Cross Bearing with Jesus

Jesu Juva

St. Matt. 16:21-28                                                   

September 3, 2023

Proper 17A                 

 Dear saints of our Savior~

          Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”  There you have it.  The theme of the day:

Cross-bearing and Self-denial.  This is going to be a tough sell—especially on Labor Day weekend.  Just when you thought you were going to catch a break, Jesus says to get your shoulders ready for the weight of the cross.  We don’t naturally want to go down the road of cross-bearing and self-denial.  We’d rather do just what our first parents did in the beginning, in the Garden: Adam and Eve denied themselves nothing, seized what wasn’t given to them, and bit down hard on the notion that they knew better than God.

          And we are the living proof that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.  Self-denial isn’t just a tough sell; it’s a foreign concept to most Americans today.  Self-denial?  You must be joking.  Our entire culture revolves around self-indulgence, self-absorption, self-centeredness, self-gratification, self-glorification—not to mention selfies.  The name of the game is narcissism.

          But Jesus says, “Deny yourself.  Take up your cross.”  What Jesus says in this text is a major inconvenience to our quest for self-actualization.  So, naturally, we look for a way to soften up what the Savior is saying.  Maybe all this talk about crosses and self-denial is only metaphorical or symbolic or spiritual.  Maybe Jesus is just exaggerating; He did that once in a while.  Maybe Jesus just has in mind Sunday mornings.  You know? Carry on business as usual Monday through Saturday; but on Sundays just deny yourself a little sleep, show up for this sweet hour of prayer, suffer through long lines at the all-you-can-eat brunch buffet, and call it good.  Self-denied; cross carried; boom!  If you think that’s what Jesus means then ask yourself this:  Where would we be if Jesus Himself had only taken up a symbolic cross—or a metaphorical cross—instead of a real, wooden cross with nails?  We wouldn’t be here—that’s for sure.

          Today’s Gospel reading is a turning point in Matthew.  It records the precise moment when Jesus begins to make the turn toward His own cross—toward Jerusalem and Calvary.  Up to this point in our Lord’s ministry, it’s been kind of fun to follow along—watching Him boss those demons around, healing scores of sick people, feeding thousands, stilling storms, walking on water, running circles around the scribes and Pharisees.  Who wouldn’t want to follow Jesus?  The crowds flocked to Jesus, and we would have been right there with them.

          But no sooner had Peter let loose with his glorious confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God—than Jesus began to take a different tone.  From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and rise again.  From that time, Jesus explicitly began to tell them just what it meant that He was the Christ—the Son of God, in human flesh.  In a word: the cross.

          Peter famously objected—immediately, forcefully, predictably.  God forbid it, Lord.  This shall never happen to you!  Oh, Peter.  There but for the grace of God go I . . . and you.  One minute Peter could confess the divinely revealed truth about Jesus, and in the very next breath try to derail His death and resurrection.  One minute Jesus could commend Peter, saying, “Blessed are you, Simon.”  But in the next minute Jesus would rebuke Peter, saying, “Get behind me, Satan.  You are a hindrance to me. You have in mind the things of man.”  One minute Peter spoke divine truth.  The next minute he was a spokesman for Satan.  And Peter had no idea which was which.

          Peter had no idea; and neither do we.  So sneaky and slippery is our sinful nature that one minute we’re holding fast to what is good, but the next minute we’re indulging in evil.  One minute we’re generously donating to help hurricane victims; but the next minute we’re doing our best sloth impersonations when we ought to be serving and helping the members of our own family.  With our lips we say, “I forgive you,” while in our hearts we plot and plan our carefully crafted vengeance.  As for those who rejoice, we’re jealous of them.  And regarding those who weep, we make a wide detour around them (what a buzz kill they are!).  With our tongues we bless . . . and we curse; we proclaim the truth . . . and we whisper demonic lies.  And, most of the time, we don’t know which is which.

          This is why the Christ and the cross go together.  This is why Jesus said it was necessary—why Jesus said that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things, be killed and on the third day be raised.  It wasn’t optional—not if our sin and death were to be definitively dealt with, once and for all.  The cross was critical and crucial.  The cross would be how God’s self-denying, self-giving, self-sacrificing love would be shown to the whole world.

          This is why Satan tried to subvert the cross.  The cross is the one thing the devil really fears.  The cross is the devil’s downfall.  The devil knows that the sacrifice of Jesus’ perfect human life on the cross silences all the demands of the Law.  He knows that the death of the Son of God covers the world’s sin completely—that sinners like us are able to stand before God forgiven, righteous, and holy because Jesus died and rose as our sacred, sin-bearing substitute.  The devil knows that his accusations are now answered for in the holy blood of God’s holy Son.

          The Christ and the cross go together.  This is why our Jewish neighbors are particularly offended by the cross.  It’s why our Muslim neighbors are particularly offended by the cross.  This is why, still today, the devil wants to distance you from the cross of Christ.  He couldn’t stop Jesus, but maybe he can mess with you a little bit—get you to think that you have to earn your forgiveness—get you to think that your baptism means very little for your messed-up life—cleverly convince you that the Lord’s Supper is nothing more than a sentimental, symbolic reminder of what Jesus did long, long ago.  He’d love to get your eyes off of this crucifix so that you can focus more clearly on your own needs and narcissism. 

          Separating yourself from the cross is the first step toward gaining the whole world—and losing your own life.  That’s really dumb.  Yet people do it all the time.  If you’re doing it right now, stop.  Repent!  Set your mind on the things of God instead.  Deny yourself as you do the work of your vocations with diligence and determination.  Follow Jesus right here to where He shares the benefits and blessings of His holy cross with all who gather in faith around His blessed Word and His Holy Supper.

          Jesus asked, “What shall a man give in exchange for his life?”  The answer is nothing.  You have nothing to give.  We are all beggars.  But here’s the glory of the cross:  Jesus gave His life in exchange for your life.  In fact, He gave His life in exchange for the life of the world.  One holy, perfect, sinless, spotless life—for you, in your place.  You are died for.  You are loved!

          Keep that in mind when the crosses you bear are heavy and painful.  Keep that in mind when persecution comes your way.  With the eyes of faith we can see right past our present sufferings to the resurrection glory that far outweighs them all.  With faith in Jesus you literally have nothing to lose—nothing except your sin, your guilt, and your shame.  That’s the way of the cross—the way on which Jesus invites you, saying simply, “Follow me.”

          In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.