What It Really Means to Follow Jesus - [Matthew 16:24-27]

Jesus doesn’t recruit fans. He calls disciples. That difference changes everything, especially when we let Matthew 16:24–27 speak for itself: deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him.

We walk slowly through what Christian discipleship actually means, not as a church slogan but as a daily commitment to become more like Christ in the way we think, live, love, serve, and surrender. We talk about why “must” matters, how self-denial goes beyond giving up a few comforts, and why taking up your cross is about willing identification with Jesus even when it brings shame, criticism, or misunderstanding. Along the way, we draw from stories and examples that sharpen the point, including Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s costly faithfulness and C.T. Studd’s picture of full-life surrender.

Jesus also turns our instincts upside down: trying to save your life can be the fastest way to lose it, while losing your life for Christ is where real life is found. We sit with the promise that Jesus will return in glory, evaluate how we used what God entrusted to us, and reward what was done in faith. That eternal perspective reframes success, ambition, and what we chase day to day.

If you’re ready to take an honest look at the cost of discipleship and the hope on the other side of surrender, press play, then subscribe, share, and leave a review. What is one area of your life Jesus is asking you to trust Him with fully?

Transcript

What A Disciple Really Means

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Do we really understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus? Christian discipleship is about becoming more like Christ in the way we think, live, love, serve, and surrender. In Matthew 16, 24 to 27, Jesus clearly reveals both the cause and the reward of following Him. First, we must be willing to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. Second, we must be willing to lose our lives for His sake, surrendering our own desires, ambitions, and control. Third, Jesus promises that he will return in glory and reward each person according to what they have done. Stay with me as we walk through this passage, reflect on its meaning and take its message to heart so that we may truly live as disciples of Jesus. Imagine being so touched by the everlasting love of the one true God, Jesus, that you become his disciple. In Matthew 16, 24, Jesus explains that the person who becomes a disciple of Jesus wishes to follow his instructions and enters into fellowship with him. Jesus then proceeded to detail the three conditions of discipleship.

Denying Self As A Must

SPEAKER_00 1:44

First, the disciples of Jesus must deny themselves. The use of the word must indicates that denying ourselves is a mandatory aspect of discipleship. We practice self-denial when we occasionally give up things or activities. However, we deny self when we surrender ourselves to Christ and determine to obey his will. On the day of his death, Bonhoeffer was stripped naked, just as Jesus was and led to the execution site. Before Bonhoeffer was taken outside, he knelt prayerfully and committed all his ways to God. The doctor who was present stated that in 50 years as a doctor, he never saw anyone so humbly submit themselves to God as they face death.

Taking Up The Cross

SPEAKER_00 2:54

Second, the disciple of Christ must take up their cross. In the course of discipleship, German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer declares that when Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. The cross is a symbol of death. When Jesus says that we are to take up our cross, he's saying that we are to live as dead men. Prior to being crucified, it was a custom for the condemned person to carry his own cross through the streets of the town. People laugh at, mock, and scorn these miscreants. Death by crucifixion was reserved for the worst criminals, slaves, and robbers. The Jews did not allow crucifixion to take place in Jerusalem as such persons were considered to be too filthy to die within the city walls. The Apostle Paul urges the believer in Hebrews 13:13 to likewise go outside the camp and bear the disgrace that Jesus bore. The cross does not refer to the common sufferings experienced in life. The cross speaks about the shame and suffering which the disciple assumes because of his relationship to Jesus. The believer does not take up a new cross each day. Rather, the willingness to accept their cross is a daily characteristic of Jesus' disciples.

