Follow Jesus

We want our lives to  be worthy of something great.

The call to follow is less than glamorous; maybe a little bit too extreme, maybe a bit scary.

Total commitment.  Many of us make contributions; if we do enough of this, or that, we believe, God will do something for us. 

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem the people were in anticipation of what Jesus would do for them.  They did not realize what it was really going to take.

If you knew that following Jesus was going to cost you everything, would you do it?

Mark 8:27-38 
Who do people say that I am?   Who do you say that I am?

The people believed that Jesus was going to release them from their earthly political bondage.
Peter said, You are the Messiah.  Jesus said, Tell no one.

A disciple of Christ must know who He is.

The disciples had the right terminology but they had not fully grasped the concept of what he came to do.

Sadly our lives show no correlation to the life of Christ.   Our terminology is correct, but we haven't a clue as to what it means to follow Jesus.

Misunderstanding who Jesus is can cause a lot of difficulties.  It is dangerous when the true Jesus is not understood.

The palm branches where laid in a misunderstanding of what Jesus came to do.

Jesus was failing to meet the expectations of the people.

(Peter is truly disgruntled)

Jesus is speaking the truth that  is completely at odds with the expectations Peter had.  The disciples had based their lives on a set of expectations not in tune with Christ's mission.

Jesus came to save us, but his salvation does not look like that which the people-- and the disciples-- expected.

Jesus can only give us life if he goes through the grave.  The only chance we have to be justified goes through the cross.

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (v.34)

Jesus hung on the cross for our salvation from sin, but to follow Christ means we get a cross, too.

What does it look like to take up the cross?

1.  It may cost your comfort, physical, financial, something completely outside your self.
2.  It may cost your reputation.  Your friends may turn their backs on you.
3.  It may cost you your health.  Think missionaries in third-world countries.
      It will cost you everything, but it will be worth it all!

We are driven by self  day in and day out.  Jesus says we must deny ourselves and take up our crosses.

Our personal pleasure, passion, and success, must be sacrificed if we are to follow Christ.

Put the old self away, crucify the flesh so that you can be raised to life!

 Pastor Johnnie Blair

Sunday morning