The Gospel of John By J.C. ryle

find at length that he has lost everything. He, on the contrary, who is ready to cast away
everything most dear to him in this life, if it stands in the way of his soul, and to crucify
the flesh with its affections and lusts, will find at length that he is no loser. In a word,
his losses will prove nothing in comparison to his gains.
Truths such as these should sink deeply into our hearts, and stir up self-inquiry. It is as
true of Christians as it is of Christ--there can be no life without death, there can be no
sweet without bitter, there can be no crown without a cross. Without Christ's death
there would have been no life for the world. Unless we are willing to die to sin, and
crucify all that is most dear to flesh and blood, we cannot expect any benefit from
Christ's death. Let us remember these things, and take up our cross daily, like men. Let
us, for the joy set before us, endure the cross and despise the shame, and in the end we
shall sit down with our Master at God's right hand. The way of self-crucifixion and
sanctification may seem foolishness and wasteful to the world, just as burying good seed
seems wasteful to the child and the fool. But there never lived the man who did not find
that, by sowing to the Spirit, he reaped life everlasting.
We learn, for another thing, from our Lord's words, that if we profess to serve Christ, we
must follow Him. "If any man serves Me," is the saying, "let him follow Me."
That expression, "following," is one of wide signification, and brings before our minds
many familiar ideas. As the soldier follows his general, as the servant follows his master,
as the scholar follows his teacher; as the sheep follows its shepherd, just so ought the
professing Christian to follow Christ. Faith and obedience are the leading marks of real
followers, and will always be seen in true believing Christians. Their knowledge may be
very small, and their infirmities very great; their grace very weak, and their hope very
dim. But they believe what Christ says, and strive to do what Christ commands. And of
such Christ declares, "They serve Me, they are Mine."
Christianity like this receives little from man. It is too thorough, too decided, too strong,
too real. To serve Christ in name and form is easy work, and satisfies most people, but
to follow Him in faith and life demands more trouble than the generality of men will
take about their souls. Laughter, ridicule, opposition, persecution, are often the only
reward which Christ's followers get from the world. Their religion is one, "whose praise
is not of men, but of God." (Rom. 2:29.)
Yet to him who follows, let us never forget, the Lord Jesus holds out abundant
encouragement--"Where I am," He declares, "there also shall my servant be; if any man
serves Me, him will my Father honor." Let us lay to heart these comfortable promises,
and go forward in the narrow way without fear. The world may cast out our name as
evil, and turn us out of its society; but when we dwell with Christ in glory, we shall have
a home from which we can never be ejected. The world may pour contempt on our
religion, and laugh us and our Christianity to scorn; but when the Father honors us at
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