Jesus defeated the trifecta of the world, the flesh, and the devil through the cross, not with a sword or an army.
Denying oneself and following Jesus leads to satisfaction, integration, motivation by love, and freedom from the domination of want.
Deep dives
The Cross as a Symbol of Defeating Evil
Jesus defeated the trifecta of the world, the flesh, and the devil through the cross, not with a sword or an army.
Denying Oneself and Taking up the Cross
Jesus instructed his followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him.
The Challenge of Self-Denial in a Hedonistic World
In a world focused on self-fulfillment and getting what one wants, the call to deny oneself and take up the cross seems countercultural.
The Consequences of Following Self or Following Jesus
If one follows oneself, they will be unsatisfied, disintegrated, run by desire, and enslaved to want. However, if one follows Jesus and denies themselves, they will experience satisfaction, integration, motivation by love, and freedom from the domination of want.
"When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
We live in a culture that focuses on self-gratification, but Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him. In this episode, John Mark talks about how denying the self and our disordered desires leads to our deepest joy, peace, and happiness.