Luke 18:28-34

Luke 18:28-34

1. Let us observe what a glorious and satisfying promise our Lord holds out to all believers who make sacrifices for His sake.
2. Let us observe the clear and plain prediction which our Lord makes about His own death.
3. Let us observe the slowness of the disciples to understand Christ's death.

"Let us press onward with a strong persuasion, that if we lose anything for Christ's sake, Christ will make it up to us even in this present world. What believers need is more daily practical faith in Christ's words."

"Such love passes knowledge. It is unspeakable--unsearchable. We may rest on that love without fear. If Christ so loved us before we thought of Him, He will surely not cease to love us after we have believed."

"We live in a day when false doctrines about Christ's death abound on every side. Let us see that Christ crucified is really the foundation of our own hopes, and that Christ's atoning death for sin is indeed the whole life of our souls."

Questions:

1. Jesus encourages us that though we may give up all for His kingdom, that he will make up for it even in this life. Ryle applies this to a spiritual sense in knowing His peace and joy, and yet, he also warns that we need more practical faith to believe in these promises when things are hard. Do we know anything of this provision in this life now?

2. Ryle tells us that if Christ could go to His death with such resolve even before we thought of Him, how much can we then trust His love for us now! What does this do to encourage our hearts?

3. Ryle warns us that, lest we be surprised at the disciples slow hearts to believe the plain teaching of Jesus, we should look to our own hearts that Christ crucified is really the foundation of our own hopes. Brothers and sisters, can we say with Paul that we glory in nothing but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ? May it be so!