Going After Christ

Good afternoon! How's everybody doing? How's my family doing today? Now, it's exciting to be here with you guys, as always. We always look so forward to the Sabbath day, all it holds, and the opportunities that God gives us with each and every one of you. Chris stole my joke. I was going to ask which one was the one that Rudy used, which one of the water, but then he only brought the full one up. He stole my joke a little bit, but it wasn't a very good one, by the way.

I'm not Mr. Myers, I'm sorry.

Welcome to anybody who's joining us today. We welcome you again to Cincinnati. You've been welcomed a few times. You're missing out on a beautiful day here. We're very blessed. But I think us up north, like maybe halfway to the United States and north, really appreciate this more than people from Florida or Arizona, because when these days come and we get to open up the windows and just take in the sunlight and that warmth for the first time in quite a while, there's just something that those folks down in Arizona and Florida are missing out on. So if you're from that area, I envy you. But at the same time, we're happy to be here and partake in this beautiful weather.

And thank you for the corral. I didn't want to make sure, don't want to miss you. That was spectacular. To hear about our wonderful God who gives us the power and everything that we can do through his name gives me fuel to stand up here before you, that's for sure, and to share his word with you. And so thank you for the talents and for sharing your gifts and your talents with us today. That was spectacular.

This week, Laura shared with me a little bit of an article. It's a personal first-person kind of story that, not story, I guess account that a woman wrote. She's a shepherd, and she wrote kind of about her experience of being a shepherd in the biblical essence that she's able to pull. Her name is Margaret Daddy, D-A-D-Y, and her little write-up is called The Shepherd and the Sheep. And I'd like to start out today by just reading a few excerpts from her account here. She starts off by saying, I love my little flock. I know them all by name. We have eight ewes, lambs that come and go, and then of course there is hymn. She spells it H-Y-M-N. I assume that's her ram. And of course there is hymn. Almost all the sheep are pure Jacobs, having beautiful thick off-white coats and deep brown spots. The lambs are like little pandas because they have black patches around their eyes. They grow either two or four horns. The ram has spiral horns that become magnificent over the years, but which prevent him from ever being able to rest his head on the grass because his horns are always in the way. Through my sheep, I have learned many spiritual lessons. I like how she just describes so beautifully these sheep that are so important to her. She talks about building trust. The shepherd is known initially by giving and providing food. I can walk among them with a bucket and put food in several troughs to give them all a fair chance of feeding. They will ignore it and keep following me. Only when they see that I have no food left will they return to the buckets where they know the food I gave earlier is still waiting. She goes on talking about the sheep know the shepherd. They will not listen to or answer or be led by a stranger. If a stranger goes amongst them, they will scatter chaos ensues. If I go out and call them, however, they know my voice and will answer me and come. If a stranger is with me, they prefer not to come unless I really persist. When the shepherd has to go away and a temporary shepherd is brought in, the flock will not trust him or her. Even if the temporary shepherd leaves food in the usual places, they will not follow him nor show interest in the food. When he is gone, they will be very enthusiastic about the familiar food he has left. They are smart animals and will still eat. It is interesting because during this time of the year, we normally spend quite a bit of time searching through the Bible and reviewing aspects of that great shepherd that we get to serve. Our great shepherd not only provides and cares for us, but he left us great instructions on how we are to live and to follow him and his wife. So today, let's take some time to examine ourselves as followers of the great shepherd. As followers of the great shepherd. Some like titles. So today's title is, Going After Christ, Desire, Deny, Take Up, Follow. That's desire, deny, take up, follow. Today's message is based on Luke 9 verse 23. So we can all start turning there. Luke 9 verse 23. It's one short verse, but it's one that we could study multiple times our entire life and glean more and more from it every single time.

