Matthew 16:24-28 / Mark 8:34-9:1 / Luke 9:23-27…
Jesus connects His unique sufferings and death with the life that He expects His disciples to live. In doing so He tells us what we should do and why we should do it.
Discipleship is about self-denial not self-discovery. Denying ourselves means we renounce our passions for power, position, possessions, and prestige. Taking up our cross means we must be ready to bear up under the afflictions God sends our way as discipline to conform us to the image of Christ. Following Jesus means we look to His obedience and example as our pattern for life.
Those whose first interest is their self will never find full satisfaction. Conversely, those who seek the Lord will find Him, and find life (Psalm 37:4 / Matthew 6:33).
No temporal gain can compare to the loss of the soul. If you will not deny yourself now, you have by that very choice denied yourself for eternity. The rewards that are worth having are the rewards to come. Live for today by having an eye for tomorrow.
The Son will judge according to the principle of self-denial. We are not saved because we deny ourselves, salvation is by grace. However, we are rewarded in the next life for obedience in this life (1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 4:5, 9:25 / 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 / 2 Timothy 4:8 / James 1:12 / 1 Peter 5:4). Naturally we all want to be rewarded now, but we are to delay our expectations. When we are rewarded, it will be greater than anything we could possibly expect. In that regard, Jesus tells them that some will get to see a glimpse of this glory before they die, and a few days later Peter, James, and John see the glorified Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.
The principle of spiritual life is self-denial. If you are not going after Jesus, you’re going the wrong way (Galatians 6:7-8).
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John the Baptist's words, "He must increase and I must decrease" seem to sum up Christianity well. As we get to know Christ and His mind is in us, it will be no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me.
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