17:20.160 be the cause of your life. 00:17:21.639 --> 00:17:22.519 The apostle Paul 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:23.599 talks about himself 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:24.599 and his life 00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:25.779 as being poured out 00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:26.940 like a drink offering, 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:29.000 simply given away 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:30.539 before God 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:32.319 for the sake of other people. 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:35.619 friends, 00:17:35.899 --> 00:17:37.480 in this Easter season, 00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:38.279 think about it. 00:17:38.379 --> 00:17:39.099 Who are the people 00:17:39.099 --> 00:17:39.980 that God has put 00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:40.819 in your life? 00:17:41.919 --> 00:17:42.899 Your family, 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:43.859 your coworkers, 00:17:44.159 --> 00:17:44.960 your suite mates, 00:17:45.159 --> 00:17:45.759 your friends, 00:17:45.899 --> 00:17:46.399 your neighbors. 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:48.720 What would it mean 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.460 for you 00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:51.919 to love them 00:17:51.919 --> 00:17:52.799 the way Jesus 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.859 has loved you? 00:17:53.859 --> 00:17:56.619 what would it cost you 00:17:56.619 --> 00:17:58.279 in your time, 00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:00.519 in your convenience, 00:18:01.179 --> 00:18:03.419 in your physical belongings, 00:18:04.179 --> 00:18:06.740 in your comfort zones, 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:09.519 to love the people 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.399 around you? 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:14.819 Pouring out your life 00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:16.519 for others 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:18.259 is what Jesus did 00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:19.099 for us. 00:18:19.099 --> 00:18:25.079 All that I have 00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:26.019 and all that I am 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:26.740 is completely 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:28.039 given over to Jesus. 00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:29.299 No halfway, 00:18:29.659 --> 00:18:30.659 no one foot in, 00:18:30.719 --> 00:18:31.399 one foot out. 00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:33.219 Either we save our life 00:18:33.219 --> 00:18:34.299 or we lose it. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:37.439 You may be familiar 00:18:37.439 --> 00:18:38.199 with the missionary 00:18:38.199 --> 00:18:38.859 Jim Elliott 00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:40.399 who in the 1950s 00:18:40.399 --> 00:18:41.539 was martyred. 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:44.339 He wrote in his life 00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:45.339 that he is no fool 00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:45.819 who gives 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:46.879 what he cannot keep 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:48.020 to gain 00:18:48.020 --> 00:18:49.240 what he cannot lose 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.400 and he lived out 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:51.120 that calling 00:18:51.120 --> 00:18:52.640 by going to 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:54.380 an unreached tribe 00:18:54.380 --> 00:18:56.160 in South America 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.980 who were known 00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:59.940 to be headhunters 00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:01.480 and he died 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:03.080 at their hands. 00:19:04.080 --> 00:19:05.540 Not only was his faith 00:19:05.540 --> 00:19:06.420 exemplary 00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:07.940 but his wife's faith. 00:19:08.320 --> 00:19:09.580 She who sat back 00:19:09.580 --> 00:19:10.200 at the radio 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:11.080 and heard of his, 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:13.760 heard of her husband's death 00:19:13.760 --> 00:19:14.920 and then 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:16.600 after regrouping 00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:17.219 went back 00:19:17.219 --> 00:19:18.500 to the same people 00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:20.459 to love them. 00:19:21.419 --> 00:19:22.740 To raise her daughter 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:25.359 as a single parent missionary 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:27.179 so that they, 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:28.159 these people 00:19:28.159 --> 00:19:29.579 who had done 00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:30.659 unspeakable harm 00:19:30.659 --> 00:19:31.719 to her family 00:19:31.719 --> 00:19:32.839 would know 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.539 the grace 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:34.599 and love of Christ. 00:19:38.679 --> 00:19:39.259 Friends, 00:19:39.459 --> 00:19:40.799 if Jesus would ask you 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:41.719 to give up something 00:19:41.719 --> 00:19:43.379 to follow him, 00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:46.420 would you do it? 00:19:48.040 --> 00:19:49.300 Would you do it gladly? 00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:51.120 Can you think 00:19:51.120 --> 00:19:52.180 of that one thing 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:53.260 that your hand 00:19:53.260 --> 00:19:54.180 is so grasped to 00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:54.680 that you're like 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:55.580 the monkey in the jar 00:19:55.580 --> 00:19:56.720 you won't let go of it 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:57.760 to get your hand out? 