WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:06.320 Being a follower of Jesus, being a disciple, it is a big thing. 00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:26.879 The American Christian writer Rosaria Butterfield, when she became a disciple, when the Spirit of God brought her from sin and unbelief and immorality and idolatry to a life of trusting and obeying Jesus, she writes that it turned her life into comprehensive chaos. 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:31.519 Following Jesus was a big thing for her. 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:38.320 It cost most of her relationships, her job and her career, respectability in her community. 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:43.200 It destroyed her identity and then remade her. 00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:46.159 It's a big thing to be a disciple. 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:47.520 Jesus says, doesn't he? 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:55.119 Mark 8.34, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:01.840 Following Jesus is the best of all lives. 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:04.319 We want to say that a million times over. 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:07.519 Following Jesus is the best of all lives. 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:09.680 But it is a big thing. 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:14.159 Jesus says you need to deny yourself. 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:18.640 We're working through Mark chapters 8, 9, and 10. 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:27.840 The Lord Jesus, he's on the road to Jerusalem where he will die, and as he walked, he taught about what it means to be a disciple. 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:37.120 And here in our passage today, Mark 10, verses 1 to 31, he teaches us about what it means to deny ourselves. 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:48.959 That's what we hear as we listen into Jesus talk with four different people: the Pharisees, the disciples, a good man, and lastly, Peter. 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:52.319 And each of these conversations shows us this. 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:56.319 We cannot dial down the cost of following Jesus. 00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:00.879 We cannot turn down what it means to deny yourself. 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:05.200 But we'll see that in the end it is infinitely worth it. 00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:08.080 So let me pray and then I'll read God's word. 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:13.439 Heavenly Father, we need you to do this word in us. 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:18.639 We want to hear the voice of Jesus clearly and deeply. 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:27.759 We ask that your Holy Spirit would apply your word to us, that for the first time or the umpteenth time we would deny ourselves and follow him. 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:30.080 And we pray in Jesus' name. 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:31.039 Amen. 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:38.159 So let's listen to the word of God, Mark chapter ten, beginning at verse one. 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:46.080 And Jesus left there, and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:49.280 And again, as was his custom, he taught them. 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:56.800 And Pharisees came up, and in order to test him asked, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? 00:02:57.039 --> 00:02:59.439 He answered them, What did Moses command you? 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:05.199 They said, Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away. 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:11.919 And Jesus said to them, Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:23.599 But from the beginning God made them male and female, therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:26.719 So they are no longer two but one flesh. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:32.319 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:43.199 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter, and he said to them, Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:48.400 And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery. 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:55.039 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 00:03:55.280 --> 00:04:04.479 But when Jesus saw it he was indignant and said to them, Let the children come to me, do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:10.639 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:14.560 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:23.759 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:27.040 And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:29.040 No one is good except God alone. 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:38.000 You know the commandments do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honour your father and mother. 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:43.120 And he said to him, Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:57.920 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, You lack one thing go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come follow me. 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:05.199 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:12.079 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:14.800 And the disciples were amazed at his words. 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:20.160 But Jesus said to them again, Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God. 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:27.040 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:32.319 And they were exceedingly astonished and said to him, Then who can be saved? 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:41.040 Jesus looked at them and said, With man it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God. 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:47.839 Peter began to say to him, See, we have left everything and followed you. 00:05:48.480 --> 00:06:14.000 Jesus said, Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:19.360 But many who are first will be last, and the last first. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:24.639 Well, thanks be to God for his word to us. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:32.240 Jesus' first conversation in our passage, he's talking with the Pharisees, and the topic is divorce. 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:37.360 Now, how do you feel when people bend the rules? 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:42.720 Maybe at monopoly, or on the football field, or in life? 