Following Jesus Daily

SPEAKER_00 4:35

Third, the disciple must follow Jesus. The Greek word that is used here for to follow means to take the same road as another does. In Bible times, the streets were so narrow that if two people went together, they had to go single file. To follow after a person was to go with them wherever they were going. The word follow is in the present tense, which means it is a continuous, ongoing action. In Mark 1, 16 to 20, Jesus called to Simon, Andrew, James, and John with the words follow me. As Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to be crucified, he issued the same call, follow me. We can only follow Jesus as we are supernaturally enabled to do so daily by the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to suffer and die for the sin of the world. As we follow Jesus, we discern that suffering is the essence of discipleship. Are we willing to pay the price to truly be Jesus' disciples? Following Jesus often means facing misunderstanding even from within the church as the Apostle Paul experienced. The Apostle Paul wrote 14 of the 27 books of the New Testament. However, after he left Galia, some false prophets showed up to disparage him. These false prophets alleged that the apostles at Jerusalem possessed the most elevated rank and the highest authority in the Christian church. As these Jerusalem-based apostles had been with Jesus, they were to be regarded as the fountains and the judges of the truth. Paul was therefore inferior to these Jerusalem-based apostles. These false prophets asserted that they knew more than the Apostle Paul as they were sustained by the authority and the examples of the apostles at Jerusalem. Let us reflect on the truth that following Jesus means enduring criticism, opposition, and misunderstanding. Christian history tells of City Stud, who served as a missionary in China, India, and Africa. At the age of 50, despite suffering from chronic asthma and enduring multiple bulbs of malaria, he traveled to the remote Belgium Congo. He spent the last 18 years of his life blazing trails and preaching the gospel in unevangelized areas. F.B. Meyer once shared a room with City Stud. Mayor woke up one morning at seven and saw City Stud reading by the light of a flickering candle. How long have you been up, Charlie? asked Mayor. He replied, since four o'clock. What on earth have you been doing for three hours? Stud answered, I've been going through the New Testament afresh in the light of the command of my Savior. If you love me, keep my commandments, and I have been checking off every commandment that I've obeyed. Mayor asks, How can I be like you? Stud pointed out the need to be fully surrendered to Christ in every area of life. It was then that Mayor realized that he had handed over every key of his life except one, his ability to preach. Stud reminded him, if you don't trust the Lord in all, you don't trust him at all. Are we willing to trust God in every area of our lives?

Losing Your Life To Find It

SPEAKER_00 8:50

As children, many of us heard the phrase, find us keepers, losers weepers, but Jesus turns that thinking upside down. In his kingdom, the one who tries to save his life loses it, and the one who loses his life for Christ finds it. In Matthew 16, 25 to 26, Jesus explains that the person who grasps at this temporary fleet in life and world will wind up losing out on eternal life. David Gusick stated that we'll never live until we first walk to our death with Jesus. We don't lose a seed when we plant it. Instead, we set the seed free to be what it was always intended to be. In the days when pirates roamed the seas in order to save gold, silver, and valuables, the captain and passengers would, when pursued by pirates, throw these riches overboard where they would be able to find them again. The true disciple is willing to pay whatever price faithfulness to the Lord requires. The price may mean suffering martyrdom as Paul did, or enjoying physical exhaustion and illness in Christ's service as Oswald Chambers did. After a life of tremendous sacrifice, Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary to China, solemnly declared that he had never made a sacrifice. Surrendering everything to Jesus involves a willingness to abandon personal resources, health, safety, security, friends, job, and even life. Are we willing to pay the cost of discipleship? In Isaiah 6, Isaiah details that in the year that King Uzziah died, he saw the Lord. After recognizing his unrighteousness and being cleansed, Isaiah heard the call of the Lord. Isaiah then enthusiastically responded, Here am I, send me. Isaiah then proceeded to prophesy for more than 40 years. Isaiah is a preeminent prophet of the major prophets. In length, the book of Isaiah is second only to Psalms, which has multiple authors. The New Testament contains more than 400 references to Isaiah. What if God is longing for us to respond to his call? Precept Austin tells the story of a plantation slave in the Old South, who was always happy and singing. No matter what happened to him, his joy was always abounding. One day his master asks him, What have you got that makes you so happy? The slave replied, I love the Lord Jesus Christ. He has forgiven my sin and put a song in my heart. Well, how do I get what you have? His master asks. You go and put on your best Sunday suit and you come down here and work in the mud with us and you can have it, came the replied. I would never do that, the owner retorted indignantly as he rode off in a huff. Some weeks later the master asked the same question and was given the same answer. A few weeks later he came a third time and said, Now be straight with me. What do I have to do to have what you have? Just what I've told you the other times came the answer. In desperation, the owner said, Alright, I'll do it. Now you don't have to do it, the slave said. You only had to be willing. Let us reflect on the truth that it is not that the disciple of Jesus has to be a martyr, but that he is willing to be a martyr. Imagine having worked hard all day. At the end of the day, you go up to the paymaster to receive your wages. At the same time, the person next to you, who is slacking off all day, shows up expectantly as well.