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:02.440 Jesus says 00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:03.240 you must 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.700 lose your life 00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:06.400 in order to save it. 00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:08.260 But he goes on. 00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:08.660 He says 00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:09.380 the way of the cross 00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:09.880 is more 00:20:09.880 --> 00:20:11.080 than just thinking 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:11.899 about our life. 00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:14.279 Verse 36 and 37 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:15.059 it's the way 00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:15.879 of the cross 00:20:15.879 --> 00:20:16.480 means dying 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:17.859 to self-gratification 00:20:17.859 --> 00:20:18.919 and living 00:20:18.919 --> 00:20:20.199 for a greater good 00:20:20.199 --> 00:20:20.839 in Jesus. 00:20:21.379 --> 00:20:22.099 Jesus uses 00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:23.139 these rhetorical, 00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:24.299 he turns from life 00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:25.240 to our good, 00:20:25.419 --> 00:20:26.639 the things 00:20:26.639 --> 00:20:27.460 that we value 00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.399 and esteem. 00:20:28.699 --> 00:20:29.220 And he asks 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.679 these two rhetorical questions. 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:32.039 What does it profit one 00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:32.980 if they gain 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.599 the whole world 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:34.779 and they lose their soul? 00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:35.500 And because 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:37.220 it's a rhetorical question 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:37.819 we should know 00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.359 the answer. 00:20:38.619 --> 00:20:39.240 The answer is 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:39.980 what does it gain? 00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:40.819 Nothing. 00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:42.620 We get nothing 00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:43.160 if we have 00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:44.740 the whole world 00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:46.099 all the riches 00:20:46.099 --> 00:20:47.099 all the power 00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:48.039 all the success 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:49.299 all the accolades 00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:50.259 all the comfort. 00:20:50.620 --> 00:20:51.940 If we have anything 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:53.420 that we could dream of 00:20:53.420 --> 00:20:55.339 and we lose our soul 00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:56.259 what value 00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:56.859 does it have? 00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:57.740 Nothing. 00:20:59.359 --> 00:20:59.720 And he asks 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.599 a similar question. 00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:01.799 What can one give 00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:03.000 in return for the soul? 00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:03.980 Nothing 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:05.500 because the soul 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:08.599 the part of us 00:21:08.599 --> 00:21:10.019 that is meant 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.920 to commune 00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:12.200 with the eternal God 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:12.940 our creator 00:21:12.940 --> 00:21:13.599 forever. 00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:17.359 I'm not going to get 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:18.400 into all the anthropology 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:19.240 about soul 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:19.700 and spirit 00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:20.180 and body 00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:20.779 and how that all 00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.380 fits together 00:21:21.380 --> 00:21:23.059 but Jesus uses this word 00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:24.319 and my translation 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:25.180 used life 00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:25.460 right 00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:27.400 to save your life 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:27.759 here 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:28.240 right 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:31.680 there is nothing. 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:32.779 Now look friends 00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.920 we need to be honest 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:34.700 with one another. 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:36.200 the world that we live in 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:37.480 has a lot of allure 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.420 and it promises 00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:39.380 a lot of goodness. 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:41.519 In our physical life 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:42.380 there is sex 00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:43.140 and gluttony 00:21:43.140 --> 00:21:44.519 and adrenaline highs 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.380 and comfort 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:46.480 beyond compare 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.880 that we want 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:48.539 and crave 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:49.660 and long for. 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:53.160 In our professional lives 00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:54.460 and in our societal lives 00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:56.000 we love for status 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.460 the praise of others 00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:58.880 the pride of position 00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:00.120 the satisfaction 00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:01.480 of gaining a title. 