Like Jesus? Musts Or Maybes?

Introduction

Well, I could stand to sing all four verses of that song ahead and sing it again. That’s just a timeless hymn. Some wonderful sentiments that we have sung to God and to each other. Following him, I know I’m right. And that is so true. What does following him mean to many in the religious world today? I’ll tell you what it’s coming to mean more and more. And that’s a removal of the very essence and central nature of what it means to be a Christian. And we should not be surprised that this is what the devil is promoting in our time. I want to begin this morning with a question. Why must we carry a cross? That’s really a question that people are asking. Now they may not verbalize that out loud.

1. Must I Bear a Cross for Christ?

Really, is there something we could do about this cross thing and get it out of Christianity? But that’s really what people are thinking. Must I bear a cross for Christ? It’s interesting, immediately following Jesus’ identification of himself as the Christ to his disciples. That immediately following that in verse 31 of our text of Mark chapter 8, it says, And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must, and I would like to emphasize that word this morning, that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and after three days rise again. And Peter takes Jesus aside and says, Let me set you straight on that. You know, surely you don’t mean what you just said.

And Jesus has to rebuke Peter and say, get behind me, Satan, for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests but man’s. And so then he summons the multitude with his disciples and says to them, if anyone wishes, and anyone, that would include all of us and any follower of any generation of any time, if anyone wishes to come after me, okay, now this is a conditional statement. Let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. You can’t have Christianity without this. And this is the real struggle of people in our time and with us. These are Jesus’ conditions for discipleship when he says, let him deny himself and take up his cross. Not the cross that he’s going to bear personally for the sins of all mankind.

But we must bear our cross and follow him. Whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it. If you’re going to hold on inordinately to your days here, to your life here, ultimately you will still surrender that. But whoever loses his life for my sake. Regards one’s life here as something to be lived for him and whatever sacrifices to which that calls us, whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels, that’s the one who’s ultimately going to have it. They’re going to save it. And he says, Look, if you’re not willing to do that, if you think that cost is too high, I’m here to tell you that if you gained the whole world and yet lose your soul, what have you gained? What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his father with his holy angels. May we not be ashamed of the cross we’re called to bear of the Savior, his cross? I would point out that Mark 8 and verse 31 is repeated again in the next chapter of Mark. Mark 9.31. Do your own cross reference there. 8.31 and 9.31. Jesus spells it out very plainly. They still struggle to believe after Jesus’ resurrection, what he had told them plainly about what was coming. Okay. I want you to filter everything else that I say in the framework of Mark chapter 8. Now I want to go back to the very first thing that Jesus uttered that’s recorded in Scripture during his earthly ministry.

2. I Must Be About My Father's Business

Do you know what the first words uttered by Jesus recorded in Scripture were? It is also the very last occasion where we see the presence of his earthly father, Joseph. Remember when the caravan was heading home after a trip to Jerusalem and they find out that Jesus is not with them. And so they have to go back to Jerusalem looking for the missing boy. And what did he tell his parents? And he said to them, Why is it that you were looking for me? Did you not know that I had to be in my father’s house? I had to be about my father’s business. That’s an amazing statement for a 50-year-old. For a 40-year-old, much less a 12 year old. Jesus was 12 years old. This one statement, as Jesus is beginning to grow and develop in favor with God and men, wisdom and stature, and understanding his purpose here, the one recorded statement before his earthly public ministry is about to unfold at the age of 30.

The one statement that is recorded in Luke chapter 2 of his early life is this one. I had to be about. The King James version says, I must be about my father’s business. This was not an option. This is not a hobby. This was not merely to fill up his leisure hours. It was a necessity. It was burning desire. These words speak to self imposed pressure. He thrusts himself in this direction. This speaks to internal drive and self-expectation of the life that he must live. Okay. Here we talk about being like Jesus all the time. Talked about all the time in religious circles. Well, what does that mean exactly? Being like Jesus. Am I like Jesus? And am I like Jesus in regard to these determinations that he had?