This is Luke 9 and verse 23. Then he said to them all, If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. In this passage, we see it's pretty simply broken into four different sections with commas between them. And so what we're going to do is kind of go through each section today and dive a little deeper into each one. Because it'd be easy just to get up here and read it and walk right off, wouldn't it? It kind of sounds pretty easy. It's a short verse. There's not a lot of other supporting verses around it. There's a few below it. But we can dive into this one verse and glean so much out of it. And so that's what we're going to spend our time doing today. So the first section, If anyone desires to come after me, immediately from the get-go, we have Christ offering a choice to the disciples. And it can turn to all of us, if anyone desires. Other Greek uses for the word desire can mean choose or to be inclined. It's not just a feeling of wanting something, but a choice of choosing something. I may desire that second scoop of ice cream, as Mr. Rangel mentioned earlier. That's not what they're talking about here. This is a choice, a choosing, if anyone desires. Being a disciple, follower and learner of Christ is a personal decision. No one is going to ever force you to become a disciple or to follow after God. It's a choice. While God does do the calling, and He has called us, and He draws believers to Him, it is in itself a miracle. And mankind is given a choice. At baptism, we agreed to come after Christ in good times of life, and in those difficult times, similar to marriage, for those who are married. In good times and in those difficult times as well, we must remain steady to our mate. So at baptism, we committed our lives, and we must remain steady to God. Because we did have a choice, one where we had to count the costs, and we chose to follow God. So after counting the costs, why did we choose to come after Christ?

Why did we choose, after weighing this out, this life-changing moment, counting the costs, why did we choose to follow God? Maybe this is some of my own personal feelings, but did we see that our way only brought outcomes that we didn't want? Outcomes that hurt, outcomes that disappointed?

Let's turn to John 14, verse 6, while we consider this topic.

John 14, verse 6.

Because we were called by God to a better way of life, because my way of life... Boy, do I know where that led me. But we are called to a better way of life. And so we chose a better way, a happier way, a more satisfying way. We chose the way. As we'll read here in John 14, verse 6, Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. The way is the way we have chosen to follow and to commit our lives to. We chose to bury the old man like we heard earlier. Really appreciated Mr. Rangel's message, because we chose to bury the old man at baptism. Romans 6, verse 6 references this. Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. This is the choice we made. There's a quote attributed to Christine Mason Miller. It goes like this. At any given moment, you have the power to say, this is not how my story is going to end. I read over that, and it impacted me, because we all made that choice, that this is not how our story is going to end. And we took up the changes in our life, we accepted them, and we followed a different path. This is not how my story is going to end. This decision to bury the old man naturally leads us to the next part of Luke 9, verse 23. But first, let's consider a question. As we review each section, I've come up with a question, just something we can think about and take with us as we leave here today. The question for the first section is, how much do I desire to come after Christ? How much do I desire to come after Christ?

So let's look at the second part of the passage now. First, we read, if anyone desires to come after me, the second in Luke 9, verse 23 is, let him deny himself. Let him deny himself.

At first glance, I might tend to think, this is me thinking again, hey, I've only had that one donut at breakfast today, so I denied myself that second donut, so I'm having a pretty good day. Kind of like Edie having to deny that second scoop of ice cream. She's having a pretty good day, isn't she? But this isn't to deny that Christ is speaking of. The Greek use of this word could also be to disown, to reject, to deny utterly, to disown. Think about that for a minute. Let's turn to Luke 22, verse 34. Luke 22, verse 34.

To disown, to reject, to deny utterly. These are the same use of the word deny as when Christ said that Peter would deny him three times. Luke 22, verse 34. Then he said, I tell you Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know me. This is utter separation that Peter had from Christ. Remember, he says, I do not know that man. Complete separation from Christ. And that's what we are asked to do with ourselves. To have that complete separation from the old man that so many times loves to grab the back of our pant leg as we walk by.

