Dear Christian friends:

We Christians are followers of Christ. That means what? (See what answers you get) Think like Christ. Talk like Christ. Do like Christ. Chiefly believe that He forgives sins because of Christ's death and resurrection. Have hope for heaven. Pilgrim in this world.

Now if we follow Christ certain things will happen to us. Here in our text Jesus tells us what to expect as we follow Him and also He promises great rewards to those who follow Him through this world.


We should expect conflict when we follow Christ, (verses 34-36) When Christians really follow Christ they will meet opposition from wicked unbelievers. (verse 34) Sometimes the opposition is hidden; sometimes it is open. Opposition can happen in city, social gatherings, where we work. People mock and persecute you because you do not agree with their wrong and wicked ways and ideas. (Give a few examples)

The opposition can even happen in your own family. (verses 35-36) Not in every family. Mostly Christ brings love, forgiveness, peace and unity between persons of a family. That happens when everyone in the family accepts Christ as Savior and Lord, forgives one another, patient with one another and help one another.

But sometimes one or two persons in a family refuse to accept Jesus for their Savior and Lord. Then conflict will happen in that family. The Christian person in that family must not be surprised or quit following Christ because he wants to keep peace in his family. That is false peace. Sometimes I ask a member, "You aren't coming to church anymore, why?" Person perhaps answers, "My husband doesn't want me to go to church, so I stay home to keep the peace. I can't do for Christ, my husband is cross when I go."

In our text Jesus says we will be tempted to deny Him because we want to keep the peace and we don't want trouble. (verses 37-39) We hope that doesn't happen to you that someone in your family does not believe in Christ. Better if everyone in the family believes and follows Christ.

But if it happens, and often that happens, one or two persons in your family do not believe in Jesus, you should love Jesus more than these persons. You must not stop following Christ to keep peace in your family. If you do, you are not worthy of Jesus.

If for keeping earthly peace and love and if for earthly, worldly gain and honor you stop following Christ Jesus, you are not worthy of Him. (Read verses, 32, 33, 39)

Better to suffer losses, trouble, conflict and yes even death then to stop following Christ. Paul says, "I figure all things lost, that I can keep and have Christ."

So we Christians should expect trouble, conflict, losses as we follow Christ through this here wicked, proud, sinful world. That will happen to you often if you really believe in Jesus and follow Him.

He encourages us to suffer conflict, troubles, losses because He promises to give us great rewards. He promises to give great rewards to those people who really follow Him through this wicked world. (verses 32, 40, 42)

In the next chapter Jesus talks about John the Baptizer and how he suffered much trouble, and conflict and finally King Herod chopped off his head. John the Baptizer remained a true follower of Jesus also in conflict. He will have great honor and reward in heaven. The same with many others have done during the history of the Christian Church. Joan of Arc of France. Martin Luther. John Huss, Polycarp. Recently Christians in Nazi Germany, Rev. Bonhoeffer. More recently, Dr. Martin Luther King.

“Come, follow Me,” the Savior spake,
“All in My way abiding;
Deny yourselves, the world forsake,
Obey My call and guiding.
Oh, bear the cross, whate’er betide,
Take My example for your guide.
(Come, Follow Me, the Savior Spake, hymn)

Amen.