If Any Man Will Come After Me 1. Mark 8 and Luke 9 record essentially the same words as our text, Mt 16:24 2. “Come after me” refers to following the Lord as a disciple. This expression certainly suggests the following principles of Christian living: a. A disciple must have a sincere desire to belong to Christ. In other words, if any man is willing to be my disciple, there are certain things that must be done. b. This means three things in this verse: 1). One must renounce his self-dependence, and selfish pursuits. (Deny oneself) 2). We must embrace God’s conditions for being a disciple, and bear whatever troubles and difficulties that he may meet as a Christian. (Take up one’s cross) 3). And to imitate Jesus, and do whatever is necessary to follow him. (Follow Jesus)

Come after me… 1). One must renounce his self-dependence, and selfish pursuits. (Deny oneself) 2). We must embrace God’s conditions for being a disciple, and bear whatever troubles and difficulties that he may meet as a Christian. (Take up one’s cross) 3). And to imitate Jesus, and do whatever is necessary to follow him. (Follow Jesus) 2. “Come after me” refers to following the Lord as a disciple. This expression certainly suggests the following principles of Christian living: a. A disciple must have a sincere desire to belong to Christ. In other words, if any man is willing to be my disciple, there are certain things that must be done. b. This means three things in this verse: 1). One must renounce his self-dependence, and selfish pursuits. (Deny oneself) 2). We must embrace God’s conditions for being a disciple, and bear whatever troubles and difficulties that he may meet as a Christian. (Take up one’s cross) 3). And to imitate Jesus, and do whatever is necessary to follow him. (Follow Jesus)

Let him deny himself… For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:25 A. “Let him deny himself.” (Mt 16:24a) 1. Losing one’s life is worth more than saving it. (v. 25) a. Mark adds “whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s....” (8:35) b. “Before a person can follow me, he has to stop thinking of himself.” c. Luke expresses verse 25, “If he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”

Let him deny himself… For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26 2. The soul is worth more than the whole world. (v. 26) a. This means one’s will, affections, body, and soul must be surrendered to the will of God. Even one’s own happiness, and life must be laid down, if required (Revelation 2:10). b. One must deny oneself of selfish pursuits, self-reliance, and self-dependence. 3. Perhaps we should reemphasize: a. It is not my church. I have no church. b. It is not my plan of salvation. I have no plan of salvation. c. It is not my worship. I have no plan of worship. d. It is not my way. It is the Lord’s way. e. And if I did, I would need to deny it in favor of the Lord’s way. f. We must deny ourselves and not Christ Jesus. (Matthew 10:32,33)

Let him deny himself… “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33 3. Perhaps we should reemphasize: (It’s not my…) a. It is not my church. I have no church. b. It is not my plan of salvation. I have no plan of salvation. c. It is not my worship. I have no plan of worship. d. It is not my way. It is the Lord’s way. e. And if I did, I would need to deny it in favor of the Lord’s way. f. We must deny ourselves and not Christ Jesus. (Matthew 10:32,33)

And take up his cross… Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross Matthew 16:24b B. “And take up his cross” (Mt 16:24c) 1. Luke adds “let him take up his cross daily.” 2. The verb form indicates pick it up, and do it at once. 3. This is a figure of speech from the vision of the crucifixion of criminals in Jerusalem. a. This could be a rebuke of Peter who had been trying to keep the Lord from his destiny. Christ is facing the cross, which he alone must bear. b. The people in that time would understand this meant to pursue one’s own life, and take full responsibility for one’s own commitment to the Lord. c. No doubt, the use of this language, would suggest to the disciples that they very well might undergo some serious trials and persecutions because of being disciples. d. This means bearing whatever troubles and burdens are put on the Christian. 4. In some sense, Jesus is saying, “I am going to suffer, and you must too, so be ready.”

And follow me. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Matthew 16:24 C. “And follow me.” (Mt 16:24c) 1. When the Lord returns, he will “reward every man according to his works.” (v. 27) 2. The word “follow” means: a. “To follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him: Matthew 4:25.” b. “To join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple; side with his party, (A.V., follow him): Matthew 4:20,22.” – Thayer c. This verb is a present tense verb, and indicates that we are to keep on following. It becomes a lifetime pursuit. 3. Mark and Luke add, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

And follow me. For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Matthew 16:27 C. “And follow me.” (Mt 16:24c) 1. When the Lord returns, he will “reward every man according to his works.” (v. 27) 2. The word “follow” means: a. “To follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him: Matthew 4:25.” b. “To join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple; side with his party, (A.V., follow him): Matthew 4:20,22.” – Thayer c. This verb is a present tense verb, and indicates that we are to keep on following. It becomes a lifetime pursuit. 3. Mark and Luke add, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

And follow me. Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. Matthew 4:25 C. “And follow me.” (Mt 16:24c) 1. When the Lord returns, he will “reward every man according to his works.” (v. 27) 2. The word “follow” means: a. “To follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him: Matthew 4:25.” b. “To join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple; side with his party, (A.V., follow him): Matthew 4:20,22.” – Thayer c. This verb is a present tense verb, and indicates that we are to keep on following. It becomes a lifetime pursuit. 3. Mark and Luke add, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Matthew 4:20 And follow me. They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Matthew 4:20 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. Matthew 4:22 C. “And follow me.” (Mt 16:24c) 1. When the Lord returns, he will “reward every man according to his works.” (v. 27) 2. The word “follow” means: a. “To follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him: Matthew 4:25.” b. “To join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple; side with his party, (A.V., follow him): Matthew 4:20,22.” – Thayer c. This verb is a present tense verb, and indicates that we are to keep on following. It becomes a lifetime pursuit. 3. Mark and Luke add, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Conclusion These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. Revelation 14:4 1. This verse teaches us what it means to be a disciple, a follower of the Lord. 2. It indicates also some of the tremendous things that will be required of them. (Revelation 14:4)