Jesus Returns To Reward

SPEAKER_00 13:29

In Matthew 16, 27, Jesus tells us that he is going to come again. We will then be reviewed and evaluated for how we utilize the resources God has given us. We will then be rewarded appropriately. The famous evangelist George Whitfield once told of seeing some criminals riding in a cart on their way to the gallows. They were arguing about who should sit on the right hand of the cart. It seemed absurd that men who are about to die would be arguing about who should get the best seat in the cart. However, we are not much different. Life is fleeting and uncertain. Eternity is ahead. Yet we tend to devote ourselves to gaining position and possessions in this world with no thought of the world to come. Are we living for Jesus like all we have is today? Luke 16, 19-31 tells a chilling story of a rich man who lived a luxurious life while he was alive. Outside the gate of his mansion was a beggar Lazarus who was covered in sores. The dogs even came by to lick Lazarus' sores. Lazarus longed to eat what fell from the rich man's table. The beggar Lazarus died and angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died. While he was in torment in hell, he looked up and saw the beggar. He then asked Abraham to please send Lazarus with some water to relieve his agony. Abraham informed the rich man that there's nowhere to cross from heaven to hell or vice versa. Let us reflect on the truth that what we do here on earth affects where we will spend eternity. J. Oswald Sanders emphasizes that being successful by the standards of the world often fails to produce satisfaction. Henry Martin, a Cambridge University student, was honored at only 20 years of age for his achievement in mathematics. In fact, he was given the highest recognition possible in that field. Martin still felt an emptiness inside. After evaluating his life's goals, Martin sailed to India as a missionary at the age of 24. When he arrived, he prayed, Lord, let me burn out for you. In the next seven years before his death, he translated the New Testament into three difficult Eastern languages. What if Christ is calling on us to follow him wherever the road may lead?

Make The Rest Your Best

SPEAKER_00 16:43

We started by asking, do we really understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus? In this episode, we acknowledge the call of Jesus to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. We realize that discipleship is a daily commitment to becoming more like Christ. We determine to be willing to suffer for Jesus and to follow the example that Jesus set. Jesus fasted. Jesus spent time in prayer. Jesus was familiar with the scriptures. Jesus associated with those that other people scorned. Jesus constantly sought to bring others to know what the will of his Father was. Jesus was committed to doing the Father's will. Let us make the rest of our lives the best of our lives as we offer our lives as a living sacrifice to Jesus.

Prayer For Real Change

SPEAKER_00 17:45

Before you go, if this message spoke to you, like this podcast and subscribe so you don't miss what God is doing here at Catch on Fire Podcast. If you're ready for real change, take a moment right now to pray with me. Jesus, I give you my life. Lead me, forgive me, and make me new. If you pray that, welcome to the family. Follow along, stay connected, and let's walk this walk together. Demystify the Bible using the covenant story that's available at Amazon.com or the online course that can be found at Biblical DiscipleshipAcademy.uscreen.io Many people know the stories of the Bible, but few see the one story that connects them all. From creation to promise, from kingdom to Christ, scripture reveals one unified narrative of divine redemption. Discover the covenant story through a 10-volume series on Amazon or go deeper with the online course at the Biblical Discipleship Academy.uscreen.io. Start your journey today.

Declarations, Psalm 23, Benediction

SPEAKER_00 19:11

Please join me as we confess words of life over all of our lives. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are still holding on to God's unchanging hand. We are still in God's holy plan. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are living holy lives as God requires. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, giving clothes to those in need, ministering to the sick and visiting those in prison, and we are doing so to the least of those among us, as when we do so we are ministering to Jesus. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we have received healing, as by his stripes we are healed. From the crown of our head to the soles of our feet, all of our bodily organs are working correctly. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that God is ordering our steps, that all weapons that are formed against us have been utterly and completely destroyed, and every tongue that is rising against us in judgment is condemned. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that all generational curses are cancelled. Anything that runs in our ancestral bloodline that is not of God has no power over us, our children and our grandchildren, and is eliminated forever right now. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that angels are watching over and keeping our family, our children, our grandchildren, our loved ones safe. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that every negative word that has been and is being spoken over our lives and that of our family, children, grandchildren, and loved ones is cancelled and sent back to the pit from whence it came. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are the head and not the tail. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are not and will never be ashamed. Our enemies have not and never will triumph over us. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that anything that is not of God that has been dispatched to hinder our blessings, our progress, and our well being is immediately destroyed. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are financially in line with God's word. And as such, we are lenders and not borrowers. As a result, all of our debts have been paid and are forgiven. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus. That the enemy of our souls has no authority over our finances and our funds, and that we are good stewards of the money that God has placed in our keeping. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus in the area of business and our carriers, that just as Isaac reaped a hundredfold, the blessings of Abraham are falling on us, and we are reaping a hundredfold from whatever we put our hands to. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are living on an open heaven in every area of our lives. Blessings are falling on us, our family and our loved ones. These blessings are being manifested in our lives, in the spiritual and in the physical. Let's repeat the 23rd Psalm together. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restored my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen.