I have seen that when something is given away for free that it often has little value to the receiver. Helloooooo! That makes sense; there was no cost involved therefore it has little value. I have a friend dealing with a deep sin (actually quite a few friends), and they want to get clean using the Burger King method, they want to “have it their way”. They want to lay out their own path to overcome their sin and what is funny is, that over the years…..it hasn’t worked. You know, life in general is that way also. We want to use the Burger King method to get through. We want to “Have it our way”, don’t we?
Mark 8:34-35 (TNIV)
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
So often when we hear these words from Jesus, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”, we somehow think that denying ourselves means not living life to the fullest. Or we think that denying ourselves is some sort of self-hatred, or loathing of ourselves. Well, this is the farthest thing from what Jesus meant!
To deny ourselves does indeed mean that we must be willing to give up many material gratifications and pleasures that we “think” defines us or that we “want” to actually define us. What Jesus is telling us is that when we can give up that self-centeredness, through Him, we can actually find our true selves. When we willingly let go of our selfish desires and our earthly security we let go of self-centeredness and gain God-centeredness in our lives! I have seen that as we begin to deny ourselves and trust in Jesus wisdom and love in our lives, that we truly find ourselves and of course we also enjoy an eternal security!
Taking up the cross is a pretty strong and clear illustration of the humility and submission asked of us in order to gain our true lives or inner selves. The truth is, we must be prepared to understand and obey God’s wisdom no matter what the consequences!
Something that is also interesting to me is this word, “follow”. The Greek word here is, “akouo” [ak-oo-o]. Of course it means to accompany someone. However, a fuller meaning of “akouo” includes to “understand, hear what is being said, consider what is being said, to comprehend”. In other words, when Jesus tells us to “follow” Him, what he is saying is more than just walk with Him, He is not telling us to walk behind Him, but He is telling us to take the same road of sacrifice and service that He took. He is telling us to listen intently, to understand, to comprehend and then to apply His wisdom to our lives in action, not just in thought!
In verse 35, Jesus tells us the truth upside down again: “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” Helloooooo! Sounds pretty cool Jesus, but doesn’t make a lot of sense! Die to live? Give me a break!
Well, indeed, that’s what Jesus is doing; He is giving us a break!
The Greek word translated as “life” in verse 35 is “psuche” [psoo-khay]. This word takes on a deeper meaning of “inner self, heart, mind or soul”. Now in my mind that changes things! What Jesus is saying is that when we are willing to give up who we think we are, we actually find the fullness of who we really are.
Indeed, our Christian life, a life of truly “following” Jesus is a paradox. In order to truly gain our “life”, that part of us that includes our dreams, hopes and goals, we must sacrifice and sometimes suffer to grow stronger. We then find that we have gained the “fullness” in our lives that is promised.
Don’t use the “Have it Your way” Burger King method of living life. Indeed, FOLLOW JESUS and you will find life in the fullest!
Amen, Amen, Amen – Very well put Jan, Metanoeo because everything begins as a thought doesn’t it? thanks eric