“If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
Jesus clearly did not take Marketing 101! It just doesn’t make sense. The same one who said that he came to rescue all people for eternity now makes an individual appeal to those same people by saying they would have to give up all their personal rights and be subject to his leading, which by the way, would involve a considerable amount of discomfort. Seems like a disastrous plan to get people to buy in to his movement. But that is just the point, Jesus isn’t concerned about convincing human beings to “buy in” to what he was doing. His concern was not to flatter people into following him. No, he was inviting people to be a part of what they needed most. Jesus was interested in confronting us with divine truth.
Sometimes people want to bargain with Jesus. They may not say it in so many words, but their attitude is, “Lord, I will follow you if you give me the kind of life I want.” That thinking, however, is something Jesus never tolerated. We don’t come to him on our terms. Instead, we surrender our rights because we believe the Truth about life, death and eternity are all found in Christ.
When people asked about becoming one of his disciples, Jesus always encouraged them to consider seriously what they were getting into and their expectations. He never promised a joyride of pleasant experiences. Instead, he offered a realistic picture of following God in a sin broken world. An easy life? No. A never-ending adventure? Absolutely!
Worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm &
Sunday: 10:00 am