3. What Do Our Spiritual Musts Look Like?

Is my spiritual life, is my view of my existence here, filled with musts like Jesus’ life was, or is it more about babies? Which is it with us? And what about our musts in comparison? What are your musts look like? What is your urgent list of musts? What is it comprised of? I must get up tomorrow morning. I must set the alarm and go to work. If I don’t do that, I will lose my job and the income that my family needs and I need to survive and thrive. And so, I, though I don’t want to, I must go to work tomorrow. I must pay my taxes. I don’t want to pay my taxes. But I must do it, or I’m going to get in trouble with the government, and I don’t want to do that.

Young people, I must get out of bed and go to school. However much I don’t want to, and if I stop getting out of bed as a young person, who’s about 16 or 17 years old, my parents might just say, you don’t have a place to live. You’re going to need to find your own place for your slothful self. And so I must get out of bed for a lot of reasons. Many times, our musts are motivated by the desire to avoid certain unpleasant results or consequences or trouble. Things that we might not do if it were not for this outside pressure. And I want you to think about that as we talk about these musts in terms of the outside pressure that others force upon us that cause us to do certain things rather than the internal drive that Jesus demonstrates during his ministry.

What do our spiritual musts look like? And I’ll tell you a lot of times it’s those negative things, those consequences that we know that we will reap if we don’t. Spiritual musts. Are they motivated simply by a desire to avoid the torment of hell? Or even to keep us from sin’s troubles after all, the way of the transgressor is hard. The wise writer says in Proverbs 13 and verse 15. I’ve said many times, our motivation should go beyond just these negative results. Our spiritual must should be motivated by our desire to honor and glorify God.

You said, perhaps at some point yesterday, I must worship with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s day. Well, what was the thinking behind that? Well, if I don’t, people are going to be inquiring about why I’m not here. I’m going to disappoint my family members who expect me to be there, or disappoint the preacher. It’s going to be noticed if I’m not there. Or was it something more than that? Was it, I want to come to this place to do what God has instructed me to do in this corporate and collective way, because just like in my individual life, I want to honor God. I want to glorify Him. This is the example of our Savior. More on that momentarily. Because I want to do this because I experience a sense of death.

I owe something to God. I am thankful to God for what He’s done. I have an immense gratitude for Him, and even more.

That is the most important consideration of my life. As the deer pants for the water brooks, David says, so my soul pants for thee, O God. Is that what our spiritual must look like? Are we indeed convinced, as we should be, that righteousness is a better way to live my life? We are recipients of exceeding precious and magnificent promises. It’s like the adjectives could not be enough. In 2 Peter chapter 1, when Peter is describing what we’re a part of as God’s people, he says, we have become partakers of the divine nature. What that means is that we’re imitating and being like God.

And we have to be convinced that’s a good thing, that’s the best thing. And not only is it elevating my circumstance and making me better, I’m pursuing these things spiritually because it helps others to be better. It’s not just a self-consideration, and it wasn’t with Jesus either. It was an others’ consideration. Just a cup of cold water in his name given may cause us not to lose our reward. Jesus says in Matthew 10 and verse 42, not just because I can offer you a cup one time you were thirsty. Here’s your drink, Robert. Boom, I’m done. I can retire smooth sailing all the way out spiritually from here. I gave Robert a cup of cold water. That’s not what he’s saying. It’s the mindset of a disciple that says, I want to assist other people and help them along, bearing one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ, Galatians 6 and verse 2.

4. Jesus' Musts: A Portrait of Determination

These are the spiritual musts that motivate everything. If our Christianity is to mean anything, and if we are indeed bearing our cross. Let’s look further at Jesus must. And all I can tell you is that what we’re going to see in the example of our Lord is a portrait of determination. The determination of Jesus to accomplish his task is revealed in a number of statements in his ministry. I want you to look in Luke chapter 4, beginning verses 42 and 43. Luke 4, 42 and 43. This is the very beginning of his ministry. And when day came, he departed and went to a lonely place, and the multitudes were searching for him and came to him and tried to keep him from going away from them.

And so that would have been nice to just, well, I’m just going to settle down here in Capernaum, find me a nice place beside the sea, and everybody’s going to come see me at my place. Let’s make this easy. You know, people don’t want me to go. And so I’ll just stay here by Capernaum and live it up in the lap of luxury. Got all the people coming to me, but it says, I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also. I must do this. For I was sent for this purpose. John chapter 4. And verse 4. Interesting verse. As Jesus is passing from the north of Galilee to Judea. It says, this little interesting statement that you might just pass over. Notice this.

And he had to pass through Samaria. Again, let me quote King James Version. He must needs pass through Samaria. And so the intent of that statement is even brought more vividly to us. Okay, so he’s going from Galilee to Judea. And if you were a self respecting Jew, how did you do that? Do you know? Most Jews would circumvent that evil place with those half-breed people, the Samaritans. They would circumvent and go around the other side of the Jordan River to go to Judea. This was the common Jews’ path from Galilee to Judea. Now, why must he needs pass through Samaria? Was the path too treacherous by the other route? No, it was the common route. Was it too far to go the other way? I mean, they went out of their way to avoid Samaria.

The interesting thing is that it was bitter prejudice that would keep a Jew from passing through Samaria. No Jew would have thought poorly of Jesus to take this more circuitous route. But instead, John chapter 4, Jesus must needs pass through Samaria. And what happens? Tell me the legitimacy of such a track. As he encounters a searching woman. A woman by the well that led to a larger audience for Jesus to preach. And ultimately sets the stage for what happens in the book of Acts. When Philip goes to Samaria and preaches the kingdom of God, and a number of them believe, including one of them by name that we know of, Simon the Sorcerer. Notice how Jesus, determined to go through Samaria, led to opportunities and even further opportunities on down the road.

John 6, verse 138. As we read further, Jesus says in this lengthy discussion about discipleship. He says, For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. That’s why he’s come. And that’s why at the very end of his life, the last words he utters is what? It is finished. What is finished? Everything he was sent to do. The reason why he came in the first place. I came not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me, as he would say as he heals the blind man in John chapter 9. We must work the works of him who sent me, as long as it is day. Night is coming when no man can work.

And while I am in the world, I am the light of the world. You want a mission statement for Christians? That’s it right there. Is that your mission statement? Is that the must of your life? We must work the works of him while it is day. Because a night is coming in which no man can work. While I’m in the world, I’m the light of the world. What a mission statement. That’s the example of our Lord. It wasn’t just Jesus in a hurry. But this was the cross we’re talking about. This is sacrifice. And thus, in the parallel account to Mark chapter 8 and Matthew 16, he would say, I must die. He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the soldiers and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised on the third day.

5. Why Carry a Cross? Because We're Here to Imitate

He set his mind to go to Jerusalem. Luke chapter 9 and verse 51. And then finally, let this cup pass from me. In great agony, as we’ve read so many times. But he said, Well, not my will, but thine be done. Okay. Back to our thought as we have seen Jesus’ example. Why carry a cross? Because we’re here to imitate. 1 John 2 and verse 6. I said John 9, 4, and 5. I want you to circle those verses in your mind as a mission statement for our lives. 1 John 2 and verse 6. There it says it plainly.

In the same manner that he walked. Should that not mean that we should be determined in our course as well? You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. That you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light. You were once not a people. You talk about gratitude and debt, where that comes from. You were once not a people, but now you are the people of God. I urge you, therefore, as aliens and strangers while I’m in the world. I am the light of the world. I urge you, therefore, as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lust, which wage war against the soul. We live in a time when people are saying fleshly lusts are good.

Again, they won’t verbalize that. But that’s how people are living. Fleshly lusts are okay. They can actually walk hand in hand with Christianity. Peter and Jesus are telling us, not so. We’re aliens and strangers here. While I’m in the world, I am light of the world. My course is different. Should we not be committed to God’s purposes for us as Jesus was committed to the Father’s purpose? What a quote from Gail Urban. I’ve used it so many times. No theology is of any threat or consequence until it is lived. Our lives will be safely humdrum until we dare to live like our master. We will likely not avoid all temporal trouble as Jesus himself did not. And Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew chapter 10 and verse 22, and you will be hated by all on account of my name, but as the one who endures to the end who will be saved.

