Jump Start # 2886

Luke 9:23 “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

This is the last segment in this short series on lessons learned from the land where Jesus walked. Going to Israel was something I was always interested in visiting but I had a reluctance as well. I was fearful of how commercial some of the places would be and how much they would try to market what they thought were actual places where Jesus was. To my surprise it wasn’t as bad as I expected. Two places that draw a lot of attention are the “Garden Tomb” near Jerusalem where some claim Jesus was buried. It is worth seeing because of the age of the tomb and how people were buried. But historically, it is unlikely the tomb of Jesus because it dates many years before. And, then there is the Jordan River. There is a place where some claim Jesus was baptized. It is commercialized. One can buy water from the Jordan or, pay even more and get a baptismal gown and be baptized in the river. Many were doing that. It is very unlikely that Jesus was baptized at that location. It’s too far north and John likely would not have been there.

But other places, although maybe not the actual spot are very near to where events took place. The Byzantine era, which started in the 300’s is when many churches were being built to protect “sacred” spots. Word of mouth passed from one generation to the next could very likely be accurate just a few hundred years later. But what is most impressive, is looking beyond these various church buildings and seeing the area, still very natural like the days of Jesus. Cascading hillsides that would make a perfect setting for teaching. The beautiful sea of Galilee that He crisscrossed so many times. Hilltop fortresses from which one can see for miles and miles. So many places remained untouched and natural and very much like it was in Biblical times.

It was a blessing to visit Israel. I would recommend the trip to anyone, but go with brethren, it makes all the difference. Go with someone who has been before. But for many, many brethren, they will not be able to make such a trip. The costs. The time. The journey there and back. Not everyone can do that. Our group was tested and tested multiple times for Covid, including blood tests. It was a bother, but it was worth it. Through modern technology, there are many videos taken at the Bible lands and one can get a good impression just from watching those.

Our faith does not rely upon standing on the same hillside that Jesus did or sitting in a boat on the sea of Galilee. Our faith comes from the word of God. That’s how the Lord designed it. Going to Israel does not make one a better Christian. Our walk with the Lord does that. Being in Israel adds color and insight to so many passages that we read, but it is not necessary to go to Heaven.

As I watched a long line of people in white baptismal robes waiting to be baptized, I wonder what was running through their minds? Did they think that this would make them more dedicated or purer? Did they think that this would assure their salvation? The Jordan River isn’t a pretty river. It’s muddy. There are places where it’s pretty polluted. What the Lord wants from us is not to sit where He sat and stand where He stood, but to walk by faith and imitate His character. Through the Scriptures, not the land of Israel, we learn to be kind, patient, forgiving, and helpful to one another. It is through the Scriptures that we learn to worship as God designed. It is through the Scriptures that we learn the promises and hope that is in the Lord.

Seeing the land is fascinating. There are places, especially around Qumran and the Dead Sea that are desert. It’s rocks and dirt. There are not very many trees. It’s hot. It’s dusty. It’s not very pretty. And, had special events in the Bible not taken place there, most would never visit there. But what is beautiful is to see a life that has been marred by sin and living day to day in misery come alive in Jesus Christ. It is wonderful to see faith springing forth and the changes it produces as one comes to know the Lord.

One should never feel that he is better than others because he got to go to Israel. Our faith isn’t measured by the places we visit. It is a blessing. And, as with all blessings, one needs to be thankful and share with others what he can.

But one thing is sure, as wonderful as our trip was to Israel, our entrance into Heaven will be even greater. And, unlike Israel, you can be in Heaven. There won’t be a cost factor that keeps some out. You may not be able to afford Israel, but you can go to Heaven. I’ve talked to some since I have returned from Israel, and they have said, “We sure wish we could have gone, but it’s too late in life for us to go now.” Heaven is not that way. The only thing that will keep you out of Heaven is YOU. Your faith. Your walk. Your belief. Your hope. Your journey. It’s all there in Jesus Christ.

And, unlike our trip to Israel, Heaven won’t end after ten days. We won’t go back home after a visit to Heaven. Heaven will be our home. And, all the photos I took, just to remember and share with others, won’t be necessary in Heaven. We’ll be there. We’ll be there forever.

So, if you don’t get to make the trip to Israel, don’t be sad. There’s a greater place you are going to. It’s far better than Israel. It’s beautiful. It’s forever. And, it’s with God.

Heaven Bound…that’s us!

Roger

Jump Start # 2287

Luke 9:23 “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

I’ve been preaching a series entitled, “Ten Things.” And, as the title suggests, each lesson has ten practical, put on your kitchen table type of points. We’ve talked about ‘Ten things you need to know before you get married.’ That was followed by, ‘Ten Things Parents Need to Tell Their Teens.’ This past Sunday, it was, ‘Ten Things That Can Help Your Marriage.’ It was in that last one, about helping your marriage, that one of the points was marriage is lived one day at a time. How do folks stay married 50 or more years? It was one day at a time. There are good days and bad days. There are days you want to forget and days you never want to forget. There are plain ole’ every day days and there are special days. Happy days and sad days. Days you did well and days you did not do so well.

That thought actually is the same for living the Christian life. Ours is a journey. It’s not one big thing. It’s not the going overseas and spending a few weeks with third world people. It’s living for Jesus everyday. That thought is born from our verse today. Discipleship as defined by Jesus is composed of three elements. First, denying self. That must come first. If it’s not first, the other two won’t follow. Denying self is hard. We like self. We like to do what we like to do. We like to make ourselves happy. We don’t like to do what is uncomfortable to us. This is why Jesus starts here. It’s kingdom first. It’s Jesus first. It’s ‘Thy will be done.’ Self must be shoved to the back and kept there. It keeps wanting to pop up. It keeps wanting to move to the front. I don’t feel like going to church services, is what self sometimes says. Probably not some days. But if I have denied self, I will get down to the church house. There are days when you don’t feel like doing good deeds. Yep. We’ve all been there. Love to stay home, lay on the couch, watch a ballgame and forget about the world. But others need us. Deny self. Take care of others first. Be the servant.

Next comes our day to day. Take up your cross daily. Several things here. First, crosses were instruments of death, sacrifice. When one went to the cross, they weren’t coming back home. Even Jesus went to the tomb after the cross. The grave couldn’t hold him, but it was to the grave He went. To the first century pagan, the cross simply meant that the State was executing someone. To the disciple, the cross took his mind to Jesus. The cross of Jesus was more than death, it was a sacrifice. Jesus gave up His life. So, to be a disciple, I must take up my cross daily. Notice, it’s not Jesus’ cross. That has already been carried. Every year around Easter, someone is pictured carrying a large wooden cross down the road. He’s not Jesus, and that’s not what Jesus meant in this passage. We don’t carry Jesus’ cross. We carry our cross.

Now, what did Jesus sacrifice? Like the O.T. lamb, He was pure, innocent, holy and good. We can’t be like Jesus in those ways completely, but our sacrifice is given to God. Our sacrifice isn’t bad stuff, but good things. Our sacrifice are things that we are able to offer. Some will say having a handicapped child is the cross that they bear. It may be a burden, but not a cross. You didn’t choose that. You had no say in that. Others will say living with a drunk is the cross they bear. No. drunkenness is a sin that needs to be repented of, not a sacrifice.

Unlike Jesus, our sacrifice is daily. Jesus carried His cross once. We carry ours daily. Every day. Every day carrying that cross. Every day making a sacrifice for the Lord. Christianity is much, much more that being saved. It’s more than accepting Christ and believing. That’s the starting point. Now, it’s what do I do everyday. Not just Sundays, but Friday nights. Not just Wednesday evening Bible study, but Saturday afternoon at the ballgame.

Daily. That’s one of the best word descriptions of what our journey to Heaven is like. It’s following Jesus daily. It’s thinking about the Lord, daily. It’s reading God’s word, daily. It’s praying daily. It’s being busy in the kingdom, daily. It’s making sacrifices, daily. It’s more than giving up a few Sundays to teach the kids Bible class. That’s great. But what happens after the quarter ends? What happens between those Sundays?

Marriage is lived every day. Our walk with Jesus is following Him every day. Like I said above regarding marriage, the same fits with our discipleship with Jesus. There are some great days. There are some days that are not so great. There are some moments that I never want to forget. There are others that I want to never remember. There are many average, every day plain days. There are sad days. There are joyful days. It’s a journey of a lifetime.

You think about how long you have been a Christian. How many hymns do you imagine you have sung so far? A thousand? Ten Thousand? How many sermons have you listened to? How many times have you taken the Lord’s Supper? If you could add up every contribution that you have given, how much would that amount to? A thousand dollars? A hundred thousand dollars? How many prayers have you personally prayed since you were a Christian? How many verses have you read?

I expect if we could see on a piece of paper those numbers we would be shocked at the large amount. It’s living for Jesus each day. Sundays are special because we get to be with each other, remember the Lord’s death and hear powerful sermons. But Tuesdays are also important. Every day is part of our journey. Every day is a time to take up our cross. Every day we follow Jesus.

One day at a time…

That includes TODAY.

Roger

Jump Start # 1152

Luke 9:23 “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.’”

  I watched a documentary the other day about a castle in England. I love castles. It was built by Henry VIII and used as one of his palaces. It was within that castle that Henry decided to break free from the Roman Catholic church and start his own church, the church of England. Henry wanted a son. His wife of more than twenty years could not give him that. He wanted to divorce her and marry someone else. The Catholic faith would not allow that. Henry refused to go along with that, broke free, started a new church and appointed himself as the head. Interesting show. Great castle.

There are two thoughts that I want to share.

First, it is generally a personal dispute that leads to someone looking deeply into what they believe. This isn’t bad. Many doctrines and teachings seem more like theory to us until it they land on our front porch. Then, we become personally involved, motivated and curious. One of the sparks of the American Restoration Movement was a result of this. The doctrine of infant baptism wasn’t a hot topic until Alexander Campbell’s baby was born. Then the question came would the child be baptized? That prompted a study of infant baptism, which led to a further study of baptism itself. The conclusion found in Scriptures is that penitent believers were the ones baptized, not babies. A personal matter took them to the Scriptures.

The same happens today. Folks do not think much about what the Bible teaches about divorce, until someone in the immediate family announces that their marriage is over. Now, possibly for the first time, people start looking and seeing what the Bible teaches. People do not think too much about life after death, until someone in the family passes away, then they want to know where they are and what happens at death.

Personal involvement is a driving force to examining what we believe and what the Scriptures truly teach. It is not uncommon for a person to look in the Scriptures and discover that what they had always been told and what they “thought” the Bible taught, wasn’t there at all. It is here that our second point comes up.

Second, Henry VIII, wanted a divorce. The Catholic faith would not allow it, so he founded his own church so he could have what he wanted. The king always gets what he wants. This too, is the way most operate. They put their feelings above Scriptures. I have seen people read a verse from their own Bibles and then declare, “Oh, I don’t believe that.” This is why modern churches cater to the whims of the audience. They are interested in pleasing the people. Timothy was warned long ago, that some would not endure sound doctrine. They would find teachers that tickled their ears. Tell us what we want to hear. We want nice things. We don’t want much doctrine and definitely easy on the commitment part. Make it fun. Make it enjoyable. Make it the way we want. If it’s not, we’ll just go down the road to another church that’s more suited to the way we think. Really?

Our verse tells us that those who wanted to follow Jesus, first, had to deny self. That means you don’t “have it your way.” You do things God’s way. This is called submission. It means to bend your will for the will of others, and in this case, God’s way. So in this equation, saying, “Well, I think…” doesn’t enter the conversation. It’s what God wants. What Henry did along ago in England is done all the time in America. People “church shop.” They look and look and try out a church, like they are in a fitting room of a store, trying on outfits. If this church fits my needs, I’ll give it a try, is how many are thinking these days. Little thought is given to how serious and closely that church is following the Bible. Are they “denying self,” or making the rules as they go along? Are they following Christ or mimicking Henry VIII? Don’t say anything about homosexuality. God did. Don’t talk about personal holiness. God did. Don’t talk about divorce. God did. Don’t talk about daily living for Christ. God did. Don’t talk about reading the Bible. God did.

Henry’s way or Jesus’ way? When I don’t like something, don’t agree with it, it ought to drive me to the Bible. If I find it taught by God, then I need to change my thinking and my ways. Pleasing God ought to be the basis of what we believe and what we do.

Is it in the Bible? Paul said, “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil 4:9). If Paul did it, then we ought to. If he didn’t, we need to ask, why are we doing it then?

Starting a church is not a bad idea if the purpose is to be more Biblical, God-pleasing and Christ centered. To start a church to justify what I want to do is shallow and vain. To start a church because I don’t like hearing all that Bible, is wrong.

Henry got his divorce. In time, he married several others. A couple of them he accused of unfaithfulness and had their heads lopped off. Henry did what Henry wanted. It’s easy to see his spirit alive and well today. God is seeking those who are willing to do what Christ says, even if it means changing to do that.

Change the teachings or change yourself? Denying self is hard, but it’s a must if we are going to follow Christ. Without denying self, there will come a time when we part with Jesus and walk our own way.

Roger

Jump Start # 893

Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

We have been looking at this passage the past few days, which defines discipleship. Jesus identifies three principles: denying self, taking up your cross daily. There is one final thought, follow Me. After denying self, after taking up your cross, a person must still follow Jesus.

Following Jesus is the reason why a person will deny self. That is the cause, the motivation and the reason. Following Jesus is the reason why a person will take up their cross daily. These steps are hard. They require about all we have to do it. Without following Jesus, we would never do those things.

Follow Jesus. That’s what the apostles did. They left their nets and followed Jesus.

He showed them things that they had never seen before, such as lepers being cleansed and demons being cast out. They saw withered hands restored and the lame walking. They saw the dead coming back to life. He calmed storms and stilled fears. It was amazing what they saw. No one could do what Jesus was doing. Nearly every day was a journey of amazement.

Following Jesus took them places that they probably had never been before. Jesus took them to Samaria, a place where Jews didn’t travel. Following Jesus took them to the middle of heated debates about who Jesus was and His right to say and do what he was doing. For most of the apostles, their lives were pretty simple, spent on the lake, catching and selling fish. The arrest of Jesus put them around armed soldiers and a very tense situation. Jesus took them places that they would have never gone on their own.

Following Jesus led them to doing things that they had never done before. They preached. They cast out demons. One walked on water. They healed the sick. They must have looked at their hands and marveled at how these things were happening.

Following Jesus made them witnesses to the most pure, holy, perfect and selfless example that they would ever see. No one equaled Jesus. No one topped Jesus. No one always said the right thing, did the right thing, and thought the right thing, other than Jesus. They saw Jesus’ compassion. They saw Jesus when He was thrown into the storm with those who opposed Him. They saw Jesus forgive when others wanted to throw rocks. They heard those passionate lessons about the coming kingdom and the way of righteousness. They saw Him pray.

No one knew Jesus as well as the apostles did. They had their very feet washed by Jesus. After His ascension into Heaven, those witnesses spoke passionately from both the Holy Spirit and their hearts. They knew. They saw. They heard. They had followed Jesus.

One of my favorite hymns is “Footprints of Jesus.” Love that song. It is a song about following Jesus. Deny self, take up your cross and FOLLOW Jesus. Follow Jesus in purity. Out goes trashy shows, border line talking, suggestive language, immodest clothing. Follow Jesus.

