Try Me - Week 3
Week 3 Recap:
The Cost of Following Jesus: Losing Self to Find Life
In a world where instant gratification often rules, the concept of sacrifice can seem archaic and counterintuitive. We're bombarded with messages of 'have it all' and 'get it now,' leaving little room for the idea of giving something up for a greater purpose. Yet, at the heart of Christianity lies a paradoxical truth: to truly find life, one must be willing to lose it.
Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity, didn't sugarcoat the demands of discipleship. He didn't promise an easy road or a life free from struggle. Instead, he made it clear from the outset that following him would come with a cost. While the message of salvation is indeed a free gift, the journey of discipleship requires something more: a willingness to deny oneself, take up a cross, and follow Jesus.
The Gospel narratives paint a vivid picture of Jesus's interactions with his disciples, revealing the depth of commitment required to follow him. In Matthew 16:21-26, we witness a pivotal moment where Jesus foretells his impending suffering and death. Peter, reacting in disbelief, rebukes Jesus, unable to reconcile the idea of the Messiah's demise with his expectations of triumph and victory.
In response, Jesus issues a profound challenge: "If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). This statement encapsulates the essence of discipleship—a call to radical self-denial and allegiance to Christ above all else. It's a call to shift the focus from human concerns to God's concerns, from self-preservation to surrender.
At the core of Jesus's message is the invitation to lose one's life for his sake. This isn't a call to self-destruction or nihilism but a call to relinquish the false notion that self-centered pursuits lead to fulfillment. Instead, Jesus offers the paradoxical promise that in losing our lives for him, we will find true life.
What does it mean to lose one's life for Christ? It begins with denying the self—the self that seeks validation, security, and significance apart from God. It involves dethroning self from the center of our lives and placing Christ in the rightful place of authority. It means embracing a new identity as children of God, redeemed by the sacrificial love of Jesus.
Taking up our cross is another dimension of discipleship. The cross symbolizes suffering, sacrifice, and selflessness—the antithesis of worldly values. It represents the willingness to endure hardship and persecution for the sake of Christ and his kingdom. While each person's cross may look different, the essence remains the same: a willingness to bear the burdens of discipleship with faithfulness and perseverance.
Following Jesus isn't a one-time decision but a daily commitment. It's a continual journey of dying to self and embracing the new life found in Christ. As we orient our lives around God's concerns—his kingdom, his righteousness, his purposes—we discover a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment than anything the world can offer.
Losing ourselves for Christ's sake isn't easy. It requires humility, surrender, and unwavering faith. It means letting go of the illusions of control and self-sufficiency and entrusting our lives entirely to God's care. Yet, in this surrender, we find liberation—the freedom to live not for ourselves but for the One who gave his life for us.
In a culture obsessed with self-promotion and self-gratification, the call to lose oneself for Christ's sake stands as a radical counter-narrative. It challenges us to reevaluate our priorities, realign our hearts, and pursue a life of sacrificial love and service. It beckons us to exchange the fleeting pleasures of this world for the eternal joy of knowing and following Jesus.
As we heed this call, may we discover the profound truth that in losing ourselves for Christ, we find life abundant and eternal—a life marked by love, purpose, and the boundless grace of our Savior.
