Fill in the blank. “___________ is for losers.” Someone who drives a BMW might say: “Fords are for losers.” A burly football player might say: “Soccer is for losers.” And a foodie might say: “Frozen pizza is for losers.” Even if those comments are offered in jest, they would still rankle wouldn’t they? No one wants to be thought of as a loser. That’s why we try to keep up with the latest fashions and technology, or at least do our best to fake that we are keeping up. But our sermon text today teaches that being a loser isn’t a bad thing. In fact it’s essential. That’s because heaven is for losers, and for losers only. That was Jesus’ surprising claim in our sermon text this morning. Let’s take a closer look at it.
Our text takes place just after the Apostle Peter had said of Jesus: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mathew 16:16). Peter and the other disciples had come to believe that Jesus was divine, but there was another lesson they still had to learn. They had to learn what it meant that Jesus was the Christ. That title tells us that Jesus was appointed for an important mission: to save the world from God’s anger over its sins. Jesus told his disciples that he was going to accomplish his mission like this: “…the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31).
We’re used to hearing how Jesus had to suffer and die to pay for sins, but this was the first time the disciples had heard Jesus speak so plainly about his upcoming death and they were shocked. They must have felt like the homeowner who seeks a quote to fix his leaky roof. Since it’s just one spot that leaks, the homeowner supposes that it won’t cost more than a few hundred dollars to patch up. But the quote he receives is for $20,000! Why? Because to properly fix the problem the rotten timbers and worn out shingles all need replacing.
Because the disciples did not yet really understand Jesus’ mission or how bad the problem of sin was, they didn’t suppose Jesus would have to go to such lengths – to suffer and die – to fix the problem. And so Peter tried to dissuade Jesus. There was no need for this loser talk. Suffer and die? No! That wasn’t the way for a king to think. But when Peter took Jesus aside to make this point, the savior rebuked him and said: “‘Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’ 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?’ ” (Mark 8:33–36)
By insisting there was no need for Jesus to suffer and die, Peter had unwittingly become one of Satan’s minions. At the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, Satan had offered the same temptation when he told Jesus that if he wanted to rule the world, he just had to bow down to him. There was no need for Jesus to suffer and die and in that way receive all glory and power as the God-man.
But Jesus didn’t even entertain Peter’s suggestion. Is that the way we deal with temptation? No. We often mull it over until we’ve convinced ourselves that to commit the particular sin is OK. And so we bad-mouth our classmate because we’ve concluded that they deserve it for being so mean. Or we ignore the obvious help our parents need around the house because, well, we’ve already put in long hours at school.
Not only does our text remind us to rebuke temptation immediately, like a tennis player rushing over to slap the ball back over to the other side of the net, our text also illustrates how temptation can come from well-meaning friends. Maybe it comes from the girlfriend who suggests that you move in together to cut down on living expenses. Or it comes from your spouse who suggests that you’ve been too focused on others lately and that you have to spend more time thinking of your own needs. These are the temptations that are the most dangerous because they come to us from those we trust. So be on your toes. Remain ready to reject temptation even when it comes from a trusted source.
But now what did Jesus mean when he said to Peter “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34, 35)? Our sermon theme is meant to answer that question. Heaven is for losers. What that means is that heaven is for those who have despaired of themselves, who know that God shouldn’t want to hang out with someone like them. And so heaven is for the pastor who trembles every time he thinks of the responsibility God has given him to feed his flock the bread of life. On one hand it’s such a simple task, but on the other it’s impossible to do without thoughts of pride or to go through the motions. Heaven is for the child who can’t figure out why she keeps dishonoring her parents by the curt responses she gives to their simple questions. Heaven is for all those who have lost pride in themselves and know that they daily and consistently fail God and the people around them.
While heaven isn’t for those who simply brush away those sins, as if they’re just bothersome flies, neither is it for those who despair over their sins and refuse to be comforted by Jesus’ promise of forgiveness. I realized this week that Jesus never said, “Take up my cross and follow me.” Jesus’ cross is different than ours. With his cross Jesus let himself be ground into nothing by God’s blades of righteous anger. He did that so we wouldn’t have to go through the same thing. In other words, there is no need to keep beating yourself up over your sins. Yes, confess them, be sorry for them, and stop living in them, but don’t continue to dwell on them as if God could never forgive you for what you have done. He did! That’s what Jesus accomplished at the cross. And he doesn’t ask us now to carry his cross. So put it down in thankful relief, just as you’d gratefully put down the snow shovel when you learn that a Bobcat has already been contracted to clear the snow!
Jesus doesn’t ask us to carry his cross, but he does say that we need to carry ours. We sometimes think that our cross is anything that is unpleasant, like cancer or lack of employment, but it isn’t. Taking up your cross means denying every desire to put yourself before others. It means pinching yourself whenever you say, “If I were in charge, I would set things right.” Maybe you would, but if God hasn’t put you in charge of the family, of your company, or of your church, then he’s put you in a position to support and encourage. If he has put you in charge, your cross then is to use your position to serve, not to see how much you can get others to serve you.
The world, on the other hand, wants power and idolizes those who have it. That’s why we’re fascinated by the annual list of the top ten wealthiest people and wish we could be on it. But did you catch Jesus’ warning in regard to such thoughts? He said, “What’s the point of gaining all the power and all the riches in this world if you end up losing an eternal life of happiness?” If a teacher said to you, “You can spend an hour in math class and have the rest of the day free to do what you want, or you can spend an hour doing what you want, but then have to sit in math class the rest of the day,” which would you choose? My apologies to all you math lovers out there but I would choose the one hour of pain as I wrestle with numbers in math class so that I can enjoy the rest of the day in freedom!
I’m not suggesting that following Jesus is a pain, like sitting through math class. It often feels painful as we daily take up our cross and deny our will so that we can serve others. But it’s the kind of “pain” a mother endures when she spends an afternoon baking favorites for her family. She will get tired, she will make a mess, but she’s happy to do it for the family she loves. It’s that kind of joyful service we will be happy to give others because Jesus continues to joyfully serve us.
Heaven is for losers. Aren’t you glad? After all, what do you have that God needs? You don’t have anything that isn’t tainted by sin. So despair of yourself and then deny yourself as you take up your cross daily. Let go of your “right” to be angry and brusque with others. Say no to the urge to put yourself first. And don’t make it your goal to fill your arms with the riches and accolades of this world. Sure, the world might think you’re a loser for acting like this, but that’s a good thing because heaven is for such losers. Amen.
SERMON NOTES
Why were the disciples so surprised to hear that Jesus was going to suffer and die?
Using this text, list at least three things you learn from Jesus about the way in which we should handle temptation.
What does it mean to “take up our cross” to follow Jesus?
Why is it significant that Jesus didn’t say we should take up his cross?
“Heaven is for losers.” That was our sermon theme. Explain the theme in such a way that someone who didn’t hear the sermon could understand it.
(To do at home.) Compare the NIV translation with the Message translation of Mark 8:33-36. Which one do you like better? Why?
NIV: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? ”
Message: “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?”
