2 questions (outline Philip Rykin)
Is Jesus worth it?
Were we worth it?
Is Jesus worth it?
The Cost
28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” Luke 18:28 (ESV)
10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. Luke 5:10–11 (ESV)
27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Matthew 19:27 (ESV)
The Reward
29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:29-30 (ESV)
Were we worth it?
The prophetic fulfillment
31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. Luke 18:31 (ESV)
The predicted suffering
32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”
Luke 18:32-33 (ESV)
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV)
The unrecognized truth
34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. Luke 18:34 (ESV)