May 6, 2001
John 12:23-26

Losing Your Life for Jesus

Introduction: John chapter twelve begins the history of the events of Jesus' last week on the earth. He raised Lazarus; went to supper at the home of Simon the leper; got annointed by Mary with expensive perfumed oil; experienced the "Triumphal Entry," and even got visited by curious Gentiles. In this context, in all this tumult, and knowing He would die in less than a week, He preached His final public sermon. Today I'm going to talk about point number one of His sermon: A call to true discipleship.

In brief He speaks of Motivation, Result, Method and Rewards.

I. The Christian should feel motivated as he/she things of what Jesus did for us. Scripture says He was "glorified," but what was included in that?

A. His arrest, trials and crucifixion
B. His resurrection, ascension and exaltation at the Father's right hand
C. He did so much for us, how can we not feel motivated to be His disciples?

II. The "True Disciple" will experience spiritual life and growth in grace.

A. The grain of wheat dies and produces many more grains of wheat. One kernal of sweet corn generally produces 2000 more kernals, if planted.
B. Jesus gave another illustration in multiplying the loaves and the fish of the young boy, and feeding 5000 men, plus women and children.
C. Jesus will take your talents, gifts, possessions and so-on, if you are His disciple, and will magnify your impact for Him in your family, job place, school, church and community.

III. Being a True Disciple means losing your life for Jesus.

A. There are some synonyms here: "losing your life for Jesus," = "serving Jesus" = "following Jesus." There are many people who have literally been killed for being Christians, but that is not Jesus' primary meaning.
B. Jesus is using these words "losing your life" to indicate the pervasiveness, the radicalness of discipleship that He is looking for.
C. Every decision, every action, every day, in every circumstance, no exceptions: What would Jesus have me say and do, is the disciple's question to himself. The True Disciple has lost his life. He has no personal ambitions, personal goals, etc., that he has not willingly put under the authority and guidance of Jesus Christ.
D. In Philippians 1:20-21 Paul the Apostle announced his identity as a True Disciple, when he wrote: "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

IV. The Rewards for discipleship are spiritual in nature.

A. To be with Jesus for eternity--i.e. to be in Heaven, or in God's Kingdom wherever. This is a gift we have already begun to experience, for we are in Him, and He is in us. He will never leave us nor forsake us.
B. To be honored by the Heavenly Father--When we graduate from high school or University, we receive a diploma. We are honored by our schools. When you retire from your company, you may receive a gold watch, or some such. Chief executives of major corporations are given "golden parachute" severance pay. None of this of course can compare to being honored by God Himself.

Conclusion: Motivation: gratitude and love. Result: spiritual life and growth. Method: death to self, committment to Jesus. Rewards: eternal life, and honor from the Heavenly Father. May God bless all of us with grace to be True Disciples of Jesus Christ. Amen.