{"id":1376,"date":"2025-10-01T14:10:45","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T18:10:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greatestcommandment.org\/?page_id=1376"},"modified":"2025-10-01T14:10:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T18:10:45","slug":"the-cost-of-following-jesus","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/greatestcommandment.org\/?page_id=1376","title":{"rendered":"The Cost of Following Jesus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<main class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"top\">The Cost of Following Jesus \u2014 Deep Summary<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>\u201cWhoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.\u201d<\/p><cite>Luke 14:27<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This page summarizes five essentials Jesus taught about discipleship and the cost of following Him. It\u2019s anchored in Jesus\u2019 words and in the witness of the Twelve (Peter, James, John, Jude; Acts, Revelation).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick Navigation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#world\">1) Turn Away from \u201cthe World\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#abundant\">2) Abundant Life\u2014Set Apart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#narrow\">3) Why the Way Is Narrow<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#faith\">4) True Faith vs. Fake Faith<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#gain\">5) Losing Everything to Gain Everything<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"world\">1) \u201cThe World\u201d and Why We Must Turn From It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In Scripture, \u201cthe world\u201d is not creation itself but the <strong>rebellious value\u2011system<\/strong> organized apart from God\u2014its cravings, pride, status\u2011seeking, and confidence in riches. Jesus says His followers \u201care not of the world\u201d because His word sets them apart (John 17:14\u201316). He warns that the <strong>cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches<\/strong> choke the word so it becomes unfruitful (Mark 4:19). James states it plainly: <strong>friendship with the world is enmity with God<\/strong> (James 4:4). And John commands, <strong>\u201cDo not love the world or the things in the world\u201d<\/strong> because its desires pass away (1 John 2:15\u201317).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This stands in sharp contrast to prosperity teaching. Jesus never equates God\u2019s favor with earthly wealth; in fact, He warns how <strong>hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom<\/strong> (Mark 10:23\u201325), commands us to <strong>store treasure in heaven<\/strong> (Matthew 6:19\u201321), and tells the sobering parable of the <strong>rich fool<\/strong> whose life ended while he was busy enlarging barns (Luke 12:15\u201321). The Kingdom reorders loyalties, loosens our grip on possessions, and redirects our hope from present comfort to eternal reward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Key passages<\/summary><p>John 17:14\u201316; Mark 4:18\u201319; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15\u201317; Matthew 6:19\u201324; Luke 12:15\u201321; Mark 10:23\u201325.<\/p><\/details>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"abundant\">2) Abundant Life\u2014But Set Apart From the World<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Jesus promises <strong>\u201clife\u2026 more abundantly\u201d<\/strong> (John 10:10). That abundance is not guaranteed luxury; it\u2019s the <strong>overflow of God\u2019s life<\/strong>\u2014peace, joy, love, purpose\u2014<strong>while we live set apart<\/strong>. Jesus gives <strong>peace not as the world gives<\/strong> (John 14:27) and assures <strong>overcoming joy<\/strong> that no one can take (John 15:11; 16:22,33). He calls us to <strong>lose our life<\/strong> for His sake in order to truly find it (Luke 9:23\u201325), even to the point of <strong>hating<\/strong> (renouncing ultimate allegiance to) our life in this world so we may keep it for eternal life (John 12:25; Luke 14:26\u201327,33).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So \u201cabundant life\u201d is <strong>holy abundance<\/strong>\u2014the Father\u2019s care (Matthew 6:25\u201334), a new family of faith \u201cwith persecutions\u201d (Mark 10:29\u201330), the Spirit\u2019s power for witness (Acts 1:8), and the presence of Jesus with His own (Matthew 28:20). It is abundance <strong>in<\/strong> trials, not escape <strong>from<\/strong> them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>\u201cTruly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, <strong>who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time<\/strong>, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, <strong>with persecutions<\/strong>, <strong>and in the age to come eternal life<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p><cite>Mark 10:29\u201330 (ESV)<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Key passages<\/summary><p>John 10:10; John 14:27; John 15:11; John 16:22,33; Luke 9:23\u201325; John 12:25; Luke 14:26\u201327,33; Matthew 6:25\u201334; Mark 10:29\u201330.<\/p><\/details>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"narrow\">3) Why the Way Is Narrow and the Path Difficult<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Jesus says, <strong>\u201cEnter by the narrow gate\u2026 the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.\u201d<\/strong> (Matthew 7:13\u201314). The gate is narrow because the call is <strong>exclusive<\/strong>: deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23). He demands <strong>undivided allegiance<\/strong>\u2014even above family, possessions, and our own lives (Luke 14:25\u201333). The path is <strong>difficult<\/strong> because it runs <strong>against the current<\/strong> of the world and often invites <strong>hatred and persecution<\/strong> (John 15:18\u201321; Matthew 10:16\u201339). Yet this very difficulty guards the door: it exposes counterfeit discipleship and refines true devotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Key passages<\/summary><p>Matthew 7:13\u201314; Matthew 16:24; Luke 14:25\u201333; John 15:18\u201321; Matthew 10:16\u201339.<\/p><\/details>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faith\">4) True Faith vs. Fake Faith (Cowardice and Unbelief)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Jesus describes true faith as <strong>living, persistent, and God\u2011centered<\/strong>\u2014like a <strong>mustard seed<\/strong> that moves mountains because it clings to God, not to outcomes (Matthew 17:20; 21:21\u201322; Mark 9:23\u201324). Genuine faith <strong>abides<\/strong> in Christ (John 15:5\u20137), <strong>hears and does<\/strong> His words (Matthew 7:24\u201327), <strong>perseveres<\/strong> under testing (Luke 8:15), and <strong>remains faithful unto death<\/strong> (Revelation 2:10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By contrast, fake faith <strong>hears but doesn\u2019t do<\/strong>, <strong>sprouts but has no root<\/strong>, or is <strong>choked<\/strong> by worldly cares and riches (Matthew 7:26\u201327; Luke 8:13\u201314). <strong>Cowardice and unbelief<\/strong> are named first among those destined for the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). Why? Because <strong>fear that refuses obedience<\/strong> and <strong>unbelief that rejects truth<\/strong> both sever us from the only Source of life. Jesus repeatedly commands <strong>\u201cDo not fear\u201d<\/strong> and calls for <strong>endurance<\/strong> (Matthew 10:26\u201333; John 16:33; Revelation 2:10). True faith <strong>endures sickness, loss, and even death<\/strong>, anchored in the goodness and authority of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Key passages<\/summary><p>Matthew 17:20; Mark 9:23\u201324; John 15:5\u20137; Matthew 7:24\u201327; Luke 8:13\u201315; Matthew 10:26\u201333; Revelation 2:10; Revelation 21:8.<\/p><\/details>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"gain\">5) Losing Everything to Gain Everything<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Jesus promises that those who <strong>leave all<\/strong> to follow Him receive <strong>\u201ca hundredfold now\u2026 with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.\u201d<\/strong> (Mark 10:29\u201330). He teaches that <strong>whoever loses his life for His sake will find it<\/strong> (Matthew 16:25). This gain is <strong>qualitatively different<\/strong>: <strong>peace<\/strong> in turmoil (John 14:27), <strong>joy<\/strong> no one can take (John 16:22), <strong>freedom from anxiety<\/strong> through the Father\u2019s care (Matthew 6:25\u201334), and <strong>authority to pray and bear fruit<\/strong> that glorifies God (John 15:7\u20138; 14:12\u201314). The apostolic witness matches this: <strong>\u201cWe must obey God rather than men\u201d<\/strong>\u2014and they <strong>rejoiced<\/strong> when counted worthy to suffer for Jesus\u2019 name (Acts 5:29\u201342).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Key passages<\/summary><p>Mark 10:29\u201331; Matthew 16:24\u201326; John 14:27; John 16:22; Matthew 6:25\u201334; John 15:7\u20138; John 14:12\u201314; Acts 5:29\u201342.<\/p><\/details>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/main>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Cost of Following Jesus \u2014 Deep Summary \u201cWhoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.\u201d Luke 14:27 This page summarizes five essentials Jesus taught about discipleship and the cost of following Him. It\u2019s anchored in Jesus\u2019 words and in the witness of the Twelve (Peter, James, John, Jude; Acts, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1376","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"greatestcommandment.org","author_link":"https:\/\/greatestcommandment.org\/?author=1"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The Cost of Following Jesus \u2014 Deep Summary \u201cWhoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.\u201d Luke 14:27 This page summarizes five essentials Jesus taught about discipleship and the cost of following Him. It\u2019s anchored in Jesus\u2019 words and in the witness of the Twelve (Peter, James, John, Jude; Acts,&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatestcommandment.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1376","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatestcommandment.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatestcommandment.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greatestcommandment.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greatestcommandment.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1376"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/greatestcommandment.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1376\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1377,"href":"https:\/\/greatestcommandment.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1376\/revisions\/1377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatestcommandment.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}