We're told to deny that side of our being. Because we chose to follow our Christian calling, we must develop the spirit within us of self-denial. We must strive to rid ourselves of self, separate ourselves from self, reject completely ourself, and live with Christ in us always. I'll reference Luke 14 verse 33. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple. Forsake all that he has. That includes forsaking ourselves. That's a hard one. It's one I've not always been able to follow through as well as I'd like to.

To forsake myself. We must strive hard against our own nature and not indulge in the desires for sinful things of this world, because if we're taken in self, how does Christ live in us? Is there room for Christ and us and ourselves at the same time? That's a question we each have to ask and answer ourselves. Is there room for Christ and ourself inside of us at the same time? This is that aspect of total surrender that we've heard so many times in past messages about.

And we'll probably hear more about it as we go through this holiday season, so I won't touch on it much. But just put in your mind, total surrender. And this is so easy, right? Yay! Total surrender. So easy, right? It's not. No, it's that constant struggle. Self wants so badly to come back up again and grab hold again of us and take back that control.

It's so difficult. I sometimes imagine it as like this eagle that flies up behind me and sinks its talons into my shoulder, and it gets that foothold and it's hanging on there. How hard do I have to work to release myself from this eagle? Sometimes my own nature can come back on that strongly and sink itself back in and get a hold. And I have to fight. And I have to fight. And I have to fight hard to get that back off and get it away and to separate myself from myself.

It's work. It's not fun. It's a real fight. It's a constant battle, one that can be won if we allow the Holy Spirit to work powerfully in us, as we heard in the first message again. Calling on God to help, to give us that power. Another aspect of the struggle is that denying self hurts. Once again, we heard about that. Our bodies are telling us it's not having a good time, saying, Come on, just a little bit more.

Let me back in just a little bit. It won't hurt. I won't stay long. Just a little bit. But we know the truth, and if you're like me, we've been hurt by ourselves more times than we wish we could count. This aspect of denying self and the discomfort associated it is similar to training for a race, if you'll go with me for a minute with some analogies, similar to training for a race or working for something big in life.

Maybe it's getting out of debt or finishing school, some big goal that you have, or saving for something that takes a large amount of money to buy, something you've wanted for a while, and just don't have the resources, and so you're going to start saving. This aspect of denying self and the discomfort associated is similar to those things. It takes work, it takes effort, it takes sacrifice at times, it takes focus, and it takes determination to reach those bigger goals.

And many times our bodies try to talk ourselves out of it, don't they? How many times have we said, you know what, it's not really that nice of a day for a run. Kind of like today, right? That would be me. It's sunny and it's 70 degrees. Ah, it's not that nice to take a run.

What about the time when we're saving money for that next big purchase, and our friends are showing up, or other people that we see, they have it already, and we say, you know what, I'm just going to go out and buy it. I quit. Because that's what our human nature is telling us. Or what about shooting those free throws over and over and over again? We just keep shooting those free throws, right? Why? Because it's fun? No, because we're training for something. We're trying to get better at it, because we recognize the bigger goal at hand. We deny ourselves to do the things that we need and should do. It's not normally fun for us to do those things. Let's turn to Galatian 2, please. Galatians 2.

A lot of times there is no difference when we deny ourselves for righteousness' sake, is there? Our human nature tells us it's not having a good time, but our calling demands that we do it because we are all in a spiritual training mentality right now and always forever in our lives.

Galatians 2, verse 20. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

It is no longer I who live. Our Savior lived and died a life of complete sacrifice, complete denial of self. Everything he did was for the will of the Father, and all of this was in turn for us. You and me. You and me. Let's not forget what Christ denied so that you and I can have the wonderful hope that we have. Another aspect of denying self is with choices. Choices that we get to make. Daily, presented before us, we get to make choices in our life. Am I going to have soup or salad? What color car am I going to buy? What time am I going to pick out and where to work today? What about this choice? Choose life or choose death?

It really is that blunt of a question and that blunt of a decision and a choice that we get to make.

Let's turn to Romans 13, verse 14.

Romans 13 and verse 14.

