Take Up Your Cross

Good morning church. These turn your Bibles to Luke chapter 9. We're gonna be examining verses 21 To 27 when you have that please do stand for reading of God's Word. Again, the gospel of Luke chapter 9 starting verse 21 here you this morning the Word of the Lord and He strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one saying The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders the chief priests the scribes And to be killed and on the third day be raised.

And he said to all if anyone would come after me Let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me for whoever would save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me or my words of Him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

But I tell you truly There are some standing here who will not taste death Until they see the kingdom of God. This is the Word of God. You may be seated Sovereign Father we come before you grateful for your provision of this week.

We thank you Lord that even the midst of trial Difficulty sickness for many You've preserved us even to be here in this moment. You've ordained This time to be sacred holy set apart for yourself. We ask now father that by the working of your spirit and by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit You may grant us now peace to receive this word To lay aside the earthly cares and sorrows and woes And to set our hearts and attention solely on you and on your word.

May you reign supremely in our hearts now as in all times we pray God that you'd continue to meet our provisions and our needs according to your riches and mercy in Christ Jesus and Father by your sovereign decree.

Let us know even today How it is that you have ordained for us to take up this mantle of this cross and so follow your son Jesus Christ To whom be glory both now and forevermore. Amen. In Luke chapter 9 again starting in verse 21, we see that Jesus after receiving this great confession of faith From the Apostles from Peter himself that Jesus is indeed the Christ of God the Son of the Living God he then tells him and charges them to tell no one of this and rather he goes on to say this the Son of Man must suffer many things and Be rejected by the elders the chief priests and the scribes be killed and on the third day be raised.

The Suffering Messiah and Isaiah 53

Jesus was Not was not one who was looking to be accepted by the people. He was not there to win a popularity contest. He was not there to Win favor in the eyes of his own people. Jesus and set instead lays out the gospel Beforehand to his disciples and he starts to subvert their Expectations that he came to establish a worldly kingdom with Israel ruling over the nations.

Had he wanted that he could have simply said yes Peter. I am the Messiah I am the Christ. Now go tell everyone and let's take over Israel and by means of taking over Israel Then we can take over the world.

This was the expectation of many People who were expecting Messiah in the time of Jesus in the first century many were looking for a hero. Many were looking for a political ruler a political revolution that would kick out the Gentile Foreign powers out of the land so that then they can recoup and come and take over the entire world.

This was the expectation and is indeed the expectation even today of many Jews who are awaiting the Messiah. They keep looking for a political leader who will bring peace to the region who will allow Israel to dwell securely in the land.

But Jesus is indeed laying out a different gospel a different message a message that subverts their expectations. Rather what Jesus does that he demonstrates himself To be the foretold suffering servant the suffering Messiah.

You see again, they had all these grand ideas of what the Messiah would do, but they forget of The ministry that the Messiah would accomplish in his sufferings primarily in Isaiah chapter 53 if you can't please do turn there for a moment in Isaiah the 53rd chapter starting in verse 3.

Notice what it says about the Messiah who would come the arm of the Lord that was prophesied. Speaking in the past tense it says he was despised and rejected by men a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief as One from whom men hid their faces.

He was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows yet We esteemed him stricken smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions and he was crushed for our iniquities upon him was the Chastisement that brought us peace and with his wounds we are healed.

Yet notice the tragedy of verse 6 in this prophecy and all we Like sheep have gone astray we have turned everyone to his own way and The Lord has laid upon him the iniquity of us all. Yet for seven says he was oppressed he was afflicted.

Yet he opened not his mouth. Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter and like a sheep that is before its shearers is silent. So he opened not his mouth by oppression and judgment. He was taken away. That's for this his generation he was considered that he was cut off from the land of living stricken for the transgressions of my people and They made his grave with the wicked With a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence and there was no deceit in his mouth verse 10.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him. He was and to put him to grief when his soul makes an offering for guilt. He shall see the off his offspring. He shall prolong his days in the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hands.

