What Are You Thinking?
Matthew 16:21-28 ESV
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders
and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be
raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be
it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and
said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me.
For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things
of man.”
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come
after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever
would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake
will find it. For what will it profit a man
if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man
give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come
with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay
each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are
some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of
Man coming in his kingdom.”
So, I find myself writing from behind my research and the
listening to the Sermon given just yesterday. There’s some advantage to reflect
in this way, but honestly, I was busy helping my son, Bryan, build and antenna on
Saturday and then on Sunday working the Tennessee QSO Party for fun. Enough
excuses.
This was a good one, with the “Get behind me, Satan!” coming
from Jesus. I must confess, I have teasingly used this same phrase towards my
wife in teasing her, while on walks.
The focus changes in this Gospel passage following last week’s
message, to Jesus’ journey towards Jerusalem, and his suffering, death and
resurrection. The focus even goes beyond all of this to Jesus’ second coming.
Jesus clearly sees his future. Jesus knows that the Father
has called him to carry out a divine plan. Jesus must go forward now in this
plan and proceed to Jerusalem. Jesus will soon be the founder of a new
community of disciples, different from the religious leaders of the day.
Different in how men try to establish the kingdom through materials, victories,
and the gain of plenty. But God chooses to establish the Kingdom through
suffering and death. Jesus came from beyond man’s thinking, so that we may learn
God’s thoughts, not our own thoughts.
So, when Jesus announces his intentions towards God’s plan
and moving towards Jerusalem to carry out that plan; Peter is thinking
something much different. Peter’s outlook is purely human. This resistance to the
suffering and death of Jesus is a view uninformed by God’s plan and of a point
of view that is satanic. Poor Peter, is thinking that he is helping Jesus clear
his thoughts. Somehow it reminds me of the time when the Uzzah reached out to
steady the Ark of the Covenant from tipping.
2 Samuel 6:5-7
And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating
before the Lord, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines
and castanets and cymbals. And when they came to the threshing floor
of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of
it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled
against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he
died there beside the ark of God.
Really? Uzzah and Peter, were only trying to help! But, does
God really need our help? I guess not. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to
follow Jesus, not change him or God’s plan to suit our own thoughts and
desires. Disciples do not lead Jesus. Disciples follow Jesus. And Jesus makes
it plane… “For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but
on the things of man.”
Jesus will not stumble over Satan. Jesus goes freely to his
own death. Jesus is freely choosing his own destiny.
Disciples must look beyond this life we live in this place. The
disciple’s way is Jesus’ way. Jesus is not a substitute for our own thoughts
and actions, rather Jesus is a leader of his disciples to be followed. As disciples Jesus calls us to take up the cross
voluntarily, to surrender ourselves to God and to FOLLOW Jesus.
Jesus’ love calls us ONE way. Our self-love calls us another
way. Our “Carry the Cross” way can’t live within us until we nail our selfish
way down to the cross. So, the way to “Carry
the Cross” is a self-sacrifice to the true way of serving God. Don’t help God.
Don’t touch the ark. Don’t try to correct Jesus in his thinking. Give yourself
up to God, turn to him in your sin, and follow in service to God’s plan.
We find ourself, when we abandon ourself for the sake of
Jesus. In our attempts to “Save” ourselves we lose our purpose as disciples.
Saving self is selfish all in itself. Our purpose as disciples is to follow
Jesus for God’s sake and not for our own sake. This is a choice we must make.
We can follow or we can turn from God and walk away.
Maybe spending time protecting life is the same as losing
life. Rather, live life in and for God, trusting in God’s will and God’s way.
In this trusting of God, we turn and look for the coming of Jesus, today and
always. We look, we turn to God, and follow Jesus, today and always.
Jesus questions; “For what will it profit a man if
he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give
in return for his soul?” … these questions seem rather to be verdicts.
A verdict to cast yourself on Jesus’ mercy.
Finally, don’t waste time and life speculating when Jesus
will return. Rather, prepare and live for Jesus’ return, each and every day.
Lord, as I respond to your grace with love for you and for
my neighbor, I see your love in Jesus, always before my eyes, for I choose to
follow you. I pray, that you place your Word within me, that I may always turn
to follow you and you alone… today… tomorrow… and forever. --- Amen
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