Take up your cross
Matthew 16:21-16:28
Introduction-
Good morning everyone
Would you please turn to the book of Matthew chapter 16:21-16:28
We will begin today a mini series called “ Journey to the cross.”
I hope to show you in God’s Word what the cross should mean to us as well as what Jesus accomplished on the cross for us.
Easter Sunday a message of what that empty cross and Jesus resurrection means to us.
Background
Jesus here is taking and dealing with his disciples.
Jesus asks his disciples a monumental question- “Who do people say the Son of man is?” they reply, John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, and one of the prophets.
Then He asked them, and made it personal, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter gives a monumental answer- “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”
Jesus says “Blessed are you Peter, that answer came from God the Father, and upon that truth I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not be able to stop it.”
He warns his disciples not to tell anyone yet, because the time is not right and then he predicts that He is going to die- that is where we will pick it up this morning.
Matthew chapter 16:21-16:28
Peter is a great guy isn’t he?
Jesus gives him the truth that He is the Christ, the Messiah, and upon that truth He will build the church, protect the church and hell will not be able to stop it.
Then Peter takes his stand!
He rebukes Jesus and says never Lord, that will not happen! Like a mucho man , he says, I won’t let that happen to you!
Good intentions… how is that working for you this morning! About as good as it works for peter.
Peter later says that he will never deny Christ- He denies him three times.
At Gethsemane, won’t you pray with me- bodies weak and they fall asleep.
Jesus looks back at Peter and rebukes the rebuker-
(23)
“Get behind me Satan, you are a stumbling block to me, you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of man.”
Jesus got right to the heart of it- he sees good intentions without God will fall short.
• They do not have the objective of God, but are man’s attempt to please God.
Jesus gathers his disciples
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
There is a perfect three point message
1. What does it mean to deny yourself?
2. What does it mean to take up your cross?
3. What does it mean to follow Jesus?
Let’s try to take smaller bites at a time.
Commitment is a dying thing today. People are not and do not want to commit to anything or anyone.
We see it in failed marriages.
People don’t want to belong to any organization because they might ask them to do something.
Even in the church some race from church to church and never get settled or grounded in any one place.
As Christians, we have been called to be a different kind of people.
We have been called to be committed to Jesus, and committed to the things that Jesus was committed too.
So let’s look at Jesus answer to Peter;
I. if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself.
What does Jesus mean to deny yourself?
By definition, deny yourself means to cease to make self the object of one’s life and action. (repeat)
If you are to come after Jesus, it is not about you ! it is all about Jesus.
Jesus taught the crowds of people in parables, but he taught his disciples by direct truth!
Tells it like it is- it is not about you.
Your relationship with others, the church, especially relationship with me, it’s not about you , it is all about me.
Jesus was committed to go where he was not wanted.
Jesus was committed to suffer for those that rejected Him.
Jesus was committed to die for a lost world.
Jesus was committed to the cause so that He would see the victory.
If you are to come after me, you will have to deny yourself.
Don’t be too quick to criticize Peter saying “never Lord” I won’t let this happen.
If you are living life your way and by your strength- at times, Jesus will have to rebuke you and get you back on track.
The world may not like commitment, but Jesus is calling his disciples to commit.
There is a difference between someone who likes and listens to music and the commitment and skill to make music.
There is a difference between wanting a music experience and becoming a musician.
One takes little effort and one takes a lot of commitment and time.
Deny here is to lay something down- here, we lay down our own agendas and pick up what the Lord tells us too.
Jesus is not a fan of casual Christianity- convenience.
To deny yourself means to follow the high standard laid down by Jesus himself. To pour ourselves out to Jesus and others.
II. If you are to come after me, you must (1)deny yourself, and (2)pick up your cross.
Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one is willing to die to get there. No one wants to pay the price to get there.
Just saying that you are a Christian is not enough, if we are to be disciples of Christ, there is a path we must walk that is different from the world that does not know Christ.
We all have a cross to bear…if you are walking with God.
We cannot earn salvation, for ourselves or for others. We cannot forgive sins. That is the cross that Jesus bore for us.
Our cross is to do what God has called us too. What He tells us to do, when He tells us to do it.
Problem here
Some are not carrying their cross.
Some are trying to carry other people’s + their own.
(if you can find the picture of a mule with all 4 feet up in the air and an overloaded wagon.”
“Don’t worry about the mule, just load the wagon.”
Jesus wants radical commitment
Jesus calls us to an all or nothing- he wants all of us.
Not only involved, but committed- for some involved would be a step forward. If you are not involved, get involved. If you are only involved, get committed . Step up your game!
Taking your cross means that you put your complete trust in Christ.
You are committed to the things of God.
Last one
III. If you to come after me, you must (1)deny yourself, (2)take up your cross, and last follow me.
Cross bearing includes a willingness to suffer and die for the Lord’s sake.
If you are going to take up your cross like Simon of Cyrene did for Jesus, it is someone picking up the cross for someone already condemned, carrying it to a place of execution.
If we are to follow Jesus the right way, it would be to carry our cross to our own execution of self.
We are to die to self and follow Jesus.
There is a cost to follow Jesus and sometimes we don’t like it.
That is why Jesus says to count the cost.
Radical commitment for our radical savior.
I got news for you- Jesus does not usually let us hit the “Easy Button”- we would like too, we look for it, but not usually available.
Listen,
Jesus is saying to each of us this morning. If you want to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up the cross I give you, and follow me.
If you try to hang unto your life – you will lose it. If you give your life, you will save it.
Some people won’t get it- they will shoot themselves in the foot with a fake gun. They will not get it right!
Closing,
There is a cost to be a disciple of Christ. I have never painted a easy picture for you.
He wants us whole-heartedly picking up our crosses, and following Him. He leads by example!
Jesus is searching for people who will commit their lives to Him.
Jesus is looking for a church who will commit to His ways.
Realizing that He is in the driver’s seat and not us!
Amen.