This is the prophecy. Concerning the Messiah, you know, it's of interest of this in this text. I've got many Jewish friends and they've confirmed to me that this entire chapter of Isaiah is Never read in the synagogue.

The other synagogue they read the Bible yearly as many churches and organizations do. But this chapter they always skip they always skip this chapter. I remember I was talking to an evangelist who had who had Evangelized a Jew once and he asked him if he could read a Bible verse from them from from the Bible to them.

And he read Isaiah 53. He says do you have any idea where in the Bible this is from and the Jew responded to the evangelist saying? Oh, that's that must be from your New Testament that that must be somewhere in Utah's because that sounds a lot like your Jesus.

He's like no friend. This is from your Bible. This is from the book of Isaiah and this is concerning your Messiah you see truly. Many had forgotten what the Messiah would do and accomplish. Knowing first and foremost that Jesus's first mission was to save and seek that which was lost.

His first mission was not a political one. It was not a military operation rather. It was a spiritual operation. He would come to save his people from their sins. Jesus was one who absorbs our sins our sorrows our grief our Transgressions yet.

He was one who was to be despised and not even looked upon as esteemed. He would be the one who will bear our grief carry our sorrows yet He was one as much what was to be considered smitten by God and Afflicted.

Yes. He was the one who by his wounds We would be healed but yet the one who received the chastisement of our own sins. This Jesus on whom the Lord laid upon him the new could be the iniquity of us all and who was oppressed and afflicted.

Was one who knew? that his First coming his first ministry was one of suffering and death and I want you to write this in the notes. You're following along. Jesus foretells his sufferings and death. He confirms that he is indeed the suffering servant.

He is the arm of the Lord that comes to save as he says again in Luke chapter 9. He says a son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders. The chief priests ascribes and be to be killed.

Jesus knew that his mission was one of suffering and death yet He also preaches the gospel. That not only would he die but that he would also be raised on the third day. Jesus preaches the gospel his to his disciples letting them know that his is not a political operation.

But a spiritual operation to save humanity from the depravity and from their sin surely. What says he he? Charges them not to tell anyone he gives them strict orders. And the reason is surely the near certainty of misunderstanding if it were to be spread abroad.

That he is indeed the Messiah. So people often wonder why did Jesus not allow his disciples to go tell everyone that yes He's the Christ. Yes. He's the Messiah. Yes. He's the Holy One of Israel is because it would have likely have caused Mad spread missing misunderstanding or misinformation about what the Messiah would actually do to accomplish.

You see the eschatological Expectations of the people were not in sync with the Bible and I would go so far as to tell you that the same is true today in the Christian Church. The eschatological expectations of God's people are not always in line with God's Word.

So much so that even the Apostles after the death and resurrection of Jesus asked Jesus in Acts chapter 1 Lord Will you now restore the kingdom to Israel? That's the first question. They're asking again.

They did not understand the mission of the Messiah it did not understand true biblical eschatology even at that point in redemptive history and so we too often have misunderstandings about what the future will hold and what the future will bring and regard to the topic of eschatology the study of the last things.

And so we have to off we have to approach the subject of eschatology humbly as a servant knowing that the Bible sometimes lays out things that are difficult for us to understand and comprehend. You see people in the time of Jesus The Jews that tested their state of subject of subjection to the Romans and they longed for deliverance.

They were ready to follow almost anyone who claimed to be the Messiah. In fact, there were many who claimed to be the Messiah around the time of Jesus and started petty revolts. Had Jesus been widely hailed as the Messiah people would have understood it as a political and military claim.

They would have completely missed What Jesus was actually preaching and teaching. And this Messiah has a message? That is unlike the messages that were being toiled and brought forth by these other false messiahs and all these other Charlatans these other charlatans says come follow me and we will take over the world.

Come follow me and we'll kick out the Romans. Come follow me and you will have sure victory. And notice what this Jesus preaches in Luke chapter 9 verse 23. And he said to all if anyone would clap could would come after me.

