By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

Losing My Life

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“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 English Standard Version

In the season of Lent, we focus on Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross, a sacrifice that paid for our sins.  We are given the opportunity to contemplate Jesus’ love for us, a love that resulted in eternal life for us.  This gift that He gave causes us to repent of our sin and trust in His redeeming grace.  This contemplation of Jesus’ humiliation and suffering for us causes us to give thanks and rejoice for our salvation!

But Jesus in telling his disciples about his crucifixion and resurrection goes further than just explaining that through him they might be saved.  He intentionally tells them that if they want to be with him they must deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow him.  When the disciples hear these words, they are shocked.  Not only is Jesus telling them that he is going to the cross, he is telling them that they will also take up their own cross and follow him to die!

Jesus tells them further, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”  What does Jesus mean by this?  He means that if you wish to have eternal life with him, it may cost you your pride, your selfish wants, your own prestige and power.  It may cost you your bitterness, your meanness, your anger and entitlement.  You may lose some of the creature comforts you love or even your own mortal life.

But you will gain fellowship with God and all other believers forever. You will gain peace and joy and forgiveness and grace.  You will gain heaven itself for eternity.  The gain will be worth all the humbling and the suffering and the struggle.  For to know Jesus and the fellowship of his sufferings is better than life itself.

And so we go with him as he carries his cross….

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