Sold Out

Sold Out

Matthew 16:21-28

September 1, 2002

Introduction

One of the most frustrating times I can remember as a child was one time that my brother and I tried to go see one of the Star Wars movies. We stood in line for what seemed like forever to get the tickets for the afternoon show only to find out that the showing was sold out. We did get to see the movie that day but we had to go to another theater.

What does it mean to be sold out? Literally it means to have all available resources committed to a specific goal. Let’s apply this meaning to the Christian life. Being sold out for Christ literally means that all of who you are is given to Him and to the work of His kingdom.

Does your life fit that definition of Christian living?

This morning we are going to examine what it really means to be sold out for Christ.

21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "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 men." 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Body

I. The Manifestation of Being Sold Out (21-23)

A. The nature of Christ’s commitment

1. Jesus was totally sold out to God’s plan

a.) Jesus has set the model for total commitment. He committed everything to God’s plan and sacrificed Himself for us

b.) Jesus understood that for humanity to gain eternal life, He would need to die

2. Jesus shared His commitment

a.) Jesus revealed His commitment and the process of God’s eternal plan to the disciples. The results were anything but good

b.) The disciples completely misunderstood what Jesus was telling them. The problem was centered in their concept of Messiah. The disciples expected something totally different than what Jesus was telling them and they just didn’t get it.

B. The nature of Peter’s correction

1. Peter tries to change the plan

a.) Peter takes Jesus aside

The Greek here has an extremely strong meaning. The phrase “took him aside” implies that Peter literally grabbed Jesus and pulled him away from the others to talk with Him. This shows us just how completely clueless Peter truly was about Jesus

b.) Peter tells Jesus what to do

Peter “rebukes” Jesus and tells him that there is no way that he would die. In fact, Peter puts this in such strong terms that he says that heaven would not allow it. Peter’s focus was not on the plan of God but instead it was on the understanding of humanity.

2. Jesus corrects Peter

Jesus wastes no time in correcting Peter and totally shuts him down. Jesus uses some extremely strong language with Peter: “get behind me Satan.” The name Satan means adversary or enemy. Jesus understood Peter’s line of reasoning completely because it was nearly identical to that of Satan’s reasoning when he was tempting Jesus. Satan tempted Jesus to abandon the mission of the cross by promising Him the world without it. Peter is doing something very similar by telling Him that He did not need to die.

II. The Mandate for Being Sold Out

A. The desire to follow Jesus

1. Following Jesus demands a price

There is no such thing as low cost grace. There is no such thing as low cost Christianity. Jesus is calling you to an all or nothing deal; He wants all of your life. Every area of your daily living, every moment that you draw breath and every aspect that encompasses your life. This sounds like an incredible cost. Following Jesus is a choice and we make it each and every day. Will you live life on your terms or will you live life on Christ’s terms?