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:51.519 Well, here come the Pharisees, the Jewish leaders back in Bible times, and we read that they came to test Jesus. 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:56.720 That's the same word used of Satan's activity back in Mark chapter 1, verse 13. 00:06:56.879 --> 00:07:01.120 These people are on Satan's team, and they come with this question in verse 2. 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:04.879 Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:07.199 Is it okay to get divorced? 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:10.639 Now what a question to ask. 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:11.759 Marriage. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:18.160 Is there a get out clause that we can use and still have God's smile, God's approval? 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:22.079 To which Jesus says, Well, what did Moses command? 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:26.639 They reply, He allowed us to divorce and send her away. 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:28.800 Interesting choice of words. 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:32.240 And then Jesus preaches to them. 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:42.879 He warns them that that provision in the Old Testament law, it was written with you in mind, you people, because of your hardness of heart. 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:44.480 That's what he says in verse 5. 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:47.680 Because you have hard hearts. 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:52.240 There was a provision for divorce in the Old Testament law. 00:07:52.399 --> 00:07:57.839 Really, it was there to protect women, to stop them being the victims of a quick and easy divorce. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:14.720 That law, says Jesus, it only existed because of people like you, because of your hard hearts, your selfish hearts, your hearts which would not deny self but wanted to serve self, which would not let in the word and the spirit of God. 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:22.319 They want to know about divorce, they want to know get-out clauses, they want to bend the rules. 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:26.160 But Jesus wants to teach them about marriage. 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:32.799 And Jesus upholds this very, very, very high standard of God's law. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:37.919 It is a standard that requires us to deny self. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:41.519 And he takes us back to creation to explain this. 00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:46.960 The Genesis chapter 2, he says, Well, man and woman, God made them. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:49.600 We're created, we don't form ourselves. 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:52.159 He made us male and female. 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:53.840 We are equal but different. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:59.679 There are glories about men and about women that are distinct and which cannot be exchanged. 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:08.399 And Jesus says, Therefore, a man shall leave and cleave to his wife and become one flesh. 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:16.639 So because of these differences between men and women, they can come together in this particular relationship, they can become one. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:19.519 And this union, it is formed by God. 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:23.200 What therefore God has joined together. 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:29.440 So God's vision for marriage, it is very high and very precious, and it is good. 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:34.159 We're not told what the Pharisees said or thought. 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:48.559 But then in private conversation with disciples later on in the house, stopping on the road somewhere for a meal or overnight, verses 11 and 12, Jesus shows to them the horror of divorce. 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:54.240 An illegitimate divorce followed by remarriage equals adultery. 00:09:54.559 --> 00:09:56.799 He takes us to the Ten Commandments. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:07.759 Yes, there are some circumstances in which a Christian can legitimately divorce, in which a Christian can act as though their spouse is dead, and they are therefore free. 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:11.840 So Matthew 19 and 1 Corinthians 7 help us there. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.919 But Jesus' words are clear. 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:19.360 The spirit of the Pharisee, the casual and the easy divorce, he hates it. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:24.000 Now these words of Jesus, they're quite hard to hear, aren't they? 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:30.159 Jesus does not say to us, here is a Christian ideal, but don't worry too much if you fall short. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:31.759 He doesn't say that. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:37.519 Rather, he shows that the Lord wants us to deny ourselves. 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:44.080 And especially in this most central, precious, important relationship, marriage. 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:46.799 Denying self, following Jesus. 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:48.320 It is a big deal. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:55.200 And he shows us here that Jesus' followers don't seek to bend God's law in order to please themselves. 00:10:55.440 --> 00:11:01.919 That was the heart of the Pharisee, the hard heart of the Pharisee, when they come and say, Is it lawful to divorce? 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:03.600 How little can I obey? 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:06.559 How much can I indulge myself? 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:10.960 How can I bend the law of the Lord to my own advantage? 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:15.440 But you cannot have Christ and live for yourself. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:17.200 And so we're challenged. 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:24.159 Will we let the Word of God rule in our personal relationships, whatever life situation we're in? 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:32.799 With Christ's forgiveness and the Holy Spirit's help, will we repent, believe, and deny ourselves? 