00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:04.319 in our world 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:05.799 of physical means 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:07.059 we love success 00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:08.500 the thrill of victory 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.920 the pride of achievement 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.160 the justification 00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:12.960 that our work is worth it 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:14.140 because it's produced 00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:15.539 something good 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:17.160 that I can point to 00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:17.480 and say 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:19.039 that's what my life 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:19.740 is worth 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:21.559 that's what I have built. 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:25.960 and we have a world 00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:26.659 that says 00:22:26.659 --> 00:22:27.559 if you're looking 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.079 for meaning 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:29.500 look inside yourself 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:31.419 find what's true 00:22:31.419 --> 00:22:32.240 about yourself 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.619 your authentic reality 00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:35.039 whatever it is 00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:36.759 it's in you 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:40.240 and in these things 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:42.379 our souls crave something 00:22:42.379 --> 00:22:43.599 we believe 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:44.559 that we can have 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.500 a good 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.799 apart from Jesus 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:48.099 in them 00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:49.579 and they look shiny 00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:51.079 and attractive 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:52.139 and we think 00:22:52.139 --> 00:22:53.139 and look 00:22:53.139 --> 00:22:54.039 here's the thing 00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:55.319 they give us 00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:56.219 something 00:22:56.219 --> 00:22:56.679 right 00:22:56.679 --> 00:22:57.679 they give us 00:22:57.679 --> 00:22:58.579 a short hit 00:22:58.579 --> 00:23:00.119 they make us think 00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:00.799 in the moment 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:02.219 hey this is great 00:23:02.219 --> 00:23:03.419 this is what I want 00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:05.379 but like an addict 00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:06.659 we find ourselves 00:23:06.659 --> 00:23:08.539 constantly disappointed 00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:10.099 it's never enough 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:11.899 everything the world promises 00:23:11.899 --> 00:23:13.939 it's never gonna satisfy 00:23:13.939 --> 00:23:15.500 it's never gonna be 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:15.939 the thing 00:23:15.939 --> 00:23:16.579 that your soul 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.480 was made for 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:21.400 Jesus says 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:22.579 to follow me 00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:25.360 you must forsake 00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:26.640 gaining the things 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.400 of this world 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:29.220 in order to gain 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:29.799 your soul 00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:32.140 so the apostle Paul 00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:32.980 in Philippians 3 00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.660 says I count 00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:35.380 everything is lost 00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:37.920 because of the surpassing 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.839 worth of knowing 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.720 Christ Jesus 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.880 my Lord 00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:43.519 that I may know him 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.160 and the power 00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:45.000 of his resurrection 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:46.420 may share in his 00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:46.920 sufferings 00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:48.200 becoming like him 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:48.860 in his death 00:23:48.860 --> 00:23:50.420 that by any means 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:50.960 possible 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:52.380 I may attain 00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:53.240 the resurrection 00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:54.140 from the dead 00:23:54.140 --> 00:23:58.300 I found a great quote 00:23:58.300 --> 00:23:59.759 Helen Rosevere 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.320 is a missionary 00:24:00.320 --> 00:24:02.100 I highly respect 00:24:02.100 --> 00:24:03.840 her life is amazing 00:24:03.840 --> 00:24:04.980 she spent 40 years 00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:06.120 doing medical missionaries 00:24:06.120 --> 00:24:07.120 in central Africa 00:24:07.120 --> 00:24:09.500 she suffered deeply 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.460 for the gospel 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:12.740 in some unspeakable ways 00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:14.539 she also lived 00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.160 she also lived a faithful 00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:16.299 life of singleness 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:17.680 despite her desires 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:18.319 otherwise 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:19.740 to do so 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:21.220 and yet at the very end 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:21.799 of her time 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:22.279 at the mission 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:23.880 40 years of service 00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:25.640 she was sidelined 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:26.740 and excluded 00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:28.599 at the very end 00:24:28.599 --> 00:24:29.420 of her service 00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:31.319 she said 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:32.099 Jesus really 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:33.880 can I have the victory parade 00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:35.039 and this is what 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:36.420 Jesus spoke to her heart 00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:38.820 you no longer want 00:24:38.820 --> 00:24:39.820 Jesus only 00:24:39.820 --> 00:24:41.039 but Jesus plus 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:42.980 plus respect 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:44.080 popularity 00:24:44.080 --> 00:24:45.700 public opinion 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.220 success 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.940 and pride 00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:48.320 you wanted to go out 00:24:48.320 --> 00:24:49.200 with all the trumpets 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.759 blaring 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.700 from a farewell 00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:52.320 that you organized 00:24:52.320 --> 00:24:53.180 for yourself 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:53.840 with photographs 00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:54.860 and tape recordings 00:24:54.860 --> 00:24:55.539 to show 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:56.380 and play at home 00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:57.480 just to reveal 00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:59.019 what you had achieved 00:24:59.019 --> 00:25:00.840 you wanted to feel 00:25:00.840 --> 00:25:01.180 needed 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:02.200 and respected 00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:03.319 you wanted 00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:04.420 the other missionaries 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:05.100 to be worried 00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:05.920 about how they'd ever 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:06.500 carry on 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.380 after you're gone 00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:08.840 you'd like letters 00:25:08.840 --> 00:25:09.900 when you go home 00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:10.960 to tell how much 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:11.660 they realize 00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:12.660 they owe to you 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:13.519 how much 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.440 they miss you 00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:16.519 all this and more 00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:18.400 Jesus plus 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:20.220 no 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:22.140 you can't 00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:22.860 have it 00:25:22.860 --> 00:25:24.500 either 00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:25.440 it must be 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:26.279 Jesus only 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:27.680 or you'll find 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.740 you have no Jesus 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:30.620 you'll substitute 00:25:30.620 --> 00:25:31.840 Helen Rosevere 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.539 instead 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:38.259 I can think 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:38.980 of my friends 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:41.339 two dear friends 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:42.779 who I know 00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.699 graduates of the 00:25:43.699 --> 00:25:44.199 prestigious 00:25:44.199 --> 00:25:45.519 Harvard Law School 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:47.579 I think I've spoken 00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:47.939 to them 00:25:47.939 --> 00:25:49.279 maybe to you 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:50.159 before about them 00:25:50.159 --> 00:25:51.439 but they graduated 00:25:51.439 --> 00:25:53.319 from one of the 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.079 top law schools 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:54.599 in the world 00:25:54.599 --> 00:25:55.319 and they had 00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:55.980 the world 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.819 before them 00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:58.779 but living for 00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.199 the kingdom 00:25:59.199 --> 00:25:59.899 for them 00:25:59.899 --> 00:26:00.639 living out 00:26:00.639 --> 00:26:01.439 these verses 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:01.820 meant 00:26:01.820 --> 00:26:02.840 not living 00:26:02.840 --> 00:26:03.759 on two salaries 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.580 but on one 00:26:04.580 --> 00:26:05.220 so that by 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.259 careful budgeting 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:08.019 they freed 00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.700 themselves up 00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:09.240 from debt 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.700 within 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:11.039 like three 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.259 or four years 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.360 taking one 00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:13.820 of their 00:26:13.820 --> 00:26:15.200 extensive salaries 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:16.400 and putting it 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.360 entirely towards 00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:18.000 debt reduction 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.720 why? 00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:19.600 so that they 00:26:19.600 --> 00:26:20.279 could give 00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:21.700 freely to the church 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.320 and so that they 00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:23.080 would be freed 00:26:23.080 --> 00:26:23.880 from the bondage 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:24.160 of that 00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:24.900 to follow 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.960 whatever God did 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.840 and then God 00:26:26.840 --> 00:26:27.360 brought them 00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:28.240 a family 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:29.519 and one of them 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:30.319 stayed home 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:31.019 and gave up 00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.759 their career 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.940 to care for 00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:33.519 their children 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:34.519 the other one 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.240 moved from a 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.440 prestigious law firm 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.240 with all of the 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.059 pomp and circumstance 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:39.299 and the salary 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.880 to an in-house 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:42.420 corporate law job 00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:44.279 so that they could 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:45.440 serve in their church 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:46.940 so that they could 00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:47.740 be involved 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:49.220 in the raising 00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:50.000 of their family 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:52.079 so that they could 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:53.220 and they've ended 00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:53.859 up serving 00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:54.419 as elders 00:26:54.419 --> 00:26:55.299 and deacons 00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:57.859 it's a very 00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:58.559 practical 00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.460 but profound 00:26:59.460 --> 00:26:59.960 way 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:00.740 where someone 00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:01.379 looked at the 00:27:01.379 --> 00:27:01.960 world and said 00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.779 I don't want 00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.559 what you want 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:04.839 that's going to 00:27:04.839 --> 00:27:05.679 take my soul 00:27:05.679 --> 00:27:06.059 away 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:09.960 this is what 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.879 Jesus calls us 00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:11.119 to 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:14.059 forsaking the 00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:14.699 things that the 00:27:14.699 --> 00:27:15.439 world offers 00:27:15.439 --> 00:27:16.980 so that we might 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.599 instead 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:19.220 pursue the life 00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:20.279 that Jesus 00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:21.119 wants us to 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:21.519 follow 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:23.160 following him 00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:23.940 in the way 00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:24.619 of the cross 00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:26.019 giving up 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:27.259 the things 00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:27.819 of the world 00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:28.319 so that we 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:29.200 might gain 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:30.400 him 00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:33.900 now if the 00:27:33.900 --> 00:27:34.299 way of the 00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:35.139 cross includes 00:27:35.139 --> 00:27:36.259 this dying 00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:36.900 to self 00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:37.779 preservation 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.920 and this dying 00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:39.299 to self 00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:40.099 gratification 00:27:40.099 --> 00:27:41.279 the third thing 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:42.139 Jesus says 00:27:42.139 --> 00:27:43.259 is that the 00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:44.259 way of the 00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:44.759 cross 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:46.180 means dying 00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:46.740 to self 00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.339 identity 00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:48.039 and being 00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:48.940 identified by 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:49.519 faith in 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:49.779 Jesus 00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.400 this is what 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:51.640 verse 38 00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:53.940 says to us 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:56.060 why do I 00:27:56.060 --> 00:27:56.540 talk about 00:27:56.540 --> 00:27:57.460 identity here 00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.200 I don't see 00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:58.960 identity in the 00:27:58.960 --> 00:27:59.620 text right 00:27:59.620 --> 00:28:00.440 Jesus is talking 00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:00.920 about being 00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:01.420 ashamed 00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:02.440 but what Jesus 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:03.080 is talking about 00:28:03.080 --> 00:28:04.180 is being publicly 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:05.259 