Salvation is a free gift from God. Yet Jesus’ message of salvation is accompanied by many hard demands. Jesus said in John 12:25-26 - ‘He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal. "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.’
In His words Jesus lays down the foundation of being a disciple of Christ - which is death. If Jesus did not die upon the cross there would be no need for discipleship. The implications of being a disciple of Christ must be thought through carefully. We need to count the cost of following Christ. Jesus asks His disciples to follow Him wholeheartedly, humbling yourself, setting your own interests aside for His glory, sacrificially serving Him, and ultimately placing your life on the line for Him.
Having Jesus as your Lord and Saviour is going to be tough. 2 Timothy 3:12 - tells us - indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Being saved does not always make your life easier, but you can have true peace in all circumstances - ‘For He Himself is our peace’ (Ephesians2:14). This peace is anchored in the reality of an eternal hope in Christ with God, enjoying His presence and blessings.
Jesus also gives us two paradoxical truths. The first paradox is that a person who loves his life loses it - if a person is not willing to give up his/her love for this world - earthly treasures - then he /she cannot become a disciple of Christ. In fact you will lose the greatest treasure - eternal life.
On the contrary the second paradox is presented - that a person who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal. The person who is to be a disciple of Christ must demonstrate saving grace daily through the denial of your self - and the exaltation of Christ. A strong contrast is made - that a Christian’s love for the Lord must be supreme - and your love for the dearest things the world has to offer you - in contrast will be hated - in order to let your love for the Lord rise to the greatest heights.
This is not the first time that Jesus had taught what the cost of discipleship is. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 - Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Many people have come to Christ to get healthy and wealthy, and as a fix all - and therefore many have reduced the gospel to a genie in a bottle. What we must understand is that the cross was the ultimate denial of self and the call for utter humility, and sacrifice - forsaking all for Christ - having a God centered life, and being led by His Spirit. A disciple cannot live out both paradoxes. As in the companion passage - Mark 8:36 states - What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
May we praise God today and every moment of our lives, that we who have been chosen by Him to be His disciples, that we will see that through death we gain eternal life. Please finish off with Post 6.