Let him deny himself and take up his cross Daily and follow me. Wait a second. Then I get this right here. This is Jesus the Messiah the one who's gonna bring us victory over our enemies and who's gonna who's gonna destroy the Roman Empire.

And what does he say to take up the cross? This doesn't make a lot of sense understand that the cross is the very sign of Roman rule in Israel. The streets and the and the the roads were paved with many crosses with every single person who tried to revolt against Rome got the same death penalty death on a cross and Jesus is telling us that if we want to follow him, we're gonna have to carry our own cross the very symbol of Gentile rule in Israel.

How could this be? He says in verse 24. For whoever would save his life Will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What an incredible claim. Jesus here is calling out the cost in the call of Discipleship and in that call one must deny Himself.

Won't you write this in the notes? One must deny himself. Which means that the disciple of Jesus can no longer live for oneself. But we live for another as. As the Apostle Paul puts it this way in Galatians chapter 2 verse 20.

That is no longer I That live but rather it is Christ that lives in me. That's the call of a disciple. You want to be a Christian? Wonderful. Great. Beautiful. Just know what it cost. It'll cost you your life.

It'll cost you your hopes your dreams your ambitions your future what you want to do with your life. You will no longer be your own sovereign, but you will have a sovereign over you. You will no longer be the center of your own existence.

There'll be another who will be the center. You'll no longer be the head. You will now be the tail. You will no longer be the one who calls the shots. There is now one who calls the shots of life and his name is Jesus.

That's who you are to follow. That's who beckons us here in the scripture. Who says if anyone would have come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily. Daily see the follower of Jesus must deny himself must deny himself.

Not just himself. Not just his sins, but his true self his his very center of being. Meaning that he can no longer be self centered. He now must be Christ centered. So that life revolves not around the self not around the ego not around what I want what I wish what I want to do.

But rather what he would want me to do. The self is removed and Christ is introduced. There is nothing Self indulgent about being a Christian. Know that There's nothing self indulgent about being a Christian.

If you want to be a Christian it will cost you it is a costly life. So much so that again in verse 23 We are called to pick up or to take up this cross. Once you write this on in the notes as well a true disciple must also take up his cross and Follow Jesus on Sundays Sundays.

When you feel like it when it's convenient when it's easy. No, and follow Jesus daily daily. Isn't it remarkable the Lord includes us in a statement that that that one must deny himself and take up his cross.

Daily and follow me. This is a daily exercise. This is a daily routine, you know again, the imagery here is very clear and it's stark. If you were in Rome in those days and you were to pick up your cross, it meant certain death it was a death sentence and Jesus is saying you want to be my follower.

Great. It's a death sentence and it's a death sentence. That's lived out daily. Every single day the Christian must die. Every single day. You must die. So that he may live. So that he may reign in your lives.

That's the call here. That's to start contrast. It's no longer about you. It's no longer about the self. It's now about Christ the Lord who calls us to be his disciples. He calls us to follow him daily.

Daily, you see the disciples had probably seen a man take up his cross literally in those days. They knew what it meant. When a man from one of their villages took up a cross and went off of a little band of Roman soldiers.

He was on a one-way journey. He would not be back. Taking up the cross Means in this context the utmost in self-denial. There's no coming back. This is Luke's first use of the word cross in this gospel and it comes with a striking effect.

Christ follower a Christ follower has to die to a whole new way of life. Isn't this incredible? Luke tells us that this is not something that can be finished or got out of the way with. And indeed it must be done daily.

It's not just a one-time deal. We got. I've grew up. Well, I pastored in a sudden Baptist Church for many years. Been around a lot of sudden Baptist my mentor who I love dearly one of my good friends.

I view him as a father in the faith. Loves doing what we call altar calls and it's a very sudden Baptist thing to do and so every service there's an altar call and That's the tradition I grew up with or as a Christian and I followed in that footsteps for many years.

