"34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.
37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.
"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."
In our last message, Jesus illustrated that the true Christian not only wears the name of Christ, but also bears the character of Christ, a true follower of Christ is going to manifest the character of Christ. The Lord Jesus did not merely teach us, His disciples, to be humble, obedient servants, He modeled it. Obviously, due to our humanness and fallen nature, though it will be imperfectly, there will be significant evidence of Christ-likeness. Jesus is Lord, He is God, He is worthy of our utmost love and devotion. A devotion that will cause divisions with the world. Nevertheless, we must acknowledge Jesus above everyone else, that means that we must deny everything else or anyone else, should it come to that. In other words, no person can take priority in our lives over Jesus.
Let's look at verse 34, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."
What in the world is Jesus talking about here, He’s the Prince of Peace. Surely, He came to bring peace. Jesus isn’t messing around, He is reiterating the reality that following Him will turn family members against one another. If you’re not ready to be treated like Christ was treated, to be identified with Christ by being hated and rejected, even unto death, and not be intimidated by the world, you can be His true disciple. As I've stated many, many times throughout my years in ministry; salvation is free but the cost of true discipleship carries a very heavy price. A true disciple commits himself to the Lord, when the hostile world is set against, alienates him and persecutes him. He still confesses Christ before men.
I find it interesting, whenever people want to buy something, whether car, a television set, new shirt, or a gallon of milk, they always check the price to see if the price is too high. Even for those the wealthiest, who have plenty of money, there are some price tags which are just too high. Yet, when it comes to being a Christian, no ones imagines the cost involved. It's true that salvation is a free gift, which Jesus Christ has purchased for us with His own blood. That doesn't mean to become a Christian doesn't cost us anything. Following Christ forces us to decisions that separate one from another, including those we love.
His dramatic statement in verse 34 proves He didn't come to bring peace, but a sword. Many have experienced peace in their hearts since coming to Christ and are often thinking that peace will extend to every one. That is what Jesus warns us of in our text today. I have to say, this is some very heavy stuff. Contrary to what many think, discipleship does not lead an easy life. Many come to Christ expecting a personal wealth, peace and prosperity. That isn't a realistic picture, in fact, it will include some very hard times.
In verses 35-36, He emphatically says "For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household."
Many today mistakenly see Jesus as this easy going, passive, loving Savior Who came to bring peace. In a sense, this a paradox. On the one hand, Jesus says He's the Prince of Peace. Then, on the other hand, you have to realize that there’s going to be a sword. Yes, Jesus' followers will experience division and conflict, we're not always going to get along with other people even those in our own families. There will certainly be conflicts with family members who are not Christians. It's very likely, some of you may have already experienced that when you came to Christ. Whenever we're being forced to choose, we must always choose Christ.
As Christians, we are called to love our spouse, our children, our parents, our siblings, other family members, our friends, and yes, even our enemies. We are called to treat everyone with the same love and compassion that Christ has shown to us. However, our loyalty to Christ must surpass our love and loyalty to even those we care the most about. If we have disagreements or conflicts with people because we mistreat them, that has nothing to do with being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Being a Christian can be one of the most difficult jobs in the world because Jesus calls us to serve Him, by serving others, even those we don't understand or agree with, whether inside or outside our own homes. Let's face it, in our world today, with all the tension; injustice, greed, hatred, violence and conflict, that's not always easy.
Psalm 33:5 reminds us "He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord."
Just about anyone you ask says they want peace, yet everywhere look in our communities and around our world, from our homes, our schools, our governments and sadly, even our churches, it's difficult to see anything but conflict, hatred, violence and war. As Christians, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to oppose them.
In Romans 12:18, Paul writes, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."
How much differently would our world be, if we as Christians would commit our hearts to praying for our world and truly loving our enemies and treating others the way God wants us to? If those who name the name of Christ, were transformed into his image rather than conforming to the world? I believe the real problem is within our own hearts.
Proverbs 27:19 says "As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man."
Deception and the doctrines of demons have been introduced in the churches today, and it's happening right before our very eyes. More than ever, our world needs Jesus and the transformation in the hearts of men that only the Holy Spirit can provide and restrain the forces of evil that have become so prevalent in our world today. I believe that in order for believers to return to the obedience taught by Jesus Christ Himself, the church must return to preaching and teaching sound doctrine, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The church today is producing counterfeit Christians with pagan minds, worshiping Baal rather than Christ, living carnal lives unpleasing to God. I don't care how good you think you are, you cannot live a life glorifying to God unless you worship and obey His commands. Jesus calls us to be salt and light, we can’t just live the positives without standing for the uncomfortable truths, disregarding the rest of what Scripture teaches. When the message of the Gospel is diluted, God's people lose their saltiness. That means we must not be under any illusions about Jesus coming to bring peace, a reality that some reject. Sharing the true Gospel of Jesus Christ is going to divide, split and fracture the world. That includes direct conflict and dissension, people being set against one another.
Martin Luther once said, "If our Gospel were received in peace, it wouldn't be the true Gospel." I believe that is a very realistic picture of the true message of the Gospel. In preaching and teaching the Truth, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not everyone is going to like you, in fact, many will hate you, just as they hated Him Who sends us. While Jesus brings peace to the heart of a believer, those who trust and obey His commands, He also bring a sword to the world. If you're preaching the Truth, you're going to cause division. Ever since Jesus Christ first came into this world, there's been a separation, a division that tears apart the goats from the sheep. However, if Christ had never come into this world, the world would have merrily continued along it's path straight to hell.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is going to be division and that's the way it's always been and the way it's going to be today. Let me put it another way, in being among the called, the elect destined to become a Christian, you have created for division. It's never easy or comfortable, especially when it comes to our own families. A true disciple of Christ will stand with Him and against even those whom we love, even if it means an end to that relationship, that's really the test. If you're too attached to your family and your friends, you're not worthy to be His disciple.