identified 00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:06.180 that is our 00:28:06.180 --> 00:28:07.200 identity publicly 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:08.180 what other people 00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:09.120 know about us 00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:10.440 is being a 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.040 follower of 00:28:11.040 --> 00:28:11.519 Christ 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:13.080 now we've 00:28:13.080 --> 00:28:13.680 already talked 00:28:13.680 --> 00:28:14.160 about this 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:14.940 the cross was 00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:15.620 the most 00:28:15.620 --> 00:28:16.900 shameful means 00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:17.740 of Roman 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:19.019 persecution 00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:19.960 and oppression 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:21.060 and execution 00:28:21.060 --> 00:28:22.480 it was not a 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:23.380 symbol used in 00:28:23.380 --> 00:28:23.780 jewelry 00:28:23.780 --> 00:28:25.080 or used in 00:28:25.080 --> 00:28:26.000 pastel pictures 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.759 with sheep in 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.360 the background 00:28:27.360 --> 00:28:28.680 the cross was 00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:29.740 something ugly 00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:31.300 and scorned 00:28:31.300 --> 00:28:31.759 and shamed 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.600 it would be like 00:28:32.600 --> 00:28:33.640 us carrying around 00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:35.600 an electric chair 00:28:35.600 --> 00:28:36.300 you know 00:28:36.300 --> 00:28:37.500 in our jewelry 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:39.240 or identifying 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.440 with one who 00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:41.340 said hey you know 00:28:41.340 --> 00:28:42.160 that guy who just 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:43.060 died in the electric 00:28:43.060 --> 00:28:44.280 chair he's my 00:28:44.280 --> 00:28:45.660 hero he's the 00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.759 one who I follow 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:48.380 I'm about him 00:28:48.380 --> 00:28:51.660 and Jesus 00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:52.540 that's what it 00:28:52.540 --> 00:28:53.140 is would have 00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:53.680 been like in 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:54.500 the first century 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.560 to say I 00:28:55.560 --> 00:28:56.740 identify with a 00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:58.080 crucified man 00:28:58.080 --> 00:28:59.680 but Jesus 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.620 says if you are 00:29:00.620 --> 00:29:01.900 ashamed of me 00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:02.900 before men 00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:05.259 then you have 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.180 no part of me 00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:07.120 and I will be 00:29:07.120 --> 00:29:08.100 ashamed of you 00:29:08.100 --> 00:29:09.440 at the end 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:13.400 the cross was 00:29:13.400 --> 00:29:14.380 brutal it was 00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:15.060 public and it 00:29:15.060 --> 00:29:15.560 was meant to 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.700 humiliate and 00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:17.779 shame those 00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:18.119 who were 00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:19.359 executed and 00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:19.859 when Jesus 00:29:19.859 --> 00:29:20.460 calls us to 00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.480 identify with 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.259 him by faith 00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:23.720 to follow him 00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:25.519 it is to take 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.099 that upon 00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:26.899 ourselves and be 00:29:26.899 --> 00:29:27.720 willing to say 00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:29.139 I am not ashamed 00:29:29.139 --> 00:29:30.079 of this man that 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:31.059 the world is 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:31.940 ashamed of 00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:35.240 how do we 00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:36.339 publicly identify 00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:37.519 it's a great 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.279 Stephen Curtis 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:39.159 Chapman song from 00:29:39.159 --> 00:29:40.000 the 90s about 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.919 you know not 00:29:40.919 --> 00:29:41.799 t-shirts and 00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:42.720 bumper stickers and 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.619 whatever but 00:29:43.619 --> 00:29:44.639 really it's true 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:46.280 right how do we 00:29:46.280 --> 00:29:47.200 identify with 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.600 Jesus publicly 00:29:48.600 --> 00:29:50.300 it's not it's 00:29:50.300 --> 00:29:51.660 not with a 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.720 hat or shirt 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.540 or slogan 00:29:53.540 --> 00:29:57.060 but it's with the 00:29:57.060 --> 00:29:58.360 substance of who 00:29:58.360 --> 00:29:59.920 we are being 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:00.640 presented to 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:02.100 others how do 00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:02.580 we present 00:30:02.580 --> 00:30:03.300 ourselves to 00:30:03.300 --> 00:30:04.420 others what do 00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:05.320 you want what do 00:30:05.320 --> 00:30:06.280 I want you to 00:30:06.280 --> 00:30:07.520 know about me 00:30:07.520 --> 00:30:08.720 above all 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:12.440 is that my 00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:13.360 identity is 00:30:13.360 --> 00:30:14.559 found by being 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:15.559 a follower of 00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:17.759 Christ and 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.620 look this is a 00:30:18.620 --> 00:30:19.640 hard thing in 00:30:19.640 --> 00:30:20.559 our world today 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:22.700 right for one 00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:24.400 thing our world 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.779 presses in our 00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:26.880 identity is a 00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:27.940 huge thing and 00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:28.779 it's up to you 00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:29.680 have to figure it 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:30.339 out you have to 00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:31.000 make it we have 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:32.000 all these complex 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:33.180 identities all 00:30:33.180 --> 00:30:33.680 these different 00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:34.900 roles and the 00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:35.480 world is saying 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:36.360 make one of those 00:30:36.360 --> 00:30:37.079 your primary 00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:38.240 identity whatever it 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:39.299 is and some of 00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:39.839 them are things 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.700 that we inherit or 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.680 that we we have 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:42.940 have been born into 00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:43.620 some of them are 00:30:43.620 --> 00:30:44.859 things that we the 00:30:44.859 --> 00:30:45.660 world says you can 00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.819 choose what your 00:30:46.819 --> 00:30:48.059 identity is but 00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:48.859 either way they 00:30:48.859 --> 00:30:50.039 become our badge of 00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:51.200 honor this is what I 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:51.819 want you to know 00:30:51.819 --> 00:30:52.519 about me above 00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:54.620 everything else and 00:30:54.620 --> 00:30:55.720 Jesus comes and 00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:57.819 says make your most 00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:59.240 fundamental identity 00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:01.120 that you know and 00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:05.980 follow me and it 00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:07.039 will cost you to do 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:09.119 that in our world 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:11.539 today people will 00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:13.240 scorn you and sneer 00:31:13.240 --> 00:31:14.500 at your foolishness 00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:16.859 in the academy they 00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:18.119 will dismiss you as 00:31:18.119 --> 00:31:19.000 not a serious 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:20.440 thoughtful person 00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:23.619 some in our culture 00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:24.559 will hate you 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:26.879 because of your 00:31:26.879 --> 00:31:30.099 bigoted perspectives 00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:33.099 because of your desire 00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:34.599 to oppress the freedom 00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:35.599 of other people 00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:37.599 some of them will 00:31:37.599 --> 00:31:38.559 laugh at you 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:41.199 many of them will 00:31:41.199 --> 00:31:42.139 ignore you 00:31:42.139 --> 00:31:44.799 some will resist you 00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:48.939 to not be ashamed 00:31:48.939 --> 00:31:50.579 of Jesus 00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:53.259 may lead to others 00:31:53.259 --> 00:31:55.579 seeking to shame 00:31:55.579 --> 00:31:56.059 you 00:31:56.059 --> 00:32:00.899 Jesus says this is the 00:32:00.899 --> 00:32:01.779 way of the cross 00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:04.919 you cannot be ashamed 00:32:04.919 --> 00:32:06.419 of me and follow me 00:32:06.419 --> 00:32:08.759 you cannot deny 00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:10.019 yourself pick up your 00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:11.119 cross and follow me 00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:12.039 if you're not willing 00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:13.440 to be publicly 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:14.179 identified 00:32:14.179 --> 00:32:17.919 and if you can't do 00:32:17.919 --> 00:32:18.960 that then you have no 00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:20.259 part of me you have no 00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:21.480 part of the salvation 00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:23.059 that I bring and in the 00:32:23.059 --> 00:32:24.599 last day when I bring 00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:26.079 come and bring all 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:27.379 who are mine to glory 00:32:27.379 --> 00:32:28.299 the glory that the 00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:29.319 father's given me 00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:31.259 when I finally show up 00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:32.879 and establish my 00:32:32.879 --> 00:32:33.879 kingdom in all of its 00:32:33.879 --> 00:32:34.899 fullness which is still 00:32:34.899 --> 00:32:36.959 yet to come for us 00:32:36.959 --> 00:32:39.959 you will not be on the 00:32:39.959 --> 00:32:41.059 inside but you will be 00:32:41.059 --> 00:32:41.819 on the outside 00:32:41.819 --> 00:32:44.019 and I will say I have 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:45.599 I don't know you 00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:50.119 friends are you ashamed 00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:52.599 of others knowing that 00:32:52.599 --> 00:32:53.599 you