Introduction

Good morning, beloved members of our church family. It's always a joy to gather together, to celebrate our shared faith and to encourage one another in our walk with the Lord. Today, we find ourselves standing on a precipice of understanding, ready to plunge into the depths of the Word and to emerge with a greater grasp of God's heart for us.

Our sermon today is drawn from the book of Matthew, chapter 16, verses 21-28. Let me read it for you:

"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.'"

What a profound passage, filled with profound truths about the cost of discipleship, the reality of suffering, and the promise of resurrection.

Preparing for Persecution

The passage we just read from Matthew's gospel is a stark reminder of the reality that awaits those who choose to follow Jesus. It's not a path strewn with roses, but one that often leads through valleys of hardship and suffering. Jesus himself makes it clear that he is heading towards Jerusalem, towards suffering, and ultimately, towards death. And he invites his disciples, and by extension, us, to follow him on this path.

This is not a call to a comfortable life, but to a life of self-denial. It’s a life of carrying our cross, and of following Jesus, even if it leads to suffering and death. This is a hard truth, but it's a truth we must grapple with if we are to truly understand what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

The first thing we need to understand is that persecution is not an anomaly in the Christian life, but an expectation. Jesus himself said, "If they persecuted me, they will also persecive you" (John 15:20). The apostle Paul echoed this sentiment when he wrote, "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). Persecution, in various forms, is a reality that followers of Jesus have faced throughout history, and continue to face today.

This is not to say that we should seek out persecution or revel in suffering. Rather, we should be prepared for it, knowing that it is a possibility, and even a likelihood, in our walk with Christ. This preparation involves not just a mental and emotional readiness, but a spiritual one as well. We need to be grounded in our faith, rooted in the Word of God, and filled with the Holy Spirit, so that when persecution comes, we can stand firm.

Secondly, we need to understand that persecution, while painful, is not pointless. The apostle Peter, who himself faced significant persecution, wrote, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:12-13).

Our sufferings are a means of sharing in Christ's sufferings and will result in joy when his glory is revealed. They are part of our identification with Christ, and they have an eternal purpose. This doesn't make the pain any less real, but it does give us a perspective that can help us endure.

Next, we need to remember that we are not alone in our persecution. Jesus is not a distant, detached leader who sends us into battle while he remains safe and secure. No, he is a leader who goes before us, who himself faced the ultimate persecution, and who promises to be with us in our trials. "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Finally, we need to remember that our response to persecution matters. Jesus calls us not to retaliate, but to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). This is a radical, counter-cultural response that can only be possible through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. It's a response that reflects the heart of Jesus, who prayed for his persecutors even as he hung on the cross.

Perseverance in Pain

As we continue to reflect on the words of Jesus in Matthew 16, we find ourselves confronted with the reality of suffering ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO