The Cost of Discipleship

Matthew 19:16-26, 29

GOLDEN TEXT: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”—Matthew 16:24

LUKE’S account of the young man who interviewed the Master in an effort to learn how he might obtain eternal life states that he was a ruler, and he is usually referred to by students of the Bible as the rich young ruler. The dialog which took place between this young man and Jesus, together with the questions it raised in the minds of the disciples, serve to emphasize certain very important items of truth relative to the divine plan for human salvation.

While the young man asked what he could do to obtain life, the Master’s final answer was an invitation to follow Him into death. “Go and sell that thou hast,” said Jesus, “and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.” Mark’s account of this invitation adds, “and take up the cross.” (Mark 10:21) To bestow all of his goods to aid the poor was, in itself, a great sacrifice for this rich man, but that was not all. In addition, he was invited to take up his cross and follow Jesus, which meant to embark upon a course which would lead to death.

This, then, was not a direct answer to the young man’s request for the secret of everlasting life. True, Jesus added, “and thou shalt have treasure in heaven,” but the young man would not know the meaning of this. The Jews had not been taught to expect a heavenly reward; hence, while the promised “treasure in heaven” was of far greater value than the everlasting life for which he was seeking, the young man did not realize it. To him the cost of whatever Jesus offered was entirely too high, so he went away sorrowful.

What this young man had in mind was lasting life as a human being. He doubtless had heard that Jesus was able to heal the sick and even to raise the dead, so he was encouraged to believe that such a miracle-worker and teacher must surely have some formula whereby one could remain well and not die at all. The law given to Israel promised just this to anyone who could keep it, and in his interview with Jesus he affirmed that he had been keeping that law as faithfully as possible.

Even so, the young man realized that the seeds of death were working in him. Being a member of the imperfect, fallen race, it was not possible for him to live wholly up to all the requirements of the law, hence he was not getting the benefits which the law promised to anyone who could keep it perfectly. It was for this reason that he was endeavoring to learn from Jesus if there might not be some other method of obtaining life.

It was then more than nineteen centuries in advance of the time when everlasting human life will be given to the people who accept Jesus and obey the laws of His Kingdom. There was therefore no occasion for the Master to explain what the conditions of life in the Kingdom would be. At that time the work of God for the Gospel Age was opening up. That work was to be the calling and preparation of a little flock, who, proving their faithfulness by suffering and dying with Jesus, were to have the privilege of living and reigning with Him. These were to be partakers of a “heavenly calling,” hence, by taking up their cross and following Jesus into death they would be laying up “treasure in heaven.” But all this was beyond the ability of the young man to understand.

Even the disciples failed to grasp the full import of what the Master said to the young ruler. They came to him and inquired, “Who then can be saved?” If the way of life was to be so difficult that earnest and noble men like this were to be turned aside, how could they hope for a great deal of success in making converts? This seems to be the thought that was going through their minds.

But Jesus did not answer directly. He assured the disciples that all things were possible with God. True enough. But this did not satisfy the disciples, so Peter propounded another question—“Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed Thee; what shall we have therefore?” Here Peter was saying to Jesus that the disciples were meeting the conditions He had outlined to the young ruler, and now they wanted to know what their reward was to be.

The promised “treasure in heaven” was a new thought to them also. At that time they were looking for earthly life under the ministration of Messiah’s Kingdom. Jesus’ reply to Peter’s question is most significant. It emphasizes the high reward to be given to His faithful disciples, and at the same time assures them that He had not overlooked God’s promise to give everlasting human life to the world in general. The reward of glory, of rulership, was to be theirs in the TIME of “regeneration,” but their reward was not to BE regeneration. Rather, they were to share with Him as rulers and judges during the time when all mankind will be regenerated, or restored to life—the “times of restitution of all things.” (Acts 3:19-23; Matt. 19:28) How beautifully the lesson reminds us of the heavenly calling for the church, and the promised earthly blessings for the world!

It is essential to understand the difference between these two salvations in order to appreciate the beautiful harmony of the Bible. There is a heavenly hope for the church, but God’s provision for mankind as a whole is everlasting human life upon the earth.

QUESTIONS:

What does it mean to take up our cross and follow Jesus?

What did Jesus mean by the expression, “laying up treasure in heaven”?

What is the “regeneration” referred to by the Master?

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