follow Jesus 00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:56.359 are you ashamed of his 00:32:56.359 --> 00:32:57.000 teachings 00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:59.359 are you afraid ashamed 00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:00.959 of his gospel 00:33:00.959 --> 00:33:07.879 Jesus says this is what 00:33:07.879 --> 00:33:10.119 we're to expect when we 00:33:10.119 --> 00:33:12.559 follow him not a life of 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:14.299 ease not a life of 00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:16.379 comfort not a life of 00:33:16.379 --> 00:33:17.980 unending and overcoming 00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:19.519 victory certainly Jesus 00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:21.039 does amazing things for 00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:23.220 us but what he calls us 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:24.900 to is to deny ourselves 00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:27.379 pick up his cross walk 00:33:27.379 --> 00:33:28.619 in a path of suffering 00:33:28.619 --> 00:33:34.079 and follow him knowing 00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:35.519 that the reward that is 00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:37.460 in him and the treasure 00:33:37.460 --> 00:33:38.779 that we have in him is 00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:40.680 greater than anything we 00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:42.139 would seek to preserve or 00:33:42.139 --> 00:33:44.920 keep if we hold on to 00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:46.180 the things of this world 00:33:46.180 --> 00:33:50.080 the pattern of our 00:33:50.080 --> 00:33:52.200 salvation becomes the 00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:53.380 pattern of our life as 00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:55.500 we follow a savior who 00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:59.779 loved us so much that he 00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:01.340 left heaven and all the 00:34:01.340 --> 00:34:03.940 privileges and perks right 00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:06.660 he who was equal with 00:34:06.660 --> 00:34:08.480 God did not count equality 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:09.619 with God something to be 00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.539 grasped but humbled 00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:12.420 himself took on the form 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:14.059 of a servant became a 00:34:14.059 --> 00:34:16.000 human being suffered and 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:17.920 died on the cross for the 00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:19.039 salvation of people who 00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:20.099 didn't even know he had 00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:24.139 come for them this is the 00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:26.299 pattern this is the way 00:34:26.299 --> 00:34:28.019 that we follow because it 00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:30.400 was Jesus way and we know 00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:31.679 that he rose from the dead 00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:33.139 and we know that one day 00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:34.340 because he has risen from 00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:36.360 the dead being with him 00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:38.299 will mean we will be 00:34:38.299 --> 00:34:39.940 forever with him within the 00:34:39.940 --> 00:34:43.119 life that he has but let's 00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:46.559 look to Jesus let's look to 00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:49.079 Jesus and know that this is 00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:50.159 what it will mean to follow 00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:51.539 him let's pray together 00:34:51.539 --> 00:34:56.699 Lord Jesus we come to you 00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:58.480 now and we we hear this 00:34:58.480 --> 00:35:00.480 word and it is a word of 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:05.359 challenge to us because we 00:35:05.359 --> 00:35:08.420 recognize our hearts our 00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:11.199 hearts are fickle so often 00:35:11.199 --> 00:35:12.659 we love other things more 00:35:12.659 --> 00:35:14.899 than we love you so often 00:35:14.899 --> 00:35:16.719 we are fearful of this 00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:18.879 world and in doing so we 00:35:18.879 --> 00:35:21.879 are ashamed of you Lord so 00:35:21.879 --> 00:35:26.460 often Lord rather than 00:35:26.460 --> 00:35:28.239 trusting you and walking in 00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:29.779 faith in the path that you 00:35:29.779 --> 00:35:32.099 have set Lord we seek to 00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:37.279 determine our own way God I 00:35:37.279 --> 00:35:38.679 pray right now by your Holy 00:35:38.679 --> 00:35:40.940 Spirit Lord that you would 00:35:40.940 --> 00:35:42.719 reveal to us where this may 00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:43.899 be true in our own hearts 00:35:43.899 --> 00:35:48.779 and lives Lord I pray that as 00:35:48.779 --> 00:35:50.460 we see these things in our 00:35:50.460 --> 00:35:51.839 hearts that we might surrender 00:35:51.839 --> 00:35:59.759 them to you Lord I pray 00:35:59.759 --> 00:36:01.319 these things in Jesus name 00:36:01.319 --> 00:36:02.500 amen 00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:04.500 amen 00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:09.519 amen 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:12.559 amen 00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:14.280 amen 00:36:15.460 --> 00:36:16.199 amen 00:36:16.199 --> 00:36:16.380 amen 00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:16.840 canись 00:36:16.840 --> 00:36:17.360 please 00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:18.260 may 00:36:18.260 --> 00:36:22.219 please 00:36:22.219 --> 00:36:23.059 أي 00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:23.280 fish 00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:24.539 condescension 00:36:24.539 --> 00:36:25.380 or 00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:26.199 amen 00:36:26.199 --> 00:36:27.260 Dawg 00:36:27.260 --> 00:36:27.360 your 00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:28.400 c 00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:29.199 a 00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:30.239 amen