Choose life or choose death.

Romans 13, 14. You can put in your notes Galatians 3, 27, a complimentary scripture. For as many of you as were baptized in Christ have put on Christ. We must choose to put on Christ in our lives. Or we will choose, whether we know it or not, to put on self. Because not choosing to put on Christ is also making a choice to put on self. And that's the dangers of what we have before us, but also the hope and the way of escape.

You can turn back to Luke 9, verse 24. This is right after Luke 9, 23. It's kind of self-explanatory. But we've been focusing on Luke 9, 23 so far. So let's read the couple scriptures underneath it that support it.

Luke 9, verse 24.

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and is himself destroyed or lost? There's only two choices. It's very clear. Choose one, or you're naturally choosing the other. I'm naturally choosing the other. It's for all of us. I'm no different. We're all in this same path of life together. We get these opportunities. We can indulge in the things of the world. And sure, it's all around us. It would be easy to do, wouldn't it? Just to indulge. Just to jump in. But if in the process we lose our life, what doesn't matter what we gain then? What we experience? What we get to do? It's just not worth the self. I want to look back at the quote again by Christine Mason Miller. At any given moment, you have the power to say, this is not how my story is going to end. It's that choice that we get to make, to put on, and to deny self. We are presented with a choice to either deny ourselves or to not. So as we come to Passover again this year, the great blessing that we have to still be here, taking in Passover, let's again rededicate our lives and choose to deny self over the course of this next year. Let's have that as part of our mind. The takeaway question for this section is this. How much do I desire to utterly deny myself? How much do I desire to utterly deny myself?

Let's look at the next part of Luke, verse 23, and let's consider, if anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily. His cross. That's lowercase h. His cross. Speaking of our own cross that we are to take up. The section of the verse probably spoke very directly to the disciples' hearts, because as they were part of the environment around them, they were very familiar with what crucifixion meant. Being under Roman rule, they had each seen and were very aware of this public event, the spectacle that was made of a criminal bearing their own cross, knowing that they were carrying the very instrument that would lead to the end of their life. This was done to deter any type of insubordination against Rome, and to signify everyone's complete submission to Rome's power.

So why would Christ use this as an example? Is there a parallel He wanted them and us to understand?

Yeah, there's a really, really big parallel. When we accepted Christ as our personal Savior and were baptized, we handed our lives over to God. In this, we agreed to submit to the authority of God the Father, of His Son Jesus Christ, over our lives and to forever seek righteousness. Let's turn to Matthew 10, verse 38.

Matthew 10, verse 38.

This sounds very similar to what we read in Luke 9, verse 24. And as you know, there's a lot of parallel accounts through the Gospels. But this is not the parallel account to Luke 9.24. In Matthew, the parallel account of Luke 9.23 is actually Matthew 16. So you can see that this is, here we are in Matthew 10, this is well before Matthew 16. This is not the same as a parallel account, even though it sounds similar. I think this read will reinforce that this was close to Christ's heart. It's extremely important for us to get. Matthew 10, verse 38. And he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. Take up his cross and follow after me. That choice again between choosing life or choosing death.

Right now in our nation, we have to admit, it's rare that we see someone give up their life for God, for their Christian calling. It does happen in other parts of the world, but our submission to God needs to grow to the point that if we're ever asked to give our life, we will. But for today, we are called to give our lives spiritually for the great calling before us. And once again, we do. In 1 Peter 3.13, let's go ahead and turn to 1 Peter 3.13.

1 Peter 3.13 Just talking about this aspect of growing to the point of full submission that if our lives are ever asked, we would be willing to give it. And in the meantime, what should our reaction be? 1 Peter 3.13, And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed, and do not be afraid of their threats nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. This is an aspect that applies to each and every one of us here, and we have accepted, baptized or non-baptized, this applies to everyone. We take up our cross when we sacrifice ourselves in choosing righteousness instead of sin, in time or resources that we give for one another, in showing fruits of the Spirit when others are pushing back, showing when others are pushing back on selfish desires, and we have to show the fruit of the Spirit. We take up our cross when we sacrifice ourselves in troubles that we encounter because we follow God. Maybe it's a Sabbath conflict, job conflict, personal relationship conflict. We bear our cross when we do those things. Every one of us gives. Each one of our walks are different from one another, but in so many ways, they are the same. Taking up our cross is unique to each one of us. We each have our own, but also very similar to others who have to take up their cross. Our common calling requires that we each bear the difficulties that come from a different walk than from the environment and the world around us. We are not called out of this world, but exist in it and are required to function as part of this world. We understand that from John 17, verse 15. You can put in your notes. I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. We're not asked and given the opportunity to escape to a wonderful place where we can all love each other and everything goes great. We don't have to interact with others and we don't have to be tested from time to time. We're called to live in the world that we are, but to emulate Christ. God knows what we can give, and God knows what we do give. What we can give, he knows. And what we do give, he knows. So each one of us, everyone here, taking up his cross when he goes against the flow and takes a stand for God in our lives, that is pleasing to God. He sees it. He doesn't ignore it.

And some here today are listening on the webcast, maybe bearing weighty crosses right now, specifically with a trial. The prayer list, however much we pray and we wish, just sometimes it just doesn't seem to get smaller, does it?

Trials, weighty trials, are among us. Others are going through work difficulties, as I mentioned. Some are fighting through some personal relationship issues. Some may be waging a large battle against the old man buried at baptism right now, in one way or another.

This message also comes with encouragement. It's an important part of Christ's message here. Because, yeah, I'm not going to trivialize and act like life isn't hard at times.

We've all had those moments when our families have gone under difficulties.

And we're told in 2 Timothy 3, 12, you can put in your notes, Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. That doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy inside, I've got to be honest.

We'll suffer persecution. Yay me!

It says, yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But you're not alone. If you're bearing your weighty trial today, you're not alone. If you share in that trial with others the difficulties you're going through, others can share in that with you. Take some of that burden. Take some of that weight. God's given us His Holy Spirit to work inside of us to empathize with each other when we allow it to take hold. When you allow others into your life, into your trials, people can pray for you. People can encourage you. People can do things that standing alone, we can't do ourselves.

And some of us have walked your walk, but some of us haven't walked your unique walk either. And this is where that Spirit, the Holy Spirit, gives us that power to help. And as God says, we are to maintain a sense of joy through every trial that we endure. That is true. That is accurate. And this joy cannot be extinguished. We cannot allow it to be extinguished by the hope. We cannot allow it to be extinguished because our hope cannot be taken from us. That cannot be taken from us. That hope is steady. And that's true. Let's look at 1 Peter, verse 4.

Chapter 4, verse 12.

1 Peter 4, verse 12.

Beloved, do not think it strange, concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

What we go through in this life is not lost on God. It's not like He is too busy and doesn't see what we sacrifice for Him. It's not lost on God. And it's not in vain that we struggle for righteousness' sake. It's never in vain. Like I said, I don't say these things lightly. I really don't. Because we could all look around and recognize that we can see people, and we know things that are going on in people's lives.

Waity trials.

But God gives us hope. Psalm 34, you can put in your notes, Psalm 34, 19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers Him out of them all. Delivers them? Delivers Him out of them all.

So we are to have hope. We are not to lose our joy. And this message is encapsulated in this verse, Luke 9, verse 23.

So this section's question. Here you go. In my current life circumstances, how am I taking up my cross daily? In my current life circumstances, how am I taking up my cross daily?

And as we begin to wrap up today's message, let's consider the last part of Luke 9, verse 23 now, where Christ says, and follow me.

