Day 29: Jesus calls us to come and die
Today, a lot of people wear crosses around their necks, like jewelry. But in Jesus’ day, no one would have dreamed of doing that. The cross was the most terrible instrument of torture—the worst way anyone could imagine dying! The Romans crucified people in public, to show everyone what would happen to anyone who stood up against the power of Rome. In our passage today, we’ll see that Jesus didn’t just predict that He would die. He predicted He’d be crucified. What’s more, He called His followers to die that way too.
What two groups of people is Jesus talking to at the beginning of verse 34?
In verse 34, Jesus says anyone who wants to follow Him must do three things. Write them down below:
1. deny
2. take up
3. follow
People who were going to be crucified were forced to carry their own crosses on the way to the place where they’d be killed. Jesus literally took up a cross and died for us, and many Christians around the world today live in countries where they could be killed for following Jesus.
In smaller ways, how might we suffer for sharing the gospel with people at school, in our neighborhood, or in our family?
What does Jesus say to His disciples and the crowd in verse 35?
Jesus claims that anyone who loses their life for His sake will find it. How is that more evidence that God’s kingdom turns everything upside down and inside out?
What question does Jesus ask in verse 36?
“Forfeit” means lose. So, Jesus is asking, “What’s the point of getting everything you want but losing your soul?” If we don’t put our trust in Jesus, we might get everything we want in this life—like money, success, an amazing husband or wife, a loving family, fame, or beauty—but in the end, we’ll face God’s judgment for our sin.
What question does Jesus ask in verse 37?
There’s nothing we could give in exchange for our soul, but Jesus gave His own life in exchange for ours when He died on the cross! He paid the price for us, so we could live eternally with Him!
How do you feel, knowing that Jesus gave His life for you?
What warning does Jesus give in verse 38?
Why might we be ashamed of following Jesus in front of our friends?
What prediction does Jesus make in chapter 9, verse 1?
Some experts think Jesus was talking about a revelation of His glory (we’ll read about that tomorrow). Others think Jesus meant His resurrection, which proved He really is God’s promised King, or the day God poured out His Spirit on His disciples (Acts 2). Still others think Jesus was talking about the final judgment day when He will come back to earth. We don’t know exactly what Jesus meant, but we do know that His kingdom has already started and that one day He will come to rule forevermore.
Thank God that Jesus died for you. Ask Him to help you follow Jesus, even when it’s really hard—like when you lose friends for being a Christian or miss out on things you really want. Pray that Jesus would help you believe His promise that whoever loses their life for Him will find it.