Follow Jesus in service. Jesus had the heart of a servant. He cared and He helped. Denying self will help you. Serving others. Doing things for the sake of helping out. Being a true friend. Being one that can be counted upon. Dependable. A person of your word. A servant. Following Jesus will take you there.

Follow Jesus in worship. Jesus loved His Father. He prayed. He worshipped. He followed His will. He spoke the message of the Father. Following Jesus will lead us to doing the same. Sunday is the best day of the week. Sundays are so different from all the other days. Our routines are different on Sundays. We gather with God’s people on Sundays. We sing. We pray. We remember the Lord’s death. We read God’s word. Sunday is good day, no matter what the weather. Sunday reminds us that God is still upon the throne. Sunday helps us get our order in order, our perspective. Sunday is about God. Sunday reminds us of righteousness, Heaven, and holiness. Without Sundays, our world seems dark and messy.

Follow Jesus. Follow Jesus all the time. Follow Jesus when you don’t feel like it. Follow Jesus when it takes you to uncomfortable places, such as forgiving someone who has hurt you. Follow Jesus in sharing His story. Follow Jesus when others won’t. Follow Jesus when it is hard. Follow Jesus when you want to quit. Follow Jesus all the way to Heaven.

You follow Jesus by doing what the Bible says. I can’t say that I’m following Jesus when I’m not following His word. The way of Jesus is the Bible way.

Deny self…take up your cross daily…follow Jesus. Three principles. There is an order to those principles. If you follow without first denying, you’ll soon part ways with Jesus and start doing what you want to do. Deny self, that must be first. Take up your cross, if you don’t, you won’t follow long. There are sacrifices. Without my cross, I won’t do that. Then, follow.

Follow, follow, follow. The Bible way becomes your way. You start seeing things from Heaven’s side of things. Your interests become deeper and more spiritual, the more you follow.

Not everyone will do this. They could, they just don’t want that commitment. They will follow at a distance and follow Jesus into the things that they feel are nice and easy. Standing alone for what is right is something few will do. Calling sin, sin, is not something many will do. Following that simple N.T. pattern is outdated for most. Follow Jesus.

Will you do it? Will you do it if it makes you different from others? Will you do it if it means most will not agree with you? Will you do it?

Follow Jesus

Roger

Jump Start # 892

Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

Yesterday, we began looking at this verse. Here Jesus defines discipleship. There is a cost to following Jesus. There are requirements and responsibilities that are involved. It isn’t a free ride. We are not hitch-hiking our way to Heaven.

Our Jump Start yesterday looked at the first thing Jesus requires, denying self. That’s hard. It means putting Jesus before me. It is living with a purpose and a reason. It is no longer existing and making decisions based upon how we feel. Some only go to work or school if they feel like it. If they don’t, they won’t. Those days are over when we become a disciple. We deny self. Paul told the Galatians that he crucified self. That is the process of denying self. It is killing the inner wants and selfishness and replacing those with what God wants. God takes over the helm of our life. God runs our life. God says and that ends the discussion. Repentance is turning toward God. The prodigal got up and came home. Denying self is giving God the keys to your heart. It’s giving up the control. It is no longer feeling or saying, “I have a right.” It’s living by, “What does God say?”

Denying self is something we do, not God. Jesus is telling the disciples to do this. If God did it for us, then we would just sit back and let it happen. It is up to us to deny. It is up to us to put God first in our lives. Seek first the kingdom of God is what Jesus said. Set your minds on things above is what the Colossians were told. Fix your eyes upon Jesus is what we read in Hebrews. Deny self. You can do it because Jesus said so. Hard, yes. Impossible, never.

The second principle of discipleship is to take up our cross daily. This statement is greatly misunderstood and misused. Notice a few things.

• First, it is OUR cross, not His cross. Jesus already carried His cross. He doesn’t need us to carry that. Every year around Easter, there is someone out walking the highway with a huge cross. He tries to mimic Jesus. He fails. He misses the point of this passage.

