Jesus Instructions And Warnings To His Disciples Series

Introduction

A. Last week we began looking at this passage and we found that in this passage Jesus lays some heavy demands upon His disciples

1. He stated clearly what it will cost a person to be His disciple, and He describes the cost by using these four illustrations

2. The passage can be outlined this way

a. For background we have Jesus' purpose (v.34)

b. First illustration : a person's family (v.35-37)

c. Second illustration: the cross (v.38)

d. Third illustration: a person's life (v.39)

e. Fourth illustration: welcoming and ministering to others (v.40-42)

3. We covered the first illustration,

a. That a Christian’s family might turn against them

b. We started to look at the second illustration in Matthew 10:38

II. Body

A. Take up our cross and follow Jesus

Matthew 10:38 (NKJV)

And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

1. We are going to turn to a number of passages very quickly concerning the cross the individual is to carry

a. Second is Matthew 16:24

Matthew 16:24 (NKJV)

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

(1) Take note that Jesus said, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me

(2) The concept of the cross was the concept of death

(a) Death

(b) Humiliation

(c) And degradation

i) Turn to Galatians 2:20

(3) The idea being death to self but living for Christ

(a) Paul expressed this very well in Galatians 2:20

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

(b) As we take up our cross we are crucified with Christ

i) Jesus is our sustainer

ii) Our source of strength

iii) Our master

(c) We are to die to self in order to live for Christ

b. Third is Mark 10:21

Mark 10:21 (NKJV)

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."

(1) Notice Jesus words to the rich young ruler

(a) Give up the things of this world

(b) And your reward in heaven will be great

(c) Die to self, deny self, take up your cross and follow me

(2) The world must be left behind

(a) Does this mean we have to give away everything?

i) No.

ii) Jesus was telling the rich young ruler to give up those things which stand between you and God

iii) Things which in and of themselves may be good or at least not evil, if they block pour way to complete, total dedication to Christ must be eliminated

a) Now lets turn to Matthew 10:39

B. We move on to the third illustration which is that of a person's life

Matthew 10:39 (NKJV)

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

1. Jesus demands a person's life

a. When Jesus says “He who finds his life will lose it

b. What does that mean, “Finds his life?”

c. “Finds his life”, means that a person seeks his own pleasure and passions in this earthly life

(1) Turn to Mark 10:21-22

(2) It is a selfish life, finding out what pleases self and going after it

(3) It is heaping and hoarding and doing as self wills

(4) It is finding out what gives self life and pleasure on this earth and doing it

(a) If you will recall the incident with the rich young ruler

Mark 10:21-22 (NKJV)

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." {22} But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

(b) When Jesus told the young man to give away all his possessions, the rich young ruler walked away

(c) Material possessions stood between the rich young ruler and eternal life

i) Lets return to Matthew 10:30 and read it again, but this time looking at the last clause

Matthew 10:39 (NKJV)

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

2. Jesus told His disciples, “he who loses his life for My sake will find it”