There is far more to affirming your commitment to the Lordship of Christ than filling out a card and standing before the church and saying a prayer; It's a love, loyalty and devotion to Christ and a willingness to forsake everything and everyone if need be. I cannot stress this enough. The disciple's were so committed and obedient to the call of Christ, when they ordered them to stop preaching Jesus or they'd been thrown in prison, Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men."
In verse 37, Jesus says "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."
In other words, if your family means more to you than I do, you cannot receive the salvation that I offer. By the way, that means even if it costs you your own life.
Look at verse 38, "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."
The cross is more than a bumper sticker or the piece of jewelry around your neck. It is the complete denial of our own self-interests, our lust for pleasure, our self-pride, all for the sake of Jesus and His Kingdom. It's a choice is between doing what we want or doing what God wants. For our Lord and those who followed Him, the cross was an instrument of death. Taking up one's cross is much more than a figure of speech, it's a conscious decision we all must make.
I have recently heard a number of pastors, who stand against the sound teaching of Christ, because they love their own children more than Christ, not willing to make that sacrifice, So they manipulate and distort the Gospel, to affirm and celebrate sexually immorality, something the Bible clearly calls sin. Taking up every social justice cause, rather than standing for the Sovereign One Who is righteous and just. An allegiance Jesus clearly says is not worthy of Him. I believe the true man of God favors the Lord, regardless of the situation, no matter the cost. That's where the rubber really meets the road, isn't it?
The message of this section of Scripture is to stress one thing, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, even those closest to us, and even to the point of death. When Jesus said, "Take up your cross," He was talking about Calvary. Every authentic follower of Christ carries the cross on his back, preparing for his own execution. Taking up the cross doesn't always mean being unable to do what we want to do, or banging your head against a brick wall. But when we truly follow Christ, what we want to do is greatly influenced by Him. He rearranges our wants and desires to be pleasing to Him. That's all part of the transformation process.
However, rest assured, there will be times in each of our lives where God will ask us to do something which is great in conflict with what we want to do. He may ask us to help someone who is in need rather than making that purchase we've been wanting and have saved up for. Or when we want to do something we know is wrong and there's no one around to see us. Taking up your cross meaning doing what God desires, even when it goes against what we want want. It's times like those when we really discover who we are most loyal to; ourselves or Jesus Christ. Rather than to deny Christ, we must always deny ourselves. That's the point.
Let's look at verse 39, before we conclude our message for today. " He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it."
This is a paradox that Jesus reminds us of over and over again, so that we don't forget. Whenever Scripture repeats something, it's important, pat attention. Whatever the price we must pay for following Jesus, in the end it will be worth it, even if it's with our own life. Throughout this message, we have seen the price tag can get pretty costly. A profound Truth that is lacking in the teaching in the church today. By taking up your cross, you must be willing to suffer the most excruciating, painful death ever imagined.
I've heard many professed Christians say, "I love Jesus, I follow Jesus but I'm not going to walk away from my relationship not matter how immoral. What you're saying is, I love Jesus, as long as it doesn't interfere with what I want. I'm not willing to go that far." In other words, I'm not going to give my life up for Him, that's where I draw the line!"
This principle is further explained in Luke 18, when "Peter said, "Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You." And He said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life." At some point, in each of our lives, we are going to begin to realize the high price of following Christ. The question we must then ask ourselves, is "Is it worth it?" If you're a genuine Christian, the answer is a resounding "YES." You're willing to do that and more, actively, and aggressively. Far better to lose everything this temporal life has to offer, your job, your friends, your family, your wants and desires of the flesh, even your life, than to forsake Jesus Christ, separated from God for all of eternity. What a powerful Truth for those who claim to follow Christ in name only.
In eternity, the true disciple will experience more than our finite minds could ever imagine. I Corinthians 2 says "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man,
all that God has prepared for those who love Him." I hasten to say those who love Him enough to be willing to give up everything for Him. Whatever we sacrifice in this life, it is well worth it.
Just so we don't leave this on a negative note, there is a positive to following Jesus, we'll not be able to get into the text, so I'll just quickly read to you verses forty through forty-two.
"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."
In Closing..
When we take a firm stand for the Truth, when forsake all else and represent Jesus Christ, not everyone is going to reject our message. Sure, we can expect there will be some who will. But some will be awakened, their eyes will be opened to the Truth, and they're going to believe. The ones that receive you are receiving Christ. I speak from my own personal experience when I tell you, no matter what it may cost us, that our words are more than just dust in the wind. There is a great satisfaction that comes from knowing our life has true meaning and purpose. To have even a small part in the joy of someone receiving Jesus Christ. The tremendous encouragement I have received from other Christians, the testimonies from those whose eyes were finally opened. To have someone say, "My eyes were opened and I was saved when you preached," the feeling that you get from that is beyond words, it's just incredible.
Sadly, even many in church, are not really interested in being disciples of Jesus, unwilling to let go of worldly desires, even though they have been a Christian for years. Believing they are saved many have never experienced His grace and forgiveness, by trusting in false teaching rather than trusting in Christ. They have strayed from the narrow path of following Him. Today I invite you to get back on track and follow the true teaching of Jesus. It is my prayer that God grant each of you receiving this message the desire to truly follow Jesus.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen