Clarification of the Way of the Cross:

Matthew 16:24 “...Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me..."

Mark 8:34 “...And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me..."

Luke 9:237 “...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..."

Is this a new teaching that Jesus is giving?

• Matthew 10:37-38 "...He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me..."

What are the requirements for those who wish to “come after” Jesus?

• Deny self.
• Take up cross.
• Follow Jesus.

What does our culture think of self denial?

• Our culture preaches self gratification.
• Our culture teaches self indulgence.

Have you ever seen an advertisement that expresses self denial?

What does it mean to take up our cross?

• The cross was an instrument of violence and torture.
• Self denial is violence and torture.
• We must actively participate in the process.

How did the Luke account clarify that “come after” is a lifestyle choice?

• We must take up our cross daily.

Matthew 16:25-26 "...For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?..."

Mark 8:35-37 "...For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? "For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?..”

Luke 9:24-25 "...For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?...”

Is this statement a paradox?

• A paradox is a statement that apparently contradicts itself and yet might be true
• The statement includes two different forms of life - temporal and eternal.

How does saving comfort and security in this temporal life endanger eternal life?

• It’s a failure to follow Jesus, which requires daily denial of self.

How does losing comfort and security in this temporal life ensure eternal life?

• It’s the prescribed way to follow Jesus.

• Colossians 1:18 “...And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent...”

Matthew 16:27 “...For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done...”

Mark 8:38 “...For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels...”

Luke 9:26 “...For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels...”

Does it matter how we respond to the Red Letters, to the words of Jesus?

• Jesus says everyone gets repaid based on what they’ve done.

When are people ashamed of Jesus and His words?

• When the culture makes them feel awkward and foolish.
• When they’re more concerned about comfort and security than truth.
• When self preservation becomes more important than eternity.
• When following Jesus requires more than they’re willing to do.