• Second, the cross represented death. Today, people wear crosses as jewelry and tattoos. That would have been weird in the first century. The cross was the form of execution the Empire of Rome used upon criminals and foreigners. We wouldn’t wear a lethal injection needle and iv bag around our necks as something to be admired. Most would think that is sick. Same thing about crosses in the first century. The cross was a one-way, dead end road. A person didn’t walk back from the cross. It meant death.
• Third, the cross represents the supreme sacrifice. That’s what Jesus was. He wasn’t Heaven’s left over. He was God’s gift. He was the best of Heaven. He was the sinless son of God. He was the perfect example. He was without mistakes. Our cross is a sacrifice. It is something that we give up. It is something that we offer to God. That’s the point of discipleship. Our cross is a choice. It is not something that is beyond our control. The cross is not something that is forced upon us. We are to “TAKE UP” our cross. That’s choice. We choose to do this. We have a say in all of this. This is what we want.

I’ve heard some say that their handicapped child was the cross they carried. No. They didn’t choose that. They didn’t willingly give that to God. Others have said a short temper is their cross. I heard a lady once say that her drunk husband was the cross she bore. No. No. No. Sin is not our cross. Bad attitudes are not our cross. Those are things we must repent of and get rid of. Our cross is something of sacrifice that we offer to God. It is a gift to God. It is not something wrong, but something good. That’s what Jesus was. He was our sacrifice.

For the early disciples, leaving home and following Jesus was a sacrifice. Leaving the safety of the Jewish religion which they grew up with, enduring hostility and doing things they had never done before, such as preach and teach was what they gladly bore for Jesus. Sacrificing time for Jesus is cross bearing. Devoting our talents for Jesus is cross bearing. A talented song writer, instead of pursuing a career that could make him rich, devotes his ability to writing hymns. There is no money in hymns. He sacrifices himself for the Lord.

A man who could run a major corporation, be very wealthy, devotes his life to preaching the gospel. People don’t get rich preaching. There are no baseball cards with preachers on them. He does this because he is sacrificing himself for the Lord. A young mother who could have a serious career instead stays home to be devoted to her young children, sacrifices herself for the Lord. A person who turns down overtime on the weekend so he can worship with God’s people is sacrificing for the Lord. A person who turns down free tickets to a concert that is going on the same time church services are, is sacrificing for the Lord. Giving up for God—that’s cross bearing.

Your cross is not poor health, bad teeth, a wife who died early or any of the other hardships we go through. Your cross is not bad or sinful things in life. Your cross is what YOU give up for the Lord. Even among us preachers, there are crosses we bear. I think about the man who spends his time overseas rather than the safety and comfort of America. I think of the man who leaves a large church with a large salary to go help a small church. They are making sacrifices. They are doing without and they do that for one reason, they love the Lord.

Jesus said to take up your cross. This isn’t done once in your life. This isn’t even a now and then event. Jesus said to take up your cross DAILY. Every day I choose to make sacrifices for Jesus. Everyday shine the light. Everyday speak the word. Everyday make a difference.

Understand, in Jesus’ day, crosses weren’t shiny and pretty. They were rough wood and heavy. Carrying a cross was hard. Many couldn’t do it. Even Jesus had help carrying His cross. Our crosses may not be easy either. It may be hard. Hard choices. Radical decisions. Doing what others would not. Crosses aren’t for those who are looking for comfort. Crosses aren’t for the lazy.

You want to follow Jesus? He wants you to carry your cross. Everyday. That starts with today. Today, turn the TV off and open His word. Today, pick up the phone and connect with someone spiritually. Today, use your God given talents for God. Today, give up for Jesus. Today, carry.

My cross isn’t yours. Yours isn’t mine. We each have one. You can’t carry mine and I can’t carry yours. That’s not what Jesus wants. He wants each of us to carry our own. That makes us committed. That makes us think about how serious we are. Comfort or cross? Keeping or sacrificing? Me or Jesus?

Do you recognize your cross? Have you picked it up in awhile? It’s about time, don’t you think?

Roger