stephen R Harrison

“Lose My Life”

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, 

but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

-Luke 9:24

One of the ways we submit ourselves to Christ and become his disciples is by “denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following him” (Luke 9:23). In reality, these are in the perfect order. We will not take up our cross if we don’t deny ourselves first. What does it mean “to take up our cross”? In Luke 9:22, Jesus tells us, “He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” He would suffer many things on our behalf to bear our grief and sorrows and be pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our sins (Isaiah 53:4-5). Jesus suffered to bring us salvation and peace. He also said he would be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and the teachers of the law. Why would this happen? Why didn’t they receive him? The religious rulers would go to great lengths to end his ministry, seeing him as a threat to their own. He was despised and rejected by the Jews (Isaiah 53:3). 

Jesus wanted his closest disciples to know he would suffer and be killed, but he also wanted them to have hope that he would be raised to life. They would also face persecution and be killed, but because of his resurrection, they would also find reward in the end. Part of their responsibilities as disciples was to “take up their cross”. This wasn’t a pleasant thought, as the cross was an instrument of torture and death. To “take up their cross”, they must first deny themselves. This meant they no longer lived for their desires but that of Jesus. He would need to be the center of their lives. This gave them the proper perspective to take up their cross daily. If Jesus were persecuted, they would be as well (Matthew 5:10). Many would become martyrs (Revelation 6:9-11). This led to following Jesus. No matter what they faced, they were to live for Jesus because of his great example.

These actions, Jesus said, were “losing their lives” for him and “finding their lives” in him. In verse 24, we read, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” When we deny ourselves, we find what authentic living in him is all about. We don’t do this to earn God’s favor. It is from a transformed life by the grace of God through salvation in faith that we now live a selfless life. He reveals what authentic living is all about – living for Him in all ways! If we want to save the kind of life that doesn’t resemble Christ, we can, but it will be short-lived. Worldly living is temporary and unfulfilling. It will fade away. But living for Christ is practicing for eternity with him. If we “lose our life for him”, we will be saved in him. This is humbling ourselves, asking Christ to save us. We are then to live entirely for him. After all, “what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?” (v. 25). 

Questions: 

In what ways do you need to deny yourself?

What does it mean to take up your cross?

How do you need to follow Christ?

Prayer:

Jesus, teach us to deny ourselves. Thank you for submitting yourself to the Father’s will and dying for us on the cross. We take up the cross of Christ daily, remembering your sacrifice, which now calls us to follow you for the rest of our lives. We gladly lost our former lives and found new ones in you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Read: 

Luke 9:21-27

Action Step:

In the three columns below, describe how you deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus.

Deny Self	Take up Cross	Follow Jesus