A Matter of Surrender

A few centuries before Christ, Alexander the Great conquered almost all of the known world with his military strength, cleverness, and diplomacy. One day Alexander and a small company of soldiers approached a strongly defended, walled city. Alexander, standing outside the walls, raised his voice, demanding to see the king.

The king, approaching the battlements above the invading army, agreed to hear Alexander’s demands. “Surrender to me immediately,” commanded Alexander. The king laughed and asked, “Why should I surrender to you? We have you far outnumbered. You are no threat to us!” Alexander responded, “Allow me to demonstrate why you should surrender.” Alexander ordered his men to line up single file and start marching. He marched them straight toward a sheer cliff that dropped hundreds of feet to rocks below.

The king and his soldiers watched in shocked disbelief as, one by one, Alexander’s soldiers marched without hesitation right off the cliff to their deaths. After ten soldiers had died, Alexander ordered the rest of his men to stop and return to his side. The king and his soldiers surrendered on the spot to Alexander the Great. The king and his soldiers realized that nothing would stop the eventual victory of men actually willing to give their lives for their leader.¹

Alexander’s men were surrendered. It’s clear from a careful study of God’s Word that true followers of Christ are also surrendered. In fact, Jesus made it very clear when He said to His followers, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). What does it look like to be surrendered?

We stop pleasing self. Jesus tells us to deny ourselves. Deny means to disregard our own interests. What a contrast to our culture where it’s all about “me.” Our culture seeks to gratify self but Christ-followers seek to glorify God. After all, as Christ-followers we follow Jesus’ example. When Jesus was on earth He didn’t please Himself, He pleased His Father (John 4:34; John 8:29; Romans 15:3).

We yield our total self. Jesus instructs us to take up our cross daily. Taking up our cross daily points to self-denial and even exposure to death. In other words, it costs something to be a true follower of Christ. We daily yield all to Christ’s lordship. We yield our whole heart and our entire life to Him. We love Him above everyone else. We put Him before everything else in our lives. We live for and serve Him. (See Matthew 6:33; Mark 10:17-22 ; 12:30; Romans 12:1, 11)

We go with our Savior. Jesus said, "follow Me." Follow means to move quickly and go with (Mark 1:16-20; 2:14). Jesus is not referring to an occasional or temporary following. He’s referring to total commitment; an exclusive relationship with Him (John 15:1-11). To go with our Savior means that we follow His leading, His example, His life (Luke 22:41-42; Philippians 2:5-8). Jesus said that “My sheep hear My voice; and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

Surrender requires sacrifice. It could require some type of a lifestyle change, a career change, or a change in a relationship. It could even require a relocation. But Jesus would never ask us to do something that He Himself has not already done. He would never ask us to give up something that He Himself has not already given up. He set the example of what surrender really is: He denied Himself, He took up His cross daily, and He obediently followed God the Father.

Why should we surrender all, making it a life-time pursuit to be a devoted follower of Christ? It’s only when we surrender our lives completely to Him that we begin to live life to its fullest as He intended for us to live! Jesus said, For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? (Luke 9:24-25).

There’s no greater adventure than living for and following after Christ. But it requires absolute surrender. We must stop pleasing self, yield our total self, and go with our Savior. We surrender all to Christ’s lordship. It’s a matter of surrender!

 

¹ Rice, Wayne. Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks (El Cajun, CA: Youth Specialties, 1994), 22-23.