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:34.720 It's a really big deal, isn't it? 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:44.480 Things like marriage and sex and faithfulness and singleness and our desires and our bodies. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:49.120 We're called here to pursue Christ and deny self. 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:51.279 That's the way of the disciple. 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:57.600 The second conversation in our passage, that's chapter 10, verses 13 to 16. 00:11:57.759 --> 00:12:03.200 Here Jesus is talking with his disciples, and the topic here is children. 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:10.080 And we learn here that not just the Pharisees, but the disciples have a serious heart problem. 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:12.080 So here's what was going on. 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:14.639 Some parents were bringing children to Jesus. 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:19.679 The Lord Jesus loves children, and evidently children loved him. 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:26.960 Now these children they were helpless, they could not do things, they had to be brought by their parents. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:30.000 Not just helpless, but lowly. 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:36.879 Back in Jesus' day, children were not held in the sentimental way that we often view children. 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:40.000 They were statusless and they were helpless. 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:45.679 But end of verse 13, we see that the disciples rebuked them. 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:55.759 It's as if they said, Don't waste Jesus' time with these people who are lowly, who are helpless, who are worthless. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:13:00.879 We, the disciples, we will be with Jesus, but not that sort of person. 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:05.759 It's a really horrible thing to say, and a horrible attitude that's revealed in their words. 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:10.639 And Jesus' response, indignation, it's righteous anger. 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:19.279 And his anger here, not at a hypocritical Pharisee, he's angry with his disciples because this matters so much. 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:22.559 And the really grievous problem in their words. 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:30.159 Well, it's this idea that some people deserve God more and some people deserve God less. 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:31.919 It's actually a blasphemy. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:44.720 And Jesus wants his followers to know that disciples do not enter the kingdom because they deserve it. 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:52.639 Might we ever think to ourselves that there are some people who are further away from Jesus, embrace and welcome? 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:59.840 Or people like me deserve to be nearer to Jesus' embrace and welcome. 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:02.159 Or Jesus blows that out of the water. 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:06.159 Bottom line, disciples are undeserving. 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:08.799 Disciples are undeserving. 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:11.919 So here are these parents. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:29.200 To these actual children, the kingdom of God is theirs. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:31.360 God welcomes them. 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:38.720 Now, if anyone should doubt that a child, even a little child, can be a Christian, verse 14 should correct that misunderstanding. 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:46.240 And just to make it really clear, the Son of God, he takes them in his arms and he blesses them. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:52.480 Our gracious God, he welcomes the most helpless and the lowly. 00:14:53.440 --> 00:15:14.879 So, disciple of Jesus, would be disciple of Jesus, we must be like these little children, in that when we come to Jesus, we bring him no merits, no gifts, no abilities, no status to earn our place in his embrace. 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:25.360 The third conversation, chapter 10, verses 17 to 25, as Jesus was setting out on his journey, he meets a good man. 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:29.039 And the topic here is wealth. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:30.720 Have a look at verse 17. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:37.600 This man he runs up, he kneels before Jesus and asks the best question in the whole world that you could ask. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:41.039 What must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:44.240 True life, life with God, how do I get it? 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:48.240 Sometimes preachers wrongly criticize this man. 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:53.360 The thinking goes like this He comes and says, What must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:57.840 And folk imagine that he's trying to earn salvation by obeying the law. 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:04.320 But Jesus does not say in response, stop trying to keep the law. 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:11.440 So the issue is not works or effort, actually, the issue was idolatry. 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:14.639 That's what Jesus wants to expose, false worship. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:19.600 And Jesus exposes his false worship just in one single sentence. 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:21.279 It's in verse 21. 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:33.519 He looks at this man, he loves him, and he says to him, You lack one thing, sell all you have, give to the poor, and then you'll have treasure in heaven. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:36.720 And come, follow me. 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:40.480 This was a good man. 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:42.240 He tried to keep God's law. 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:44.879 Jesus lists some of the Ten Commandments here. 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:50.159 Jesus loved him, and yet this man walked away from Jesus. 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:57.519 He had the Savior right in front of him, showing him the road to life with God, and he walked away. 00:16:57.759 --> 00:17:04.799 Given the choice between Jesus and his possessions, he chose possessions. 