Jeremiah 15:15-21; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Have you ever tried cooking a meal in a tiny kitchen with a bunch of people? You might think that having several people help out would be a good thing, and indeed, it is to a point. However, the moment you need to use the restroom, or grab something from the pantry or fridge, you have to squeeze past everyone. In fact, we often find that we can have the problem of too many people in the kitchen. 

Likewise, it’s not just cooking with which we run into this problem. Someone standing in the middle of a street would quickly become a hindrance to normal traffic. Someone who stands right in front of a door becomes a hindrance to those wanting to enter or exit. Most of the time, we do this unintentionally, though sometimes we do it on purpose. That is, we can purposely become hindrances to others for any number of reasons.

As we continue reading from the Gospel of Matthew, we find out that Peter goes from “great confessor” to a hindrance very quickly. Following Peter’s good confession, Jesus begins teaching his disciples about what it means for him to be the Christ. “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised,” Matthew 16:21. Jesus is sharing with his disciples the truth of what he has come to do. He won’t sit on any throne, nor will he lead any army against the Romans. He will offer himself up on a cross.

This is where our great confessor, Peter, comes to stand in Jesus’ way. “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you,” Matthew 16:22. Peter thinks that he has God’s plan all figured out. He was just celebrated by Jesus a moment ago, that now he’s so bold as to tell Jesus what he can and can’t do. Instead of learning from Jesus’ teaching, Peter inserts himself between Jesus and the cross.

This is a hard lesson we all must learn. If we place ourselves, our wants and desires first, we become nothing more than a hindrance to Christ. Rather, Jesus shows us what it means for him to be the Christ, and what it means for us to follow. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me,” Matthew 16:24. Jesus had to go to the cross. Jesus had to suffer for us so that he may win forgiveness and eternal life for you and me. But we also must take up our cross to follow him. For following Jesus means suffering even cross and grave. The Christian life is cruciform, that is, that is we must let go of all we have in this life and then God shall grant us life eternal!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Almighty God, Your Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption. Grant us courage to take up our cross daily and follow Him wherever He leads; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!