Doing altar calls and I see many wonderful times people lift up their hands or come to the front and they give their lives to Jesus but one of the Unfortunate realities that this sometimes creates in Christendom and evangelicalism is this false sense of security.

Well, if you're telling me all I have to do is raise my hand. All I have to do is walk down now and I can be made right with God. Well, who wouldn't take that deal? Who wouldn't take it? It's an easy deal.

This is done deal and you're saying that all I got to do is do this one time and I'm in Excellent. I'll do it and people walk down the aisle. They say the right words they sit back down and now they believe they're heaven-bound and Yet when it comes to Monday Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday.

Has there been a substantial change in their substance in their life and their being? Oftentimes not and they walk around of a sense of security because one time a long time ago. They said the right words.

They walked down the aisle they raised their hand and Yet the call to be a disciple is not to walk down the aisle is not to lift up one hands. But instead to call to live their lives daily for Christ.

That's the mark of a true Christian. That's the mark of a disciple. It's not one who lift up their hands one time a long time ago. But it's one who's lifting up their cross daily and walking with Jesus.

They are living out their own death sentence every Single day and they're living out the life of Jesus. Again, this is what we see here in the text when Jesus says in verse 24 for whoever would save his life Will lose it but whoever Loses his life for my sake will save it.

Isn't it's interesting. There's a paradox at play here. Paradoxically one can lose one's life trying to save it here. And the text the the Greek actually points out that this is more like would save is Is rather though it has rather the wills to save that's being at play here if one of wills to save their own life.

If one what makes the effort to to to to save your own life, it's actually that's where they lose it. Pointing again that we cannot be saved by works brothers and sisters. There's no amount of willpower.

There's no amount of strength that one can muster in living this Christian life because you know what? Let's be real. This is not an easy life. You're called to a life of self-denial. There's a lot of places you could be right now, but you're here.

There's a lot of things you couldn't be doing right now, but you're here. There's a lot of things that you could be doing it with your life. That could be pleasing to the flesh, but you're here. It's a life of self-denial it's a life of daily walking with Jesus.

You see it points in this text to the attitude of one who puts his emphasis on getting the best out of life. For himself one Will always look out for one's best interest. We always do that which is in our best interest or normally do.

We try to get ahead in life. We try to do the right things. We try to get the right steps that we can get the best outcome whether it's at a job offer whether it's at school whether it's at home, we're always doing that which is in our own best self interest and Jesus is calling us to abandon self-interest and adopt kingdom interest adopt Jesus as the center citadel of human existence.

Abandonment of self is at play here and it's the main idea and the thought that's pervasive throughout this text of Scripture that we are to Not save our lives by holding on to it, but that we save our lives by letting it go.

By abandoning it. The way that man sets himself as a center of life is the way in which They will certainly lose life. That way the way that seems right to a man. The Bible says ends in death and That way means certain laws.

It is the one who loses His life for Christ and his for his sake who actually saves it. When he gives. When the man gives up all that he has for Christ. He finds that he has entered that life. Which is life true life indeed man by the name of Barclay Finley spent.

Says this about this text of Scripture the Christian must realize that he is given life not to keep it for himself. But to spend it for others. Not to husband its flame but to burn himself out for Christ and for men.

Isn't that incredible? Even with an evangelicalism today even amongst churches we see this what is an attempt to be holistic approach to life and ministry and we hear about. As a pastor I hear about this a lot and I've experienced it myself called pastoral burnout right and this idea of doing so much ministry that you just burn out and and and of course, we don't want people to To be hurt or harmed but in the same time maybe we actually do.

Here's what I'm saying brothers and sisters. If you give all that you are to the kingdom of God. You're doing what God requires. Even if it means you have nothing left in the tank. Even if it means you've got nothing left in the bank, even if it means you've exhausted every Avenue.

But if you do what God requires and if you do what God commands, it will always be a win for God's kingdom. And it will always be for your good and not for your harm. It'll always be for a blessing and not for a curse.

