“…And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”
Go back to Luke 9:23. Jesus is speaking to everyone present—disciples, religious leaders, and the multitudes. Christ’s invitation is for all: for salvation, for service, and for separation. “If any man will come after Me…”
He gives three simple steps of discipleship: deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. A disciple is a learner—one disciplined in the teachings of Jesus Christ.
When we first heard the gospel, we chose between heaven and hell. After salvation, a similar question returns daily: Which world will you choose—heaven or earth? We can’t serve Christ effectively while stuffing our lives with the world. To serve Christ in this world, we must be filled with Christ—something truly “other-worldly.”
God isn’t hiding His will from us. He tells us exactly what to do. “If any man will come after Me… deny, take up, follow.” Now let’s see how this applies in Luke 14.
Turn to Luke 14:16–27.
Jesus tells a parable: A certain man made a great supper and bade many. The servant announces, “Come, for all things are now ready.” Salvation’s invitation is open; the work is done—Christ died, the blood is shed—come. Yet, “they all with one consent began to make excuse.”
- One said, “I have bought a piece of ground… have me excused.” — Too big to come (status/priorities).
- Another, “I have bought five yoke of oxen… I go to prove them.” — Too busy to come (work first).
- Another, “I have married a wife… I cannot come.” — Too blissful to come (family comfort first).
Excuses keep people from salvation and keep believers from service. We somehow drop everything for overtime or on-call work, but not for the needs of God’s house. Put God first and He will order the rest.
The master was angry—not sinfully, but righteously. He had prepared a great supper; the food was ready. So he said, “Go quickly… bring in the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind.” They came—and yet there is room. Then, “Go into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” We should compel—plead earnestly—because we know how great the preparation is.
Discipleship now:
1) Self-Denial
“If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself.” (Luke 9:23)
In Luke 14 the invited guests valued field, oxen, and family over the King’s table. Many pray for God’s will while ignoring the will already revealed—faithfulness, service, witness. Denying self means saying no to pride, busyness, and comforts that edge out obedience.
2) Sacrifice
“Take up his cross daily.” (Luke 9:23)
Luke 14:26–27 speaks of loving Christ above father, mother, spouse, children—even our own lives. “Hate” here means to love less by comparison. Christ must have the preeminence (Col. 1:18). Bearing a cross is weighty and daily. Your “cross” may include trials, health issues, or difficult seasons—opportunities to display Christ and share the gospel with people you’d otherwise never meet.
Sacrifice may touch:
- Family (when loyalty to Christ offends those you love),
- Fame (no name in lights—Jesus must increase),
- Fortune (turning down promotions or hours that replace worship and service),
- Friends (some will walk away when you walk with God),
- Folly (you can’t cling to sin and call it discipleship—no man can serve two masters).
Yet serving God is not a grim burden; it is our joy. He lifted us from the miry clay, set our feet on a Rock, established our goings, and put a new song in our mouths (cf. Psalm 40). Giving back a little of what He has given is our privilege.
3) Separation (Following)
“…and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)
Following Christ means leaving what you were—“old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Walk in the Spirit daily (Gal. 5:16). This takes deliberate choices against the pull of the flesh.
Notice Luke 14:27: “Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.” Come after implies Jesus is already moving. He won’t stand still until we decide. He calls; we must follow now.
How to follow:
- Intentionally—decide every morning, “I will serve God today.”
- Intensely—with your whole heart (no reserves, no retreats, no regrets).
- Instantly—don’t wait on obedience. Our faithfulness isn’t based on feelings but on commitment. Jesus did not feel like going to the cross; He was faithful to the Father’s will.
If we keep making excuses for what God has already told us to do, we have no right to call ourselves disciples. The high cost of discipleship is self-denial, sacrifice, and separation—and Jesus Christ is worthy.
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