Journey With Jesus

In what ancient city were the followers of Jesus first called Christians? Acts 11:26 tells us that the disciples were called Christians for the first time in the city of Antioch. Now let me ask you another question closely related to that one. What were the followers of Jesus called before they were called Christians? In Acts 9:2 we learn that believers were called members of “the Way.” There are four additional references in the book of Acts where Christians were referred to as followers of “the Way.” Now let me ask you one more question. Then I promise to get on with this sermon. Why do you think believers were called followers of “the Way”? That name can be traced back to Jesus, right? What did he say about himself? He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Yes, Jesus is the only way to God and so his first followers happily connected with the concept that they were followers of “the Way.”

And I think you would agree that we can find a double meaning when we say that Christians are followers of the Way? Not only is Jesus the Way to God and the only Way of being saved from sin, he also shows his followers the way to live. In fact, compared to the way we would live without Jesus in our lives we could say that he shows believers a whole new way of thinking, speaking, and acting. Through God’s Word Jesus shows us the way to walk through life and the way to safely reach the eternal home he has prepared for those who have faith in him.

In the Gospel lesson for this Sunday we just heard Jesus describe his journey to the cross to suffer the punishment we deserved for disobeying God. And then we heard Jesus describe the journey that we as his followers make throughout our lives. Let’s focus our thoughts primarily on the last two verses of our Gospel Lesson. There we have a clear description what it means to:

“JOURNEY WITH JESUS”

I. Say goodbye to yourself

II. Take up your cross

III. Follow where Jesus leads

When we open to a portion of God’s word and we read, “He then began to teach them…” our first reaction is to go back a few verses and see what happened before Jesus began to teach his disciples. We just heard what happened. While Jesus was walking with his disciples he asked them, “Who do people say I am.” You may recall the answers that the disciples shared. They knew what the “word on the street” was about Jesus. “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” Jesus then focused their thoughts by asking, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” Peter then gave his all-star answer. He said, “You are the Messiah.” What a great moment that was. The disciples were finally grasping who Jesus was. He was the anointed one—the Messiah—the Christ. He was the Promised Savior anointed with the Holy Spirit and power to serve as Prophet, Priest, and King for God’s people. But Peter and the other disciples didn’t fully know what that meant.

Our gospel lesson tells us that Jesus gave them a basic lesson in the mission of the Messiah. It certainly wasn’t what they expected! “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.” The thought of Jesus suffering and dying in such a horrible way didn’t sit well with Peter. You heard Peter’s reaction. Peter took Jesus aside and attempted to set him straight! Imagine that for a moment. Peter was telling Jesus that he was wrong about what it meant to be the Messiah. It sounds ridiculous but that’s what we sinners so often do with God. We want to tell him that he is wrong and that he should be doing things our way. Peter was in for a big surprise. As is anyone who tries to correct God!

Mark’s Gospel continues, “But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Ouch! Although Peter knew Jesus was the Christ clearly he didn’t have a clue about what that meant. And if he didn’t understand Jesus’ journey to the cross he certainly wouldn’t understand his journey with Jesus. So Jesus called a huddle with Peter and the other disciples to help clarify things about the cross for Jesus and the cross for his followers.