S ermon based on Matthew 16: 21-28

Introduction

In last week's gospel reading we were presented with the crucial question that Jesus asked his first disciples, when He asked them: “Who do you say that I am?”

This is a question that all followers of Jesus are called to answer for themselves. Today, we are concerned with with another crucial question of the faith: What does it mean to follow Jesus?

In today’s gospel reading (Matthew 16:21-28), we get a statement from Jesus that answers this question in a very clear, simple, but challenging way.

Jesus says: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

This is a powerful invitation to total discipleship. That entails the turning away from a selfish life, surrendering all of our personal plans for this earthly life to God, and choosing to obey Him every single day with his help.

To deny yourself and picking up our own cross means putting to death our own egos and our selfish pride. It requires placing God first in our thoughts and actions. We are called to walk the path that Jesus walked, showing love, mercy, and obedience to the Father and those people that we encounter in this life

To take up your cross and follow Jesus, requires total self-denial, absolute obedience to God, and a willingness to suffer for others.

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus told His disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Many people interpret the “cross” to be taken up, as some burden which they must carry.  Such an idea is not what Jesus meant when He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” Christians also view the cross as a cherished symbol of atonement, forgiveness, grace, and love. Now this is true, but in Jesus’ day the cross represented a torturous death. The Romans forced convicted criminals to carry their own crosses to the place of crucifixion. Bearing a cross meant that a person was about to die, and that one would face ridicule and disgrace along the way. Therefore, Jesus’ command to “take up your cross and follow Me” is a call to self-abasement and self-sacrifice. A follower of Christ must be willing to die to self in order to follow Jesus. Dying to self is an absolute surrender to God.

Jesus also said, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:25–26).

Although the call to take up our cross is not an easy thing to do, Jesus tells us that the reward is matchless. Nothing in this world compares to eternal life with Jesus.

Jesus’ through his statement warns us to think twice about our motivations and level of commitment to follow him.

In Luke [9:57–62], three people seemed willing to follow Jesus.  However, when Jesus challenged their commitment, it was shown to be half-hearted at best.

The Cost of Following Jesus

“And as they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”  And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”  But He [Jesus] said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord, but first permit me to say farewell to those at home.”  But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Each of these individuals had failed to count the cost of following Him. None were willing to take up their cross and crucify upon it their own interests.

Many people were and have been dissuaded from following Jesus because of what is required.

God seeks “true worshipers [who] will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). Jesus’ call to “take up your cross and follow Him” serves to screen out the disingenuous, double-minded, and playacting.

Are you ready to take up your cross and follow Jesus? Consider these questions:

Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your closest friends?

Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means alienation from your family?

Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your reputation?

Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your position in society?

Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means being put into a prison even if you are innocent?

Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your life for Him?

Jesus was willing to do all these and more. He lost his life for you.

These consequences are a reality. But notice the phrasing of the questions: “Are you willing?” Following Jesus doesn’t necessarily mean all these things will happen to you, but a disciple of Christ must be willing to suffer loss. Are you willing to take up your cross? If faced with a choice, will it be Jesus or the comforts of this life, which will you choose?

The stumbling block of the Cross

To the world the cross is both an offence, and also a stumbling-block. It is so in two ways. First, it makes those, who have taken up their own cross, objects of dislike to others; and secondly the cross of sacrifice is in itself an object of dislike.

While it unites the believing saints, it divides them from the world. It is the banner in which the saints rally and gather and it is the mark against which the arrows of the unbelievers are turned away.

For the unbelievers are 'enemies of the cross of Christ,' and enemies of Christ himself. Of them the apostle Paul says, 'their end is destruction.' Therefore, the cross is both life and death, salvation and destruction.”

“It is the golden sceptre; it is the iron rod. It is the Shepherd's staff of love; it is the Avenger's sword of fire. It is the tree of life and cup of blessing; it is the cup of the wine of the wrath of God."

Paul also said:

“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. [Philippians 3:18-21]