Luke 9:22-25
And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”
Comments
Jesus had no trouble attracting followers. Whether out of curiosity or great need, people came to see him heal the sick, give sight to the blind, cleanse the lepers, and make the lame walk again.
When the crowds following Jesus became hungry, he even fed them through a miraculous multiplication of bread and fish.
Jesus emphasized that God’s kingdom offered much, but also that it asked much. He was willing to give his life and challenged his disciples to do the same.
Reflections
People evaluate churches according to the quality of preaching, music, worship, children’s programs and a host of other criteria. What would happen if people began evaluating churches according to how well they challenged people to costly discipleship?
Where do you see prejudice, violence, greed, sexism and other dehumanizing forces at work in our world today? How prepared are you to follow Jesus if it means coming into conflict with such forms of evil?
Prayer
Give me boldness, Lord, when it comes to putting your kingdom and the welfare of others ahead of my own.
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