6. What Things Characterize the Believer's Course?

How determined is our course. Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. May his spirit divine all my being. Refine. Stamp thine own image. Deep on my heart. What things characterize the believers, Course? We seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. That’s what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 6 and verse 33. Keep yourself pure. Paul tells the young evangelist Timothy in 1 Timothy chapter 5 and verse 22. He says, Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thus share responsibility for the sins of others. Keep yourself free from sin, bearing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Galatians chapter 5. You know many of these faults. These are the things that ought to be pursued.

And I love Martha’s comment. In fact, I had to write it in my Bible from Wednesday night. This is an all-you-can-eat buffet. In Galatians 5, just as he’s talked about things in verses 19 through 21 that we should abstain from, because if we do those things we shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But then he talks about the fruit of the Spirit in contrast with that. He says, walk after the Spirit. He says, Do all that as much as you want. Have a buffet here. Pursue kindness and love. Self-control. You can go at that all that you want to. I must add certain qualities to my faith with all diligence. 2 Peter chapter 1. I must put on the whole armor of God, Ephesians chapter 6.

I must concern myself with my brothers and their needs. Are those the musts? Is that the determined course that we’re on? I received this little piece from my sister a while back. People find cute things and they send them to me all the time. Half the things moms send their preaching sons can’t be used. But I appreciate the sentiment. But this one comes from my sister, and I’ll share it with you. This is cute. Me and you, as friends. You smile, I smile. You hurt, I hurt. You cry, I cry. See those three dots? You can’t see the bottom. The last statement is. You jump off a bridge, I’m going to miss you. Wait a minute, that’s what’s saying if you jump over here, I’m going to jump up and bridge you.

No. But I will say this. 1 John 3 and verse 16 says, Jesus laid down our lives for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. That was our Lord’s example. He laid down his life. For even the most awful dreads of society. We’re not called upon to do that. Oh, we’re called upon to love our enemies and pray for them and bless those who insult us. That’s challenging enough in imitation of Jesus’ example. But I’ll tell you, some of us can’t even get that far. What about our brethren? We ought to lay down, just did Jesus laid down his life for us. And look at who we are. Why we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He says, now we ought to lay down our lives for our brethren.

What does that look like? I’ve never been called upon to do that. For a righteous man, one might dare to die. That’s the passage in Romans chapter 5. I could look at some of you in this audience.

Could I die for you? Could I?

And so I could die for let’s see about two or three of you. What about the person you like the least?

Could you die for them? No, because my life’s more important than theirs. Is it?

I must be a servant of others. And that means even in my house. You know, you talk about the nuts and bolts of Christianity, where it is sometimes the most difficult to display these qualities towards the people that are the closest to us in the world. I think too often we look at Christianity as something out there, something we do out there, and we may actually do better in the workplace. Because we’re doing it out there. We have a mission out there. But this is not about a mission here or there. It is about a mission at all times and in every place, and in regard to every person. A piece of cake, right? No. A cross stands in our way to glory. It’s not as great as his.

Conclusion

It’s not identical to everyone else’s. But it’s a cross nonetheless. And if you do not carry your cross, you cannot be Jesus’ disciple. Luke 14, 26 and 27. In conclusion, Mass suggests that too many demote the things of God from must to maybe. If other things are not too important or too critical or too overwhelming or too tiring or demanding, then perhaps I will do the spiritual things, but these other things are more important to me. Bottom line. And the must get turned to manners. God has prescribed a different course for our lives.

But in reality, it is the only thing that is not more like Jesus. May all of us be a constant concern. A goal deserving of our affection and our attention and our passion. He said the words so many times, they’re so simple. But they should resonate with us every day. Two words. Follow me. No other decision is more urgent, more sensible, or more demanding than those words. There may be some in this audience this morning who have not responded yet to that call. Understand its urgency. Understand its sensibility. Understand that heaven and hell, the eternal destinies of men and women lay in the balance of that decision. Will you follow the king and be like him? Will you be determined as he was? To do not his own will but the Father’s will.

And if we can assist you in responding to his call, follow me. Won’t you come while we stand and sing?