Title: Christ Jesus, in him life is found!
Text: Matt 16:21-28
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
At one point early in Julius Caesar's political career, feelings ran so high against him that he thought it best to leave Rome. He sailed for the Aegean island of Rhodes, but en route the ship was attacked by pirates and Caesar was captured. The pirates demanded a ransom of 12,000 gold pieces, and Caesar's staff was sent away to arrange the payment. Caesar spent almost 40 days with his captors, jokingly telling the pirates on several occasions that he would someday capture and crucify them to a man. The kidnappers were greatly amused, but when the ransom was paid and Caesar was freed, the first thing he did was to gather a fleet and pursue the pirates. They were captured and crucified ... to a man! Such was the Romans' attitude toward crucifixion. It was to be reserved for the worst of criminals, a means of showing extreme contempt for the condemned. The suffering and humiliation of a Roman crucifixion were unequaled.
Today in the Word, November 23, 1992.
As we discussed Peter’s confession of faith last week, we also talked about Peter who did not fully grasp what Jesus must do in going to Jerusalem and dying for the sins of the world. Jesus taught the disciples about this but:
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. [Saying] “Never, Lord!” … “This shall never happen to you!”
To Peter’s call, the stern rebuke of the Lord returned and:
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
The church is built on Christ and His work and we, who are made His children by the working of the Holy Spirit, can say with confidence that
Christ Jesus is Lord and in him life is found!
Today’s lesson looks beyond the wonderful work of Christ at the cross to conquer sin, death and the power of the devil; and how this work and confession of faith changes those called to faith; and what the cost of this discipleship truly is..
4 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
As a follower of Christ, the denial of self, of self-righteousness, of selfishness is buried with Christ in baptism, as we are made new with the washing of regeneration in the word (Titus 3:5) and marked as one redeemed by Christ the crucified. This discipling continues in the word as we learn about Christ and what God desires for and of His children and it continues in the lives of we who are brought to faith as we live out our Christian lives in service to our neighbors. This service has a cost we our told and for some even their very lives may be required. But to lose one’s life for Christ’s sake, we are promised, is to find life.
Many around the globe are being martyred for their faith … dying for the name of Jesus. The deadly attacks in Syria and Iraq as well as Africa have brought this persecution to our TV’s and internet feeds and we keep those persecuted in our hearts and prayers as some have been called to give their lives in sacrifice as Christ’s disciples. But for you and me, dying to self can also bring us hardship and joy as we live out our Christian faith in honor of God and service to others.
Ill.
Recently, I was given a movie to watch called Courageous. It speaks to the brokenness of the family and particularly the need and responsibility of fathers to be spiritual heads of their homes and families and to be involved specifically in the lives of their children.
Many years ago I to wrestled with my own faith and relationship with God and His call for me to be the spiritual leader of my family, I was not prepared. I remembered saying, “Lord, my wife would be so much better at this. Can’t you just give this responsibility to her and I’ll just continue to be the bread winner and go to work?” But, as I continued to read the Bible, God took what I didn’t want to do and what I didn’t feel prepared to do and He made it, not only something I embraced, but something that I found true joy in.
For some, it might be your children and grandchildren and letting go of things that take you away from spending time with them. It might bring you to forsake some of your hobbies, so you can be involved in theirs; or it might cause you to watch how your work can pull you away from spending time with those you love the most.
Ill.
A minister from a century ago, used to tell the story of two paddleboats.
They left Memphis about the same time, traveling down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. As they traveled side by side, sailors from one vessel made a few remarks about the snail's pace of the other. Words were exchanged. Challenges were made. And the race began. Competition became vicious as the two boats roared through the Deep South.
One boat began falling behind. Not enough fuel. There had been plenty of coal for the trip, but not enough for a race. As the boat dropped back, an enterprising young sailor took some of the ship's cargo and tossed it into the ovens. When the sailors saw that the supplies burned as well as the coal, they fueled their boat with the material they had been assigned to transport. They ended up winning the race, but burned up their cargo.
God has entrusted to you and me a precious cargo too: our children, spouses and friends. Yet, we sometimes can get our priorities messed up and our cargo is sacrificed in order to reach some temporal but unfulfilling goal? It is possible in life to reach the desired destination, but to lose one’s life and cargo along the way.
In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado Word Publishing, 1991, pp. 97-98.
In Jesus Christ our Lord true life is found!
As the apostle Paul reminds us in the epistle reading for today:
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Christ Jesus our Lord has overcome all things for you. He has made a way where there is no way. He has been lifted up so that you too might be lifted up in Him. He has ascended on high so that knowing Him in whom you trust you might also ascend. He has given his life for you so that in Him you might take up your cross and follow Him.
Ill.
I’ve told this story a few years ago but it bears repeating.
There is a story about a little girl who proudly wore a shiny cross on a chain around her neck. One day she was approached by a man who said to her, “Little girl, don’t you know that the cross Jesus died on wasn’t beautiful like the one you’re wearing? It was an ugly, wooden thing.” To which the girl replied, “Yes, I know. But they told me in Sunday School that whatever Jesus touches, He changes.”
You have been changed by the blood of the Lamb. You have been given newness of life in Him, you have been covered by a righteousness that is not your own. You have had you sins removed never to be thought of again by our Heavenly Father.
The cross you follow is Christ’s and you can follow Him because the one who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. May Christ’s cross be a source of strength and comfort to all of you as you take up your crosses daily to follow Him.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
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