Let's go ahead and turn to Mark 1, verse 16. We have, in this Gospel count, what appears to be Christ's first interaction with some of the disciples. This is Mark 1, verse 16. And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, his brother, casting a net. And this is Simon Peter. Mark 1 does just as Simon, but it's actually Simon Peter. He saw Simon Peter, saw Simon, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. And they immediately left their nets, and they followed Him. When He had gone a little further from there, He saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with a hired servant and went after him. These were Christ's first words to Peter. Follow me. And if we were to flip to John 21 verse 22, we would also see that these were the last words that Christ said to Peter. So He started out talking to Peter, said, Follow me. And His last words to Peter were, Follow me. Peter never stopped following Christ, and while he never grew to complete perfection in this life, just like you and I will never grow to complete perfection in this life, He never stopped following Christ.

But if we turn to Mark 10, we can review a counterexample of where someone was asked to follow Christ, but the person couldn't make the commitment.

This is in Mark 10.

We'll start reading verse 17. Mark 10 verse 17.

And He answered and said to Him, Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth, then Jesus, looking at Him, loved Him. Notice the way Christ looked at Him. And the words He says, Then Jesus, looking at Him, loved Him, and said to Him, One thing you lack, go your way, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, take up the cross, and follow Me. But He was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for He had great possessions.

As we covered earlier, this decision to follow after Christ is a choice presented to us, and all those who have had their mind open to God's way, and to commit their lives to Him. And this is important for us as well, because Christ extended to the disciples, and to us, an invitation to follow Him. God has called and is working with every one of us here, and when He started working with us, He said to each and every one of us in a similar manner, Follow Me. And we have been asked to follow Him to the end of our life whenever that occurs. Once again, two simple words, follow Me. Super simple, right? If only our human nature would just stay out of the way. Yeah, this could be two simple words. What are some of the things that get in the way? Do you ever want to follow your own desires? Do we ever want to follow what we think is best? Do we ever want to follow people we know or we look up to? What are some of the things we choose to follow? Our thoughts? Our securities? Do we choose to follow our comforts? Our money?

All these things will continually and forever lead you away from God, if that is what you are choosing to follow. And this is why we must remain steady to always follow God, because at any moment we can choose to stop following. We can. We all know people this has happened to. We can at any moment choose to stop following. That's why we must be diligent. That's why we must be steady. Let's turn to John 6, 60. And we'll see an example of this happening.

John 6, and we'll start in verse 60.

Because we have an account of others who were following after Christ, but then they stopped for reasons only they know.

John 6, verse 60.

Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, this is a hard saying. Who can understand it? The message in this hard saying is really a sermon for another day.

But in this hard saying, Christ was talking about how he is the bread of life, and that those who by faith feed upon him shall live by him. And then we see down in verse 66, the decision. From that time, many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more. They went back. Is that shocking? Because if they were with Christ, walking with Christ, learning from Christ, they were called disciples. It says right here, His disciples. They went back. They went back to their homes. They went back to their jobs.

They went back to their farms. From their old way of life, they went back to their religion.

They went back.

But not all did.

The hope. Not all did. And we see that as we get down to verse 67. Then Jesus said to the twelve, Do you also want to go away? But Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Come to know. Know that you are the Christ. We all know that. We all believe that. It's in our hearts. Or we wouldn't be here today. We wouldn't have made all these sacrifices we have made over the years. Whether you're a teenager, a young adult, a baptized member. You wouldn't have made all these sacrifices over the year if you didn't believe. The twelve believed. The others? I can't speak to them. I can only say...

I can only say they went back.

They went back to their old way of life.

Like we talked about again at the beginning of this message, following after Christ is the decision ultimately it's left up to us to make. We get to make that decision. The twelve disciples at this time did not go back to their way of life. They decided not to go back. But they maintained committed and steadfast and continuing in their discipleship with Christ. We have each maintained committed to Christ in His words of eternal life.

