This is one of Jesus’ most counter-cultural statements.

In a world centred around ‘I’ – where we’re encouraged to pursue what makes us happy, fight for our rights, get rich or die trying, be comfortable, retire young, be popular, be beautiful – Jesus re-defines what it means to truly experience life.

The challenge is this – real life is to be found not in things, or consumption, or relationships, or profile, or popularity, or work – all of these things glimmer and fade.

Real life is to be found in Jesus. Real life is to be found in the surrender of our world to Him. Real life is to be found walking His way, hand in hand, moment by moment. Real life is to be found when we die to the things of this world, things which over-promise and under-deliver. Real life is to be found when, for Jesus, we’re willing to lose it all just to have Him.

I recently had a conversation with a lady doing Alpha. She had just started reading the book of Matthew and just approached Matthew 10 and these verses. She was shocked by the words of Jesus. She called me somewhat confused – she had always pictured Jesus as this friendly, meek and mild character who wouldn’t say boo to a goose – and here He was saying the way to life is death. This was not an easy teaching.

It is not easy – but it is the way to life.

Only Jesus satisfies. Only Jesus gives life. We mustn’t be fooled by the trappings of this world offering much but letting us down.

Deep down, we all know this. We’ve tried and tried our own way. This lady from Alpha knew this. Confronted with these verses – it re-defined her view of Jesus and brought great freedom as another way to live was offered – a way of surrender instead of striving, a way of life instead of death. She gave her life to Jesus shortly after and has just been baptised – a picture of dying to the old and being awakened to the new!