God always intends good for his people and by losing your life. You may think well, that's it. That's total loss if I lose my life, that's it. What else could be gained. And the answer for the Christian is everything.

Everything you see we're not of those people who in the like who are in the world who believe that this life is all that There is that was before us in this existence. This is as good as it gets. We don't believe that we don't confess that we don't hold to that.

We know that there is more to existence than the finite time that we get to spend here on this earth. We understand that in light of eternity There is an eternal weight of glory that awaits those who follow Christ and that every single suffering Warranted or unwarranted whether for righteousness or for unrighteousness is but fleeting and it's momentary and Paul puts it this way in 2nd Corinthians.

It's a momentary light affliction. It's only here for a moment even the worst of calamities that we can experience in this life. Will there be? Physical loss whether it's a job loss whether it's a loss of health whether whether it's cancer sickness death.

It's all momentary and light in Comparison to eternity. It's but a fading moments all of our afflictions all of our pain all of our suffering. It's only here for a moment brothers and sisters and can I tell you?

It will get better it all gets better and for the Christian. Even if we lose our life physically as a result of our placing our faith in Jesus Christ, what do we gain? Well Paul says this in Philippians chapter 1 that he says for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Why gain? Because he knew that as he as he died and the language that he uses in Philippians He uses this word if I were to depart the idea of departing there is a ship that is departing a port. He knows that he was to die which is his departing his his setting sails to heaven.

He would be with Christ and he says that is far better. So for me to live as Christ that means that while I'm here in this world the life I live I no longer live to myself. I now live for the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

That's the life. We must live. It's for Christ for his glory for his kingdom and If we die it is gain it's gain. Because we shall be with him and as he is we shall be also and will be transformed and That twinkling of an eye and we will be in glory with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Isn't that wonderful? Isn't that worth? Losing one's life for once you write this in the notes in the pursuit of self-centered preservation. You will lose your life. If you selfishly try to hold on to the things of this world into your life, you will lose it.

This is the paradox but in Giving your life away for the kingdom. You'll find eternal life an eternal reward. See life cannot be measured in terms of material things. There's more to life than what's before us.

There's more to life than that which is physical and the magnificent hyperbole the hyperbole Jesus here asks What is the profit if a man gains the whole world? But loses or forfeits his soul. Jesus says this again in verse 25.

What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and Loses or forfeits himself or his soul what profit is there? You would think maybe the average person would say well, there's a lot of profit there why.

Because if I just give my life over and I get the whole world and the riches that the pleasures the Wealth all these things that that sounds like a pretty good transaction to me but what you're missing is in light of eternity in Light of eternity.

There's a poem called Ozymandias, I'm not sure if you've ever heard of this this foreign a man who who goes into this foreign desert and he sees the Fallen statue and debris of a once great kingdom and a once great king.

And he sees a statue of a king. He's here lies Ozymandias the ruler of the kings of the earth and on the statue lists all of his great accomplishments as. The very waves of the sand hush and hover over the now fallen statue.

This is a man who once had the world at the palm of his hands. And now where is he? Where's his wealth? Where's his kingdom? Shrouded and covered by the sands of the desert. Every single thing in this world is fleeting.

Every Empire every great king every wealth every business will one day end up in the same place. In the aspen of history, it shall all be but a fleeting moment. There is one King and one kingdom that will outlast it all and it's the king Kingdom of the Most High God.

And it says in Daniel chapter 7 that God will give this kingdom Over to his people to his saints and they shall possess the kingdom forever and ever and ever. That kingdom is reserved for those Who forfeit their lives here and now?

But who gained eternal life and eternal kingdom in the world to come. Jesus again says what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul once you write down the notes. What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?

You see living and loving the world may seem to offer everything you've ever wanted. And it truly is alluring the allure of the world the riches of the world. It promises fulfillment and happiness yet.

