Read Luke 9:1-24

There came a point in Jesus’ earthly ministry when He began to tell His disciples that He would be going to Jerusalem to suffer, die and be raised from the dead.  In Luke’s account today’s passage is the first such prediction.  

This announcement is not just about travel plans.  It is, in fact, His way of saying that His ministry of preaching the gospel of the kingdom is now yielding to the ministry of the cross.  The truth is that after this first announcement He went to Jerusalem at least twice and to nearby Bethany once before the final trip to Jerusalem that began with the “Triumphal Entry” and ended at Golgotha and the Garden Tomb.  He made one last circuit through most of the cities and villages of Israel, but “Jerusalem” was now the defining term of His ministry.  

Today’s passage provides an intriguing and powerful context for this first announcement.  It begins with sending out of the Twelve.  They have been following Christ, observing His power and majesty.  Now they must be active.  Initially they might have been fearful, but how exciting it must have been to preach the same message, perform the same miracles, and see the same amazing effect on Jewish society.  What a “heady” experience for the Twelve.  They had success in ministry; and they seemingly experienced no opposition.

Then came the feeding of the 5000.  Do not think this is about feeding a lot of people.  It is actually about the inability of the disciples to do anything apart from Christ.  Success in serving Christ always brings a temptation to pride, to think that we are great.  But as Christ would remind them in the Upper Room, without Me you can do nothing! (Jn. 15:5)  Thus He asks them to feed the crowd.  He knows they are weak but are they aware that they are weak?

It is with this backdrop that Jesus has a most profound conversation with His disciples about what it really means to follow Him.  It begins with His reminding them who He is, so they understand the authority behind His words.  When we come to Christ it is revealed to us as it was to Peter that Jesus is Lord (Gal. 1:15-16); this is our confession (Rom. 10:9-10).  The difference between the Twelve and the crowds is that the Twelve know Jesus.  That is why they follow Him.  

But the question is: if we are following Christ, where will He lead us?  Will we be engaged in powerful ministry?  Will we be popular as it might have seemed with Christ?  What Jesus makes clear to all His disciples is that the only sure thing for those who follow Him is that they will go to Jerusalem, the place of suffering, rejection, death on a cross, and then resurrection from the dead.  ALL who come after Him must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him.  The only guaranteed hope is that they will live again.

That is what He means, then, when He says: whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.  Resurrection life is amazing, powerful, indestructible life.  But resurrection life is only experienced by those who have died!