Deny Yourself, Take Up Your Cross: Follow Jesus

Matthew 16 speaks after Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ. Jesus then shows that the Christ must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and be raised the third day. Isaiah 53 had already painted this, but the mystery sat there like a message hidden behind a red sight glass. The words were always on the page. Jesus holds the lens up and the whole thing clears: who he is and what he came to do are one piece.

Peter hears “be killed” and pushes back. His love, his expectations, and his idea of rescue run headlong into God’s plan. Jesus names the collision: “Get thee behind me, Satan” because Peter savors the things of men, not of God. The adversary is not only hate for God, but also the urge to keep a “good” plan that feels right while it blocks a cross. God’s will stands in God’s word, and resisting it, even tenderly, still trips the mission.

Isaiah’s “by his stripes we are healed” answers what kind of rescue the Messiah brings. Not first from Rome, but from sin. The lamb takes iniquity. The Christ dies and rises. That same logic of the cross then lands on every disciple: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” The cross a disciple carries is not payback for personal failures and not a casual hardship. It is the chosen road of costly obedience, shame if needed, and loss if needed, for Jesus’ sake.

The question of profit sits in the middle: “What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Salvation cannot be earned. No stack of good deeds, no perfect law-keeping, no money paid. Christ alone is able to save and he has done it. Saying “yes” to that grace is the doorway. Then the same “yes” keeps showing up in work plans, promotions, schools, and even a parent’s dreams. A good plan that sidelines God is still the wrong plan. God’s will aims at his glory and the spread of the gospel, and it also fits the person he made. Sometimes that looks like wiring lights or vacuuming floors that frame a moment where someone believes. Small pieces in God’s hands carry eternal weight. The call stays simple and sharp: read God’s word, trust it, deny self, shoulder the cross, and follow Christ.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus unveils the gospel mystery The Old Testament carried the lines, and Jesus supplies the lens. Peter’s confession names who he is, and Jesus names what he must do. The Messiah’s suffering and resurrection complete what Isaiah promised. The mystery is not a puzzle anymore when the Christ and his cross stand in plain sight. [49:59]
• 2. Love can resist God’s will Affection and sincerity cannot override revelation. Peter means well, yet his “never” stands in the road of the cross. Jesus calls that stance “adversary” because it trips the mission. A heart can be warm toward Jesus and still oppose his plan if it refuses his word. [56:15]
• 3. Cross-bearing means costly obedience A disciple’s cross is not a random ache or a penalty for personal sin. It is the chosen willingness to suffer shame, loss, or misunderstanding for Jesus’ name. The cross marks a path where comfort gives way to faithfulness. That road is heavy, but it is his road and it leads to life. [58:54]
• 4. Grace cannot be earned Salvation is not wages, it is mercy received. The holy God saves sinners through Christ crucified and risen, not through moral effort or charitable tallies. Any plan that adds “my part” to the cross empties the cross. Trusting Jesus alone is the only door that actually opens. [61:45]
• 5. Saying yes beats comfortable plans A life can gain promotions, polish a résumé, and still miss the kingdom’s call. God’s will may interrupt a timeline, relocate a dream, or redirect a child’s future. The loss felt now is seed, not waste, and the harvest will outlast this world. A “yes” to God carries more profit than a lifetime of “mine.” [57:56]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [33:16] - Worship: Calling on Jesus
• [38:46] - Reading Matthew 16:21-28
• [41:16] - Paul and the gospel “mystery”
• [43:10] - What mystery really means
• [45:24] - Isaiah 53 read aloud
• [49:06] - Mystery unveiled by Jesus
• [49:59] - He is Christ, came to die
• [55:57] - Get thee behind me, Satan
• [57:56] - Deny self, take up cross
• [58:54] - Cross-bearing is costly obedience
• [61:45] - Salvation cannot be earned
• [62:35] - Plans, careers, and God’s will
• [70:56] - Serving in simple, unseen ways
• [77:32] - Closing prayer of surrender

1. What three specific things did Jesus say must happen to Him in Matthew 16:21, and how does Isaiah 53 foreshadow this?
2. How did Peter respond when Jesus spoke about His death, and what reason did Jesus give for calling him “Satan” (Matthew 16:22-23)? [56:15]
3. What does Jesus say is required of those who follow Him in Matthew 16:24, and how does this contrast with Peter’s earlier reaction?
4. According to the sermon, what kind of “rescue” does Isaiah 53 emphasize, and how does this differ from what people might expect? [51:43]

1. Why might Peter’s love for Jesus (and desire to protect Him) still be called “savoring the things of men” rather than God’s plan? [53:44]
2. How does the idea of “taking up your cross” differ from enduring everyday hardships or consequences of personal mistakes? [58:54]
3. Jesus asks, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?” How does this question challenge common cultural definitions of success?
4. Why is it possible for someone to sincerely love Jesus and still oppose His will, as seen in Peter’s example? [54:07]

1. Where in your life have you resisted God’s direction because it felt uncomfortable, confusing, or contrary to your idea of “good”? How can you surrender that area today? [57:05]
2. What does “denying yourself” look like in practical terms for you this week—in relationships, work, or personal goals?
3. Are there any “good” plans or dreams (for yourself, your family, or career) that might unintentionally sideline obedience to God’s Word? How can you discern this? [01:02:35]
4. How might God be calling you to serve in “small” or unseen ways (like wiring lights or vacuuming) to advance His kingdom? What step could you take to say “yes”? [01:10:56]
5. When faced with a choice between comfort and faithfulness, what practical reminder or habit could help you prioritize eternal profit over temporary gain?