It almost never delivers and Costs you the most valuable possessions your soul. Think about this. What is man's greatest possession? It is truly his soul. You see the Bible says that the that the the eyes are kind of the windows of the soul.

By it you see things by it you receive things. Would you exchange? Both your eyes for a million dollars. Probably not. I've said this before in an audience. I only had one guy ever say yeah, I would take that deal.

But most people would not take that deal. Would you take a million dollars. How about two million? Why not five million? Most people won't exchange. Amount of a large sum of money for their eyes because the eyes are precious.

Because you know that even if you could get that money. What what what what gain would it be if you could not see? What that money could give you if you could not see with your eyes the Benefits that that money could give.

And so you understand that your eyes are precious. Even more precious is your soul. There's no amount of money that can be given that can be enjoyed by man that could outweigh the value of the human soul.

Brothers and sisters do not trade your soul for the fleeting things of this world. There is a better way. There's a better promise again. The world never seems to fulfill on its promises and said it only takes.

I want to read to you a Short interview that was conducted back in June of 2005 On 60 minutes and the correspondent Steve Croft is speaking with at then the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

About his success on and off the field and when he said about being satisfied in life surprised everyone back in this interview. Notice what Tom Brady says. Tom Brady said this. There's times where I'm not the person that I want to be again.

Think about this is a man who's at this point is one. I think two Super Bowl rings. He's at the height of his career height of his wealth. Settling down with a family at this moment. He's got everything going for him in life and notice what he says.

There's times I'm not the person that I want to be. Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there's something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say hey, man. This is what it is.

I reached my goal my dream my life. Me. I think God. It's gotta be more than this. I mean this can't be what it's all cracked up to be. I mean, I've done it. I'm 27. What else is there for me? That's what Tom Brady said.

Steve Croft asked the question. What's the answer? Tom Brady says I wish I knew. I wish I knew. There's good news for Tom Brady. There's good news for you and I. There is a better way and it's in giving one's life away for the kingdom of God.

That's where the answer to true happiness lies. That's where true fulfillment can be found. It's in letting go one's life and Serving the King of Kings the Lord of Lords even Jesus Christ our Master and owner.

That's the answer to true happiness. That's the answer to the pursuit of Life's true treasure. It's Jesus. It says this about Jesus in Colossians chapter 2 in him is stored of all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Jesus truly is the treasure of ages. He's the treasure of the human heart. He's the treasure that can satisfy the longing of the human soul and the human condition. Jesus certainly is worth pursuing and following.

Shamelessness Before Christ and the Call to Public Faith

Notice what else this Jesus says as he beckons us to to take up our cross. He says in verse 26 of Luke 9 for whoever is ashamed of me and of my words of Him will the Son of Man be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy Angels know this and I want you to write this in the notes as well if you're too ashamed To live for Christ and there are many who are Many within the Christian Church who are too ashamed to outwardly live for Christ.

They think that theirs is a private faith. Theirs is a closeted faith and Yet that's not the call of being a disciple. You know, there's a term in the world that's used in the homosexual community coming out of the closet, right?

When it usually has the connotation. Hey, I had to hide myself how to hide my true feelings my true self. And I had to come out of the closet. And now when you come out of the closet means I'm vocal I'm loud and I'm proud.

Okay, and And that should be the call of a disciple is To leave the former life behind and to now live out and proud and loudly our most holy and precious faith. And let me answer this question because it comes up often in this context.

What about the homosexual? Who says I was born this way? What about the sinner who says I have this inclination. I was born this way and I would say amen. You were born that way. You were all born that way with sin ruling and reigning in your hearts.

We were all born to be subject to the futility of our sinful disposition. That is this natural state of man is to be a sinner. So what must the homosexual do? What must the adulterer do? What must the fornicator do?

What must the idolatry do? Repent and turn to Jesus deny oneself and Trust in Christ. What's the answer for every single sinner? Regardless of the sin condition. You must deny Yourself and pick up your cross.