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:07.119 And that reveals something about him. 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:09.920 His keeping of the law was only partial. 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:14.559 Ten commandments that Jesus doesn't mention directly here. 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:15.279 Just think about them. 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:16.559 Did you spot them? 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:20.880 Have no other gods, have no idols. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:25.039 We're to worship Jesus alone with heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:27.279 But this man has another God. 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:31.039 He bows down before an idol. 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:32.480 Doesn't realize it. 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:38.480 Like our friends who aren't Christians, they all worship, we all worship and adore something. 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:43.519 And for this man, his God was wealth. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:46.480 And the clue was he couldn't walk away from it. 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:52.480 He refused to deny himself, and so he cannot follow Jesus. 00:17:52.640 --> 00:18:00.079 And Jesus' followers need to know that we cannot have eternal life and our idols. 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:05.200 The Lord Jesus, he wants all of our hearts, all of our loves, all of our affections. 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:07.279 He won't be too timed. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:13.920 I can't say I worship Jesus and I worship my wealth. 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.799 And he turns to the disciples. 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:25.680 He says to them, it's difficult, it's difficult, actually, it's impossible for a rich person to enter the kingdom. 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:31.119 You could more easily get a camel through the eye of a needle. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:39.920 I wonder what you think you would need to do to get a camel through the eye of a needle. 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:41.759 We could ask our children that, couldn't we? 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:46.079 Maybe we'd need a giant camel-sized blender and a funnel. 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:48.240 It's a ridiculous thought, isn't it? 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:49.680 We're not meant to try this thing. 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:51.359 It's absurd, it's impossible. 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.799 And that's the point. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:56.960 Money is deceitful. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:58.720 It tells lies. 00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:00.480 It is a subtle God. 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:03.200 It's not the only idol that can grip us. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:06.960 There are plenty of other false gods that take our hearts. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:11.200 But wealth and possessions, they are very gripping. 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:20.640 They say to us, hold on to control of your bank balance, hold on to your career, even if it means you have to walk away from Jesus. 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:27.359 That leads to the disciples' question in verse 26. 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:29.759 Then who can be saved? 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:36.400 Now I want us to stand back for a moment, put ourselves into the disciples' shoes and think about that question. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:37.839 Then who can be saved? 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:39.920 Why are they so surprised? 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:48.400 Well, Jesus says you have to deny yourself and take up your cross and follow him. 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:58.240 But even this good man who seems blessed by God cannot and will not follow Jesus. 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:04.000 So if he can't and won't do it, who can be saved? 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:12.319 And we might feel the need to ask that question very personally ourselves. 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:15.200 I want to follow Jesus. 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:19.519 But like the Pharisees, sometimes I want to bend God's word. 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:23.680 Like the disciples, I sometimes feel deserving. 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:28.880 Like the rich man, I have things in my heart and my life that I love too much. 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:30.640 I want to love them less. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:35.119 I want to deny myself, but I find it very hard. 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:38.240 Sometimes it feels impossible. 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:50.319 So if denying self is a critical response to Jesus, and if a failure to deny yourself, it keeps people out of the kingdom, well, who can be saved? 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:58.400 That is the disciples' very good question in verse 26, to which Jesus gives a wonderful and the only answer. 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:00.000 It's verse 27. 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:04.960 With man it is impossible. 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.720 Completely impossible. 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:14.559 With man it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:34.799 And then in the last part of our reading, in verses 26 to 31, Jesus talks to his disciples and then to Peter specifically about self-denial and loss. 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:38.559 Just think for a moment about things that are impossible. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:41.200 You cannot fly unaided to the moon. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:44.079 You cannot run 100 meters in a second. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:48.799 Those things are much easier, though, than this. 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:58.240 What is impossible for man, it is impossible for us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus. 00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:05.200 It is impossible for any person to do that, deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Jesus. 