Crosswalk
Crosswalk Reading: Luke 18:18-23 "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me" (Lk 9:23) These words of Jesus set the supreme condition for discipleship. All the four Gospels record them. Actually in Matthew and Luke this saying of Jesus is found twice (Mt 10:38; 16:24; Mk 8:34; Lk 9:23; 14:27; Jn 12:25). Many people come "to" Jesus; but very few come "after" Him. "Come to Me" was Christ's message to the unsaved; "Come after Me" was His message to those who joined Him. Coming to Jesus means enjoying privileges, primarily; but going after Him involves enduring problems, essentially. When we come to Jesus we receive forgiveness of sins; when we go after Him, we must renounce our sinful self. The percentage of backsliders is high these days because the call to come to Jesus is proclaimed repeatedly whereas the challenge to go after him is presented rarely. There are n