I would like to leave you with one last aspect of Follow Me. As Christ says, follow me, there are times in our life that we are right in step behind Christ. Aren't there? Times where we are just following footstep by footstep right behind Christ. I sometimes imagine this like we're on a trail, blazing a trail through the woods. And Christ is the one blazing that trail. And we're just a lock step behind and wherever He goes, we are going, just following through those woods in that trail. We are following Christ in action or deed that we do. We are following Christ in service and obedience. We are following Christ in love, step by step, right behind Him.

And sure, there are those times we're human, we get distracted, and we wander off that path a little bit, right? And we get caught up in those briars and those thorns, and we're struggling off that path. But then He calls out to us His sheep, and we return back to Him. If you're still in John, you can flip to John 10. We'll read that verse, John 10, verse 27.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

When we get caught up in the briars, we get caught up in the briars, and we get caught up in the briars. And the thorns. We know who our shepherd is, and we can call out to Him, and He will call out to us. He won't leave us stranded there, and we can get back and lock, step behind Him, following Him.

And then we follow Him through the woods, and we reach that clearing. I'm a visual person. I like to think through visual things in my head like this. We reach the end of that path that He's blazed now through the woods, and we reach a clearing. It doesn't mean another path won't come, or more woods won't come, but we reach that clearing. It's a beautiful field filled with flowers. To the left, there's a lake, a beautiful lake. And we reach this opening, and it's beautiful, and it's peaceful, and it's nice. And I think, like an instance like this, we are invited to walk, then, to accompany Christ. I put myself kind of as a parent, being the one that's blazing the trail for my family or for my daughter, and, you know what, they follow, and I'm leading, and that's what Christ does for us. But then when I reach that clearing, that nice peaceful area, do I just continue just marching ahead, way out in front, saying, follow me, follow me? I usually slow down, and I welcome them around me. And I say, let's walk together, maybe hand in hand, through this beautiful field of flowers. I believe Christ does that with us when we reach those moments, that He allows us to accompany Him. We never lose sight who He is, and the role that He plays in our life, the Son of God, and the authority that He carries.

But does He want us to accompany Him at times? I think He does. Just like we as parents don't always just stand out in front and lead the family, that's a role that we have. But at times, we want to be hand in hand with our children and our spouses. We want to be hand in hand with each other. And I think in these moments, we get an opportunity, as we're following Christ, to also accompany Him.

I often think, as you're blazing that trail through the woods, is it hard to have a conversation with that person in front of you or behind you? I've been on some backpacking trips, and when you're just one and one, you can maybe have somewhat of a conversation. But where do those meaningful conversations come from? They usually come when you have a chance to sit down or when you get into that clearing and then you kind of make more of a group, an amoeba, and you're wandering through that field together, where you are talking side by side and laughing at the other person's joke. That's usually where those really meaningful conversations come from. And we can think about that, too. There are times that we not only follow Christ, but we are invited to accompany Him as well.

He calls us His friends. He calls us His sheep. He loves us. He cares for us. And the love and the care He desires are truly close in relationship with us, an intimate relationship with us. And this is really the encouraging part of the message again, because when Christ says, follow me, He desires that intimate loving relationship with each and every one of us. Let's turn to John 15. John 15, just a couple pages ahead, verse 13. John 15, verse 13.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from my father, I have made known to you.

And sure, following Christ involves the things we've already discussed, denying self, taking up our cross.

But then we get to this part, where we are invited to follow Him, to accompany Him. He wants to know our feelings. He wants to know our thoughts. He wants to know our concerns about things in this life. He wants us to share our heart with Him. And as we follow Him, this leads us to a lifelong relationship with our Lord and our Savior.

So the concluding question I have today is actually two questions. Do I hear the voice of my Shepherd?

And how well do I follow Him?

So as Passover approaches this week, let us consider our desire to go after Christ, to deny self, to take up our cross, and to follow Him. And put in your notes the final scripture, Romans 8, verse 16 and 17. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Amen.