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:09.200 It is much easier to run 100 meters in one second. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:16.799 But that thing that is impossible for us, it is possible for the Lord. 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:20.559 The Lord can do that thing in us. 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:27.519 And here's the wonderful point: God enables self-denial. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:31.440 God enables self-denial. 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:34.640 We have such a wonderful Savior. 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:38.079 He accomplishes redemption. 00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:41.440 That is, he dies and he rises. 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:43.759 He does something for us. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:45.359 But that is not all. 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:48.960 He also applies redemption to us. 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:56.640 He takes the wonderful riches and fruits of his dying and rising and applies them to us. 00:22:56.799 --> 00:23:06.960 As long as those things remain outside of us, as long as we remain separate from Christ, all the blessings of salvation are useless to us. 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:11.920 But Jesus does not just do something for us, he also does something in us. 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:18.480 He comes to us and through his Holy Spirit He changes hearts. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:24.720 The Christian is someone with a new heart, with new desires, with new abilities. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:31.359 A Christian is someone who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can deny themselves. 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:40.960 Not yet perfect, still tainted with sin, but the Lord Jesus enables us to deny ourselves. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:44.720 He enables us to be not like the Pharisee. 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:49.039 He helps us to obey God's law even when it's hard. 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:58.559 He enables us to be not like the disciples here and to know and feel that I am as undeserving as the next person. 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:06.160 And really wonderfully, he helps me to be not like that rich man. 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:10.319 He helps me to give up my idols. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:13.039 It's a wonderful thought that. 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:46.880 If you have given up for Jesus, then you will receive from Jesus. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:49.119 Yes, there will be persecutions. 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:58.319 No, this is not an automatic promise of a massive bank account, but it is a promise of blessing now. 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:08.400 No Christian will ever be able to say to Jesus, I've denied myself and followed me, and you now owe me because of what I've had to give up. 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:16.960 No Christian will ever be able to say to Jesus, actually, Jesus, I have lost out because I follow you. 00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:22.640 I've been talking with a few folks after church recently just about this. 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:28.799 It's so easy to think that following Jesus seriously means that you lose. 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:34.000 You're denying yourself it's the right thing to do, but you lose. 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:44.400 Maybe it's pursuing relationships in a godly way, saying no to divorce, not following through on the lusts of our hearts, and it feels like you lose. 00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:54.880 Or giving up on a sense of entitlement, knowing my undeservingness, identifying with those who the world thinks of as lowly. 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:56.880 It feels like I'm losing. 00:26:57.200 --> 00:27:00.400 Or sacrificing those idols of our hearts. 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:03.839 Maybe it is wealth and possessions. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:09.839 You decide to live light to the stuff of this world, and it feels like you're losing. 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:19.759 But Jesus says actually there is blessing because Jesus gives. 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:25.759 If you have given up for Jesus, you will receive from him. 00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:35.200 When we read these last verses, we can see where that blessing is to be found. 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:41.200 Yeah, where this blessing is that disciples will receive now, in this time. 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:43.359 That's what he says in verse 30, isn't it? 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:48.079 These houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:52.400 And the answer is in the Christian community. 00:27:53.039 --> 00:28:06.000 In the family of God, the disciples should have hundreds of houses, or as many houses as there are in your church, family members, plenty of food, fellowship, love, provision. 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:10.160 It is a rich and wonderful reality. 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:17.039 And the point is this when you sacrifice for Jesus, we will receive from him. 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:19.680 Let me pray. 00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:36.720 Dear Lord, we are tempted to be first. 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:39.359 We are tempted to serve ourselves. 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:45.440 We are tempted to be half-hearted at best in our denying of ourselves. 00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:48.400 We crave forgiveness and mercy. 00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:52.480 We thank you that with you all things are possible. 00:28:52.720 --> 00:29:08.160 We thank you for our Saviour who has done something for us in dying and rising, but also is doing something in us, subduing our sinful nature, helping us to repent, believe, and deny ourselves. 00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:15.359 We pray that this word about discipleship would be increasingly true for your church here. 00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:20.720 Would you do this word deeply in us for Jesus' name's sake? 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:21.680 Amen.