The Cost of Discipleship: Luke 9:18-27

 

Introduction

These verses are some of the most powerful verses in the Bible. It is here we discover the very essence of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. It is here we learn who Jesus is and what His mission was. One could almost say that these verses alone are enough to explain all we need to know. It starts with Jesus revealing himself as the Christ. The Christ means the anointed one of God. It would have been understood by people of that time as a claim to be equal to God or to put it another way to claim to be God in the flesh. Then in the very next breath Jesus explains that he is going to voluntarily sacrifice his life so others could be saved. That is the cross of Jesus. That cross is the source of forgiveness, new life, transformation and spiritual power. Jesus next applies that same line of thought to those who would be his followers. Our cross is not the ordinary human troubles like sickness, disappointments, poverty and the things most people usually associate with their cross. Rather our cross is what the follower of Jesus sacrifices, gives up, endures in order to serve Jesus and His mission. It includes persecution and opposition. 

Some Quotes to think About

Every person is confronted with the choice of either denying themselves together with their reputation, desires, and comfort or of living for themselves and the world and so denying Christ.
                                                                               Norval Geldenhuys

He is no fool who gives what he can not keep to gain what he can not lose. - Jim Elliott

When Christ calls a person he calls him to come and die  - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Some Devotional Ideas

1. Read the verses 23-27 slowly word by word. As you do think of each word and let it sink deep in your spirit.

2. There is a great book by the name, "The Cost of Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer  perhaps you would want to get it and read it a few pages at a time this summer.