Day 9—Luke 9—The Cost and Glory of Following

“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” — Luke 9:23 (ESV)

At some point, every person must answer a defining question: Do I truly believe that Jesus Christ is who He says He is, and will do what He has said He will do? Christianity does not rest on sentiment, tradition, or moral preference. It stands—or falls—on the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? That God, in His great love for humanity, sent His only Son to be born of a virgin, to live a sinless life, to die a substitutionary death on a Roman cross for the sins of the world? Do you believe He was buried, rose bodily from the grave on the third day, appeared to many witnesses, and then ascended into heaven where He is seated at the right hand of the Father? Do you believe He is fully man and fully God—perfect in His humanity, complete in His deity?

These are not academic questions. They are eternal ones.

In Luke 9, Jesus turns to the crowds and speaks words that are as searching today as they were then. He does not soften the call. He does not market discipleship as an add-on to a comfortable life. Instead, He lays out the cost plainly and clearly: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Notice first the invitation: “If anyone would come after me.” This call is open to all. No one is excluded by background, failure, or weakness. But it is also personal. Jesus does not call groups; He calls individuals. Each person must decide whether they will follow.

Then comes the requirement: deny himself. This runs counter to everything our culture celebrates. The world tells us to assert ourselves, indulge ourselves, promote ourselves. Jesus says the first step of discipleship is self-denial—not self-hatred, but the surrender of self-rule. It is the recognition that my life is no longer my own.

To deny myself means I no longer sit on the throne of my heart. Christ does.

Next, Jesus says we must take up our cross daily. In the first century, the cross was not a metaphor—it was an instrument of death. To take up the cross meant a willingness to die to self, to ambitions, to rights, and even to reputation. Luke adds the word daily, reminding us that discipleship is not a one-time decision but a continual posture of surrender.

Following Jesus is not about a moment in the past; it is about a walk in the present.

Jesus then gives a paradox that defines the Christian life: “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” The natural instinct of fallen humanity is self-preservation. We want to protect our comfort, our plans, our dreams. But Jesus says that clinging to life on our own terms ultimately leads to loss. True life—abundant and eternal—is found only when we surrender ourselves to Him.

He presses the point further with a piercing question: “For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” You can have success, influence, wealth, and applause—and still be bankrupt in your soul. Nothing in this world can compensate for the loss of the eternal.

Jesus then speaks soberly about the future: “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory.” There is a coming day of glory. Christ will return—not as a suffering servant, but as a conquering King. On that day, what matters most will not be how much we accumulate, but whom we follow.

Harold Wilmington once summarized discipleship well when he said, “Discipleship means denial and devotion.” Jesus taught that those who truly follow Him must deny their own life and desires and pursue His life and desires instead. This is not partial devotion. It is not selective obedience. True discipleship means total devotion to Christ.

Anything less leaves us divided—and division in our allegiance leads to shame rather than glory.

But here is the beautiful truth: when we truly experience the glory of God, the demands of discipleship are transformed into blessings. What once felt like loss becomes gain. What once seemed like sacrifice becomes joy. Obedience is no longer a burden; it becomes the natural response of a heart captivated by Christ.

The more clearly we see Jesus, the more willingly we follow Him.

So the question comes home to us: What are you willing to lay down in order to be in right relationship with Jesus? What ambitions, habits, fears, or attachments compete for your devotion? Are you willing to surrender your desires for God’s best design for your life?

Jesus never forces discipleship. He invites it. He waits patiently, lovingly, faithfully. And He promises that those who lose their life for His sake will find it.

Today is an opportunity—not just to admire Jesus, but to follow Him. Not just to believe facts about Him, but to trust Him with your life. The way forward is the way of the cross—and it is the only path that leads to true life.

Jesus is waiting.

Prayer:
Father, we come before You humbled by the call of Your Son. We confess that we often want the blessings of Christ without the cost of discipleship. Forgive us for holding on to our own desires, plans, and control. Give us eyes to see Jesus clearly and hearts willing to follow Him fully. Teach us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and walk in joyful obedience. May we lose our lives for His sake and find true life in Him. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

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