Matthew 16:24-26 - Counting the Cost of Following Jesus

 Matthew 16:24-26
“If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

At first glance, these words sound simple. But if you’ve ever tried to live them, you know they are anything but easy. They are beautifully clear, and wonderfully uncomfortable at the same time.

Take a minute and seriously look at what Jesus says:

“Deny yourself.” He’s telling us that following Him doesn’t work if our first priority is our own comfort, convenience, or ego. Discipleship starts with humility and surrender, not self-centered planning.

“Take up your cross.” Following Jesus will cost something. It may cost you comfort, time, approval, or even reputation. The path of faith isn’t paved with guarantees—it’s only paved with trust.

“Follow Me.” He didn’t say just sometimes. Or just when it’s convenient. He asks that you are all in! Following in every part of your life matters.

And here’s the part that really flips our expectation on its head:  Jesus says if we try to save our own lives—if we live only for comfort, security, or success—we are going to lose them. But if we surrender our lives for Him, we truly find them. The logic is upside-down from what the world is giving out:  what seems like “loss” is actually gain, and what seems like “saving” is actually destruction.

And–let’s be honest about it:  that is not an easy thing to read. Most, if not all of us, want to hold onto what we have. We like to protect our comfort, control our schedules, and preserve our plans. And many of us try to do both—follow Jesus, while at the same time keeping our own priorities firmly in place. But here is a spoiler alert:  it doesn’t work that way. You can’t serve two masters.

But there’s good news in all of this:  following Jesus is worth it. The world promises success, comfort, and fleeting pleasures, but only Jesus gives life that is deep, meaningful, and eternal. It doesn’t mean life will always be easy. But it does mean it will be real. It will be full. It will matter — forever.

So the real question isn’t, “Can I squeeze Jesus into my life?” It’s, “Am I living for Him, or am I living for myself?”

Because when we put Jesus first, everything changes. Our relationships become richer, our work becomes more purposeful, and even the struggles of life gain meaning. When we lose our lives for Christ, we discover life in the truest, deepest sense.

The choice Jesus lays before us is simple—but not easy:  deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. It costs something. But the reward is everything. Eternal life. True joy. Peace that doesn’t depend on circumstances. A purpose that reaches far beyond what we could ever accomplish on our own.

So the question remains:  Are we willing to let go of the things that weigh us down? Are we willing to surrender what the world says is important for what God says is eternal?

Because following Christ isn’t about comfort. It isn’t about avoiding trouble. It’s about gaining something infinitely more valuable—life itself, found only in Him.