The Challenge of Following Jesus
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Can you imagine someone wearing a necklace with an electric chair on it? Have you ever seen a bumper sticker with a guillotine? And yet, as the thought for today said, we see crosses everywhere. We forget that in Jesus’ day, a cross was not a fashion statement. Our reading for today reminds us that following Jesus will cost us everything we are.
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Peter has just confessed his faith in Jesus as the Messiah.
Jesus says He is going to be crucified
Peter can’t accept that – he has his own idea of what Jesus should do
Jesus rebukes Peter
Said to all
Said to all
Not just to the inner circle
Come after
Come after
Be a disciple
Deny himself
Deny himself
Say no to our own desires
Not my will but Yours be done – as Jesus fulfilled God’s plan for Him so we also must be willing to accept His plan for us, whatever that may be.
An American was once taken prisoner in an Islamic nation. During his captivity he amused himself by sketching. His enemies saw his handiwork. As they gazed at his skillful and curious productions it struck them that they might turn his talent to profitable account. He was promised liberty, on condition that he would design a new mosque. He agreed to the proposal. An elegant and substantial building was planned. At first it pleased them, and the hour of his emancipation seemed near. Some keen eye, however, made a discovery. It was found that the mosque was drawn in the shape of the cross. Disappointed and angry, they put the architect to death. Thus do some reject the gospel. They are well pleased with the plan of salvation, until they discern in it the cross of self-denial.
Take up your cross
Take up your cross
Submission to Rome – admit they were right
Submission to God – admit that He is right
Our death does not accomplish all that Jesus’ death did – ours does not provide salvation for anyone. Taking our cross is a way of demonstrating love as Jesus did, however.
Some think of a nutty boss or an unfair teacher or a bossy mother-in-law as a “cross.” But they are not. Neither can we properly call an illness or a handicap a cross. It is dying to the old way of life. The suffering that comes on the Christian because he is striving to be a faithful follower of his Lord.
But the cross is not only a symbol of pain and suffering, it is also now a sign of healing and of hope, because of Jesus.
Daily
Daily
Not a one time thing
Follow
Follow
His teaching – many of Jesus’ teachings go against our culture – turn the other cheek, love our enemies, give to those who ask.
His example – reaching out to the outcasts, accepting sinners, having compassion on those who are hurting
Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Charles Spurgeon wrote: There are no crown-wearers in Heaven that were not cross-bearers here below.