Luke 9:23-27 - 23 “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
The past few weeks I have shared my testimony on how my life changed when Jesus redeemed me after freshman year of college. However, when I came back for sophomore year things became a bit more difficult. At first, I was excited. I was eager to follow Jesus and be a Christian at school. However, I didn’t quite calculate the implications of this decision. I had decided to identify with Jesus, therefore, all that I had identified with before was gone. The friends I had. The weekend plans I had. The entire life I lived...
I realized that many of the choices I had made were for me. I had been living a selfish life that had been filled with many of my own desires. I had cultivated a life of comfort for myself. Yet, as I shared last week, it wasn’t satisfying. And that’s why I had decided to follow Jesus! To experience the satisfaction I longed for. Yet, this excitement for following Jesus was met with a great cost. God was inviting me to become selfless, fearless, and trusting. If I was going to live with this new identity in Christ my whole life would need to be different.
I think one of the most difficult parts was the isolation I felt. I felt alone in my convictions and this required trust. In order to follow Jesus, I would become isolated as I was an outlier following someone else’s plan for my life other than my own. I share all of this because it may be similar to your story on campus. You too find yourself in a sorority/fraternity, a friend group, etc. and feel isolated as you try and follow Jesus. But I hope as I share the rest of this sermon tonight, you’ll find great comfort. If you just take a look around you - you are not alone. There are others pursuing this selfless, fearless, and trusting life with Jesus. If you’re not a Christian here tonight, you may be wondering how this all would apply to you then. Well my hope is that you may hear these words and consider the cost of identifying with Jesus, but see the great joy in it as well.
In the past few weeks I’ve spoken about the christian story. I’ve shared the main idea, the main character, theme, our place in the story. I’ve done this in hopes of sharing how it all points to the Kingdom of God, which is the focus of our teaching this semester as we discover what God’s Kingdom means for you, me, and for campus. This all really important to understand and I am glad you all have been coming each Monday to learn more.
I believe that as we understand the Christian story and answer this question about God’s Kingdom, we will grow and become equipped to share the love of Christ at the University of Richmond. That’s what we’re all here for right? We want to deepen our own commitment to Christ so that we might be the light of the Kingdom on campus.
Last week, I spoke about our identity as adopted sons and daughters of God and that ultimately we are Beloved children. We are loved. That is our identity in Christ, which is answering the part of our vision to have you all ‘find your identity in Christ’. The next part of our vision for Redeemer College Fellowship is ‘finding our call to Christ’. Let’s jump in there. What is our call to Christ? What is our role in God’s Kingdom?
Let’s listen to Jesus here from his words in Luke. What does He have to say about the call to Himself?
Read Luke 9:23-27
This passage fits within the context of one of Jesus’ greatest miracles. The feeding of the 5000. He takes the lunchbox of a schoolboy and turns into a feast. Then right after our passage, Jesus takes Peter, John, & James to the top of a mountain where they see the glory of Jesus as He is surrounded by Moses and Elijah. These were two of the most magnificent events in all of the New Testament. So we should be careful to notice what Jesus has to say right in between them.
Even more so, understanding this context can show you the fullness of Jesus and what He is saying. He’s not just a guy holding people to a high standard, he’s also inviting serving people abundantly and inviting them into his glory and splendor.
This helps us understand his words, and from our passage tonight we find these three points. First, it’s difficult to identify with Jesus. Second, when we lose our lives we gain life. Third, we will see the Kingdom of God.
First. What makes it so hard to identify with Jesus? You may be thinking, ‘I thought it was easy to find our identity in Christ when we’re called Beloved’. This is true! But, His call and invitation and to as sons and daughters is this - if you identify with me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me. I think Jesus strikes really close to the human heart here. He is naming some of the deepest struggles and deepest sins of our existence. Deny yourself. In order to identify with Jesus, we must become selfless and give up our preferences for the preferences of others. Take up your cross. We have to be willing to be unsafe and uncomfortable. In this context, the cross meant dying a humiliating death at the hands of the Romans. We have to give up our fears about suffering, even to death. We have to become fearless. Follow me. We have to give up control. We have to be willing to trust someone other than ourselves. In identifying with Jesus, we go against our innate human tendencies. Our selfishness, fear, and control - all will be challenged.
Second, when we lose our lives we gain life. Jesus goes on to say that if we submit to selfishness, fear, and control we will lose our lives. They won’t matter. We will be disappointed, dissatisfied and will not gain eternal life. But mysteriously he says this - If we lose our lives. We will gain our lives. He goes on to solidify His point, asking - what would it benefit you to choose the desires of life here and now over the eternal life He offers?
This is an invitation that goes beyond fear and selfishness. This is an invitation that defines our call to Christ and our role in the Kingdom of God. Jesus asks us to lose our life. For the sake of God and for others. In this decision to lose our life, we somehow mysteriously gain our lives, we gain eternal life. I shared earlier when I realized that this was my call and role as I came back to campus - Jesus invited me to become selfless, fearless, and trusting. Friends, we were created and redeemed for this role. We were meant to live selfless lives of trust to God and service to others. That’s what we gain when we lose our life.
Lastly, we will see the Kingdom of God. Now this statement of Jesus, it specifically referencing the transfiguration in the next passage when Peter, John, and James witness the glory of Jesus. However, it also reveals the reality of our lives when we choose to answer the call. When we accept and embody our call to Christ - our role in the Kingdom of God is solidified. Then we catch a glimpse, taste of the Kingdom of God here and now. You may ask what this will look like. It will be your friends and roommates beginning to follow Jesus. It will be the culture of campus changing to reflect God’s love and reconciliation instead of tribalism. It will be Christians living in community together and setting a high standard for hospitality and holiness. That’s what it will look like. We were saved for the world, therefore we lose our lives in hopes that we can partake in God’s redemptive work in it. More specifically, you are all called to lose your lives, and follow Jesus on the University of Richmond campus. Then, you will see the Kingdom of God!
Over all this the question looms. Is it worth it? If you’re a finance or business major, you may be asking is it a good investment to follow Jesus? Sounds risky. Will I really see the Kingdom of God? Will I really gain life? Most of the culture around us is saying - there is nothing to be gained by being selfless and trusting God. We need to trust ourselves, consider what we need or want first, etc. If we trust God, we won’t be happy, he doesn’t have our best interest in mind. I’m sure many of you are either surrounded by this message as you gather around tables at d-hall or sit in your classrooms. Many are saying ‘you will live your best life by doing what’s best for you and you alone.’
Friends, we are invited by Jesus into a different calling. We can play a different role in the Kingdom of God. If we give up our lives, we will gain eternal life as we identify with and follow Jesus. If we make this decision, we will see the Kingdom of God.
Lord, will you give us the peace to know it’s worth it? Will you, by the power of the Holy Spirit, transform our lives as we lose them? Lord, please, we want to see your Kingdom on our campus. Show us your glory as you did to Peter and John. We trust you Father, through Jesus Christ and the power of Holy Spirit, lead us. Amen.
