Last week, we talked about how the Apostle Peter had declared that Jesus was “the Messiah, the Son of the Living God”, and how that meant that Jesus was both the man who would save Israel, and God walking upon the earth. Jesus was both Man and God, meaning that Jesus’ sacrifice for us was real and of infinite value, defeating death for us and reversing the curse that we had acquired in the Garden of Eden.
Our reading from Matthew 16, verses 21 to 28 today takes the story further. Now that Peter and the other disciples had decided that Jesus was indeed "the Messiah, the Son of the Living God," Jesus began to let them in on what was going to happen later that spring. He explained to them that He must go to Jerusalem, the capital of ancient Israel. He must suffer many things at the hands of the elders of Israel, the chief priests of the Temple and the teachers of the Law of Moses, and most importantly that Jesus must be killed and raised to life again on the third day. He was predicting all of this months before it actually happened.
Now I don’t know about you, but I can see where an ordinary man could predict that he had to travel to such-and-such political capital and suffer at the hands of the leaders there with whom he disagreed. But to the disciples – and other people hearing this for the first time, the idea that Jesus had to be killed and then raised to life on the third day must have seemed crazy. How can you make such a prediction? Who would be crazy enough to go somewhere you’d be killed – and even more crazy, who would predict that you’d be raised on the third day?
Peter, the leader of the disciples, despite having declared Jesus to be the Son of the living God just a day or so earlier, reminded us of how weak our faith can be. For despite Peter’s declaration that the man in front of Him was God walking on the earth, Peter pulls Jesus aside and says, “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!”
Who knows? Peter may have forgotten to whom he was speaking, or he may have remembered very well and just forgotten how much higher Jesus was than Peter was. Was Peter saying that “you ain’t gonna die because we won’t let you?” or was Peter saying, “No one would kill the Messiah, the son of the Living God?”
I tend to think that Peter had just forgotten for a minute that Jesus was God. After all, Peter had followed Jesus for a couple of years by now. He had seen Jesus eat, he’d seen Jesus get tired and sleep, he’d seen Jesus sleep, and he had walked and talked with Jesus many days. Peter was comfortable with Jesus as a man.
Peter was kind of like most of us. We’ve heard about Jesus for years, decades. We’ve seen his smiling face, we’ve seen his baby pictures, we’ve heard all the stories about Jesus, and He’s done good things for many of us. We’ve grown comfortable with Jesus the man, Jesus the teacher, Jesus the nice guy who wears a cream-white robe and is handsome and has a dark beard and a great big joyous smile. But just like Peter, we often forget that in this man was also the exact same substance as God the Father, the Being that created the Universe, that said “Let there be light!” and caused the Universe to explode into existence. We forget that, as Jesus famously said in John chapter 10, verse 30, that Jesus “and the Father are One.” We forget that this is the man-God who will one day be lead the armies of Heaven back to conquer the earth and become King.
It is like growing comfortable with the man who you eat lunch with each day, a man you’ve worked with for years, a man you’ve ridden to work with every day. And then, one day, he says, “my grandmother called me today. I’ll have to meet her at the airport, would you like to come with me?” And you say, "okay." And when you get to the airport and the plane lands and Grandma comes to meet your friend you find that Grandma is Queen Elizabeth II of England. Your friend is a prince, he has access to the ear of one of the most powerful people on earth and you never really knew, you’d grown comfortable with him, for he really is a nice guy, but that day you are reminded just what his family relationship really means.
Peter had grown comfortable with the man Jesus. We’ve grown comfortable with the man Jesus. He’s our best buddy, He’s fun to be around, He winks at things when we misbehave.
That day, Peter told Jesus that Jesus would never have to die.
And Jesus let him have it. Jesus reminded Peter of who He is. Oh, that we would all be reminded of who Jesus is!
Jesus turned to Peter and called him “Satan!” “Get behind me, Satan!”
Jesus was saying that Peter was acting as the devil or at least under the devil’s influence by trying to keep Jesus from dying in Jerusalem. For the Messiah had to die as a sacrifice for people to be reconciled to God. And Jesus was that Messiah who was prepared to die – partially because He had faith that He would rise from the dead three days later.
Jesus said that Peter was a stumbling block to Him, literally, an object in His way. He told Peter that Peter did not care about what God wanted but only the ordinary concerns of people. Get the big picture, Peter!
Jesus said that Peter was a stumbling block to Him, literally, an object in His way. He told Peter that Peter did not care about what God wanted but only the ordinary concerns of people. Get the big picture, Peter!
Have you ever been a stumbling block in the way of someone who is trying to accomplish something great? Have you ever been an object in someone's way?
And it is difficult to get the big picture, isn’t it? When we’ve grown up in a world that tells us success is determined by the car we drive, the house we live in, the phone we have, the money in our retirement account, it is easy to lose sight of the big picture. When we’ve grown up in a world that is more concerned with looking young, with following football teams, with the daily political scandals we can lose track of what is important. When we’ve grown up in a world that every two years tells us that this is the most important election that there will every be (search Google images, you can find memes for the last 20 years!) We we live in a world that has us focus upon the daily deaths from COVID, that worries about the weekly Top 40 songs, we tend to forget that in a hundred years we will all be gone, that there isn’t all that much difference on that last night in the hospital between living 40 years and living 90 years, that eternity starts with ten thousand years and goes on from there. It is difficult to stay focused upon the big picture, which for Jesus was “How do I sacrifice Myself so all these billions of people will have a chance to live with Me and the Father forever?”
For Jesus, it really didn’t matter that He’d die upon the cross. For He looked forward past the cross to the joy that lie upon the other side. Like the man running for the touchdown – it doesn’t matter that it will hurt when he runs over that safety between him and the goal line. What matters is crossing the goal line. And for Jesus, what were little things like death, like the pain of the scourging, like the blood loss, like the beatings he’d have to endure if Jesus could simply die on that cross to defeat death forever for those people who chose to follow Him!
I’ve mentioned before that Jesus told us a couple times to believe in Him – but He told us about 80 times to follow Him. This is one of those times. We are to follow Jesus, to do what He does, to imitate Him, to become “little Christs”, which is what the word Christian originally meant. And this is one of those times He tells us to imitate Him.
And it is difficult to get the big picture, isn’t it? When we’ve grown up in a world that tells us success is determined by the car we drive, the house we live in, the phone we have, the money in our retirement account, it is easy to lose sight of the big picture. When we’ve grown up in a world that is more concerned with looking young, with following football teams, with the daily political scandals we can lose track of what is important. When we’ve grown up in a world that every two years tells us that this is the most important election that there will every be (search Google images, you can find memes for the last 20 years!) We we live in a world that has us focus upon the daily deaths from COVID, that worries about the weekly Top 40 songs, we tend to forget that in a hundred years we will all be gone, that there isn’t all that much difference on that last night in the hospital between living 40 years and living 90 years, that eternity starts with ten thousand years and goes on from there. It is difficult to stay focused upon the big picture, which for Jesus was “How do I sacrifice Myself so all these billions of people will have a chance to live with Me and the Father forever?”
For Jesus, it really didn’t matter that He’d die upon the cross. For He looked forward past the cross to the joy that lie upon the other side. Like the man running for the touchdown – it doesn’t matter that it will hurt when he runs over that safety between him and the goal line. What matters is crossing the goal line. And for Jesus, what were little things like death, like the pain of the scourging, like the blood loss, like the beatings he’d have to endure if Jesus could simply die on that cross to defeat death forever for those people who chose to follow Him!
I’ve mentioned before that Jesus told us a couple times to believe in Him – but He told us about 80 times to follow Him. This is one of those times. We are to follow Jesus, to do what He does, to imitate Him, to become “little Christs”, which is what the word Christian originally meant. And this is one of those times He tells us to imitate Him.
Taking up a Cross
Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciples must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
A disciple is more than a student. A disciple is one who is disciplined to follow a particular leader. We spend a lot of time studying Jesus; how much time do we spend following and imitating Jesus?
We are to deny ourselves. We are to put aside what we want – and follow Jesus. Not only that, we are to find our cross and follow Jesus.
Now many people look at this as “Oh dear, this terrible time, this terrible thing is my cross to bear.” But that is not what Jesus meant. He meant we are to walk down the path of life, find a cross, and with Jesus’ help, JOYFULLY look upon this test for what it will do for us and others.
Does a great football lineman look at the opposing lineman as something terrible to deal with? No, that is the way a loser looks at things. A great football lineman looks at the 300 pound man in front of him as merely an obstacle to be moved and defeated as the game is won. Jesus looked at death on the cross as an obstacle to be defeated, a bridge to be crossed, a joyful way to show the world WHO HE IS.
Does a bride look at the wedding dress as something terrible to encounter, a horrible problem to be borne, a catastrophe that they will barely survive? No – the bridge looks at the wedding dress as something that must be found and put on for her to have her joyful wedding day! For it is partially the dress that makes her the bride! Jesus looked at death on the cross as a part of his identity, as part of who He would become, a necessary and joyful part of becoming the Savior of the world!
So find your cross to carry. Find that obstacle that you will defeat with Jesus’ help and that will become part of your identity. It won’t be easy – but looking past that cross to the joy of arriving on the other side and saying, “Jesus and I defeated that cross!” is what being a disciple of Jesus means.
In the Outward Bound program, a group of people who work together go into the wilderness together. They must learn to depend upon each other, they must help each other, they must defeat a common obstacle – a mountain to climb, a river to raft, a glacier to cross. And by accomplishing that difficult task, they become a team, which is why thousands of teams from leading companies have followed the Outward Bound adventures.
What could be your cross? Perhaps God has people watching you while you battle a difficult disease, which is your cross. Take up the fight joyfully, praying for God’s help, for you know that you will either have a wonderful story to tell – or you will grow close to God and be with Jesus in the end.
Perhaps your cross is a financial struggle. Take up your cross joyfully, praying for God’s help, for you will learn how to live on much less money as God gives you ideas on how to save money – and how to earn money.
Perhaps your cross involves a difficult relationship. Take up your cross joyfully, praying for God’s help, for God will pull you into a closer relationship with Jesus – which is our most important relationship, and God will teach you principles which can help you counsel another.
Perhaps your cross involves a struggle with a chemical. Take up your cross joyfully, praying for God’s help, for when you acknowledge your addiction and ask God to take over the fight for you, you can begin to break free.
So often, we want to hold onto the life we have – yet we complain about the crosses we bear. Jesus asks us to look at our crosses as ways to grow, that we might help others – and become closer to Him. But we have to be willing to let go of the life we have if we want to find a better life.
Jesus goes beyond taking up a cross. He says that whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever lose their life for me will find it. Jesus is saying that the path most people are following, the path of their life which was chosen by themselves is not working. By trying to save that life plan, you will lose your life, dying at the end, failing, accomplishing little which is worth doing. How is your life's plan working out for you? So-so?
But if you will pour your life into doing what Jesus asks, if you will focus upon what Jesus wants, if you will accept Jesus as your leader and do His will rather than your own will, you will find a wonderful, happy, joyful life in this world and an eternal joyful life in the next world. So let us lift our cross onto our shoulder and joyfully walk forward into a new adventure, a life led by Jesus.
You know, Ted Turner, the founder of WTBS and CNN and Headline News, famously said, “Life is a game. Money is how we keep score.” Jesus said something different. Jesus said, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
There is only one way to escape this world alive and that is to choose to follow Jesus. Jesus went to the cross to complete the sacrifice that was needed to allow us to approach God once more. That sacrifice was on our behalf, but there was one catch. We had to accept that Jesus was valuable enough and powerful enough that His sacrifice was worth it. We had to choose to follow Jesus, to pledge loyalty to Jesus, to recognize that He and only He is worthy to be followed – not the pursuit of money, not the pursuit of chemicals, not the pursuit of pleasure. We have to choose to follow Jesus, His wisdom, His counsel, His path chosen for us.
On Tuesday evening, September 8, we will start our fall small groups. We will also have a small group on Wednesday mornings at 11 AM. If you’d like to get involved, please show up – bring a mask for everyone’s protection in this time of COVID. And feel free to join us here at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church on Rt 47 directly across from WVU-Parkersburg any Sunday at 10:30 AM. All people are welcome. You are welcome.
Father, I pray for these people in this church and all those watching and listening at home. Fill them with your Holy Spirit, teach them Your ways, help them bring the Good News of Jesus’s love into their hearts so that they may do great things by trusting and following Your Son Jesus and Your Holy Spirit. Give them the courage to step away from their old life, find their cross, and joyfully do Your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Remember: We are to follow Jesus, not just believe in Him. Find your cross and joyfully take it up, confident that God will protect you and teach you great things. Walk away from the pathways of the world, and spend time with Jesus to save your soul.
A disciple is more than a student. A disciple is one who is disciplined to follow a particular leader. We spend a lot of time studying Jesus; how much time do we spend following and imitating Jesus?
We are to deny ourselves. We are to put aside what we want – and follow Jesus. Not only that, we are to find our cross and follow Jesus.
Now many people look at this as “Oh dear, this terrible time, this terrible thing is my cross to bear.” But that is not what Jesus meant. He meant we are to walk down the path of life, find a cross, and with Jesus’ help, JOYFULLY look upon this test for what it will do for us and others.
Does a great football lineman look at the opposing lineman as something terrible to deal with? No, that is the way a loser looks at things. A great football lineman looks at the 300 pound man in front of him as merely an obstacle to be moved and defeated as the game is won. Jesus looked at death on the cross as an obstacle to be defeated, a bridge to be crossed, a joyful way to show the world WHO HE IS.
Does a bride look at the wedding dress as something terrible to encounter, a horrible problem to be borne, a catastrophe that they will barely survive? No – the bridge looks at the wedding dress as something that must be found and put on for her to have her joyful wedding day! For it is partially the dress that makes her the bride! Jesus looked at death on the cross as a part of his identity, as part of who He would become, a necessary and joyful part of becoming the Savior of the world!
So find your cross to carry. Find that obstacle that you will defeat with Jesus’ help and that will become part of your identity. It won’t be easy – but looking past that cross to the joy of arriving on the other side and saying, “Jesus and I defeated that cross!” is what being a disciple of Jesus means.
In the Outward Bound program, a group of people who work together go into the wilderness together. They must learn to depend upon each other, they must help each other, they must defeat a common obstacle – a mountain to climb, a river to raft, a glacier to cross. And by accomplishing that difficult task, they become a team, which is why thousands of teams from leading companies have followed the Outward Bound adventures.
What could be your cross? Perhaps God has people watching you while you battle a difficult disease, which is your cross. Take up the fight joyfully, praying for God’s help, for you know that you will either have a wonderful story to tell – or you will grow close to God and be with Jesus in the end.
Perhaps your cross is a financial struggle. Take up your cross joyfully, praying for God’s help, for you will learn how to live on much less money as God gives you ideas on how to save money – and how to earn money.
Perhaps your cross involves a difficult relationship. Take up your cross joyfully, praying for God’s help, for God will pull you into a closer relationship with Jesus – which is our most important relationship, and God will teach you principles which can help you counsel another.
Perhaps your cross involves a struggle with a chemical. Take up your cross joyfully, praying for God’s help, for when you acknowledge your addiction and ask God to take over the fight for you, you can begin to break free.
So often, we want to hold onto the life we have – yet we complain about the crosses we bear. Jesus asks us to look at our crosses as ways to grow, that we might help others – and become closer to Him. But we have to be willing to let go of the life we have if we want to find a better life.
Jesus goes beyond taking up a cross. He says that whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever lose their life for me will find it. Jesus is saying that the path most people are following, the path of their life which was chosen by themselves is not working. By trying to save that life plan, you will lose your life, dying at the end, failing, accomplishing little which is worth doing. How is your life's plan working out for you? So-so?
But if you will pour your life into doing what Jesus asks, if you will focus upon what Jesus wants, if you will accept Jesus as your leader and do His will rather than your own will, you will find a wonderful, happy, joyful life in this world and an eternal joyful life in the next world. So let us lift our cross onto our shoulder and joyfully walk forward into a new adventure, a life led by Jesus.
You know, Ted Turner, the founder of WTBS and CNN and Headline News, famously said, “Life is a game. Money is how we keep score.” Jesus said something different. Jesus said, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
There is only one way to escape this world alive and that is to choose to follow Jesus. Jesus went to the cross to complete the sacrifice that was needed to allow us to approach God once more. That sacrifice was on our behalf, but there was one catch. We had to accept that Jesus was valuable enough and powerful enough that His sacrifice was worth it. We had to choose to follow Jesus, to pledge loyalty to Jesus, to recognize that He and only He is worthy to be followed – not the pursuit of money, not the pursuit of chemicals, not the pursuit of pleasure. We have to choose to follow Jesus, His wisdom, His counsel, His path chosen for us.
On Tuesday evening, September 8, we will start our fall small groups. We will also have a small group on Wednesday mornings at 11 AM. If you’d like to get involved, please show up – bring a mask for everyone’s protection in this time of COVID. And feel free to join us here at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church on Rt 47 directly across from WVU-Parkersburg any Sunday at 10:30 AM. All people are welcome. You are welcome.
Father, I pray for these people in this church and all those watching and listening at home. Fill them with your Holy Spirit, teach them Your ways, help them bring the Good News of Jesus’s love into their hearts so that they may do great things by trusting and following Your Son Jesus and Your Holy Spirit. Give them the courage to step away from their old life, find their cross, and joyfully do Your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Remember: We are to follow Jesus, not just believe in Him. Find your cross and joyfully take it up, confident that God will protect you and teach you great things. Walk away from the pathways of the world, and spend time with Jesus to save your soul.
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