Following Jesus
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
In this New Year 2013, our church motto is “Following Jesus”. It’s my hope an prayer that all of our church family members are able to respond to Jesus’ calling “Come, follow me” immediately as we leave everything behind (Mt. 4:19). As we do so, let us hold on to the promise word of Jesus that says “I will make you fishers of men”(Mt.4:19). Therefore, may the Lord raise us as His fishers of men so that He may use us to save those souls who are dying as we proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to them.
Today, in this New Year joint worship, I would like to mediate on this year’s theme verse that is Matthew 16:24. As we do so, we want to learn from His word, how we may follow Jesus. I hope and pray that we all learn these two important lessons so that we may follow Jesus faithfully throughout this year 2013.
First, in order to follow Jesus we must deny ourselves.
Please read Matthew 16:24a – “Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself.” Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in order for us to follow Jesus we must deny ourselves. Here, what does it mean to deny ourselves? It means to put down our will and to obey God’s will. The best example is Jesus. Especially when we look at Jesus’ prayer that was offer to God in the Mount of Olives, we can see what it means to put down my own will and be obedient to God’s will. Please Luke 22:42 – “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this is what Jesus says in John 5:30 – “By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” Jesus did not seek to please himself. He did not do things whatever he wanted to. Rather, Jesus wanted to please Father God who sent Jesus into this world. He only wanted to please His own Father God. Like Jesus, we who want to follow Jesus must try to please God and not ourselves by doing His will and not our own will. Let us learn to say as the Book of James 4:15 teach us by saying “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that”).
Second, in order to follow Jesus we must take up our cross.
Please read Matthew 16:24 - “Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in order for us to follow Jesus we must take up our own cross. Here, what does it mean by taking up our own cross? It means to be willing to suffer and even to die in order to fulfill the Lord’s will. But when Jesus told his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life (v.21), Apostle Peter couldn’t accept the fact that Jesus will suffering and die in order to fulfill the Father God’s will (v.22). Apostle Peter said to Jesus “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you! (v.22). At that time, this is what Jesus said to Peter (v.23): “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” After this, this is what Jesus said to His disciples: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (v.25). It is my hope and prayer that all of us who want to follow Jesus are willing to suffer and even to die for the sake of Jesus Christ in fulfilling His will.
Let me conclude this message. I hope in this year 2013, all of us can commit ourselves to fulfill 4 of the Lord’s will. That is (1) Mission, (2) Witness, (3) Discipleship and (4) Love God and love neighbor. I hope and pray that the Lord may use all of us to fulfill His will for us.
Desire to follow Jesus,
James Kim