Title: To lose your life in Christ is to save it!
Text: Mark 8: 27-38
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.
Sir Thomas Beecham, [who was a renowned British conductor during the first half of the 20th century], once saw a distinguished-looking woman in a hotel foyer. Believing he knew her, but being unable to remember her name, he paused to talk with her. As the two chatted, he vaguely recollected that she had a brother. Hoping for a clue, he asked how her brother was and whether he was still working at the same job. "Oh, he's very well," she said, "And he’s still king."
Source Unknown.
There are times where we've all been embarrassed, at things we've done or not done. At times we may be embarrassed at others, or they at us, but to be ashamed would be quite another thing.
Embarrassed: To cause confusion; to make uncomfortably self-conscious;
Ashamed: Takes embarrassment and adds guilt, because of one's actions, characteristics, or associations.
Jesus asks the disciples:
“Who do people say that I am?” And then wants to know, “but who do you say that I am?”
And we know that the disciples say that the people think that Jesus is “John the Baptist; [some] say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”
And this all climaxes with Peter speaking for the disciples when he says, “You are the Christ.”
Following this confession by Peter of who Jesus is we see Jesus begin to teach them everything he is now prepared to do.
Jesus says that the Son of Man:
Must suffer
Must be rejected – by the elders, chief priests and scribes
Must be killed
And after three days must rise from the dead
As the one who made confession for the disciples, Peter, didn't really understand Jesus and his work for the salvation of the world at this time. His rebuke of Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 16:22,
“Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
This is met by Jesus’ full rebuke, which is focused not on Peter the man but on Satan as the deceiver and the father of lies.
“Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
To be opposed to Christ is to be in harmony with the devil.
To lose your life in Christ is to save it!
Jesus says …
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.
Ill.
When Pastor William Sangster was told he was dying of progressive muscular atrophy, he made four resolutions and faithfully kept them:
1) I will never complain;
2) I will keep the home bright;
3) I will count my blessings;
4) I will try to turn it to gain.
W. Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, p. 215.
If we compare what Christ faced to these four resolutions we see that:
1. The Christ must suffer – but he never complained.
2. He was rejected by the many, but remained the light of the world.
3. He gave his life in death and for that we are all blessed.
4. He was raised from the dead, so that his sacrifice is our gain.
To lose your life in Christ is to save it!
For many, though, this is not a cross they wish to bear. We avoid conflict in proclaiming Christ because we want to get along and be liked. Following Jesus as example is good but being hated and despised on account of Christ … we all would like to take a pass.
It is a common battle the pastors have to face by remaining faithful to their call ... and this can be unpopular at times.
Jesus had given the disciples a summary of His work and he now gives a summary of the demands of true discipleship. He does not show here how one becomes a disciple through the working of the Holy Spirit by faith in Christ and by the washing of regeneration in the word through baptism. But, here Jesus also tells us all how we show the evidence of this gift of faith in Christ by Denying self; taking up the cross we must bear; and by following Christ.
It can be summarized as this.
“If anyone wants to save his life, have the full enjoyment of this life and all that it may offer in this world, he will lose the true life in Christ the Savior. But if anyone will regard this life, the world and all it has to offer, as nothing, give it all up for the sake of Jesus and His Gospel, he will find the true life, the true joy and [true] happiness in Him.”
Popular commentary of the Bible P.E. Kretzmann NT Vol. 1 pg. 209
To lose your life in Christ is to save it!
Ill.
In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made application to Prior Richard at as local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery. "Your Majesty," said Prior Richard, "do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king." "I understand," said Henry, "The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you." "Then I will tell you what to do," said Prior Richard. "Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you."
When King Henry died, a statement was written: "The King learned to rule by being obedient." When we tire of our roles and responsibilities, it helps to remember God has planted us in a certain place and told us to be a good accountant or teacher or mother or father. Christ expects us to be faithful where he puts us … and when he returns, [we will receive the crown of life and hear the words, “Well done good and faithful servant!”].
Steve Brown.
As we faithfully serve as God has called us and shine the light of Christ in our vocations we lose our life for Christ’s sake and the gospel and will ultimately save our lives for eternity.
May our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, who has redeemed you, and called you through the power of the Holy Spirit to faith, complete this blessed good work in you now and forever!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment