Matthew 16:24 AMP
[24] Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]
As always, we see the interactions of Jesus with the leaders of His day. The Pharisees and Sadducees were naturally antagonistic, because Jesus came to challenge their hold and authority over the people. The fact that a situation has persisted over the years does not mean that it is right, or that it must be left as it is, and not challenged. The Pharisees were looking for a sign, but Jesus would not give them anything, except the sign of Jonah who was in the belly of the whale for three days. This was a picture of the coming death of Jesus on the cross. Of course, the Jewish leaders did not understand what He was speaking about.
For the disciples, it was a different experience. Jesus spoke in parables to the crowd and the Jewish leaders, but He spoke in plain language to His disciples. These men had stayed with Him through the opposition and resistance of the Jewish leaders, but it was time for Jesus to go the way of the cross. He had asked the disciples if they truly knew Him, and Peter had pronounced those immortal words: "You are Christ, the son of the living God". The same Peter had also tried to stop the plan, thinking it was possible to use human means and methods to stop God's divine plan of salvation. Thank God that Jesus prayed for Peter.
In the same place where Jesus foretold His death, He laid down the cost of discipleship. He did not try to sugarcoat it, as we try to do these days in order to draw men in. The truth is always the strongest attraction, because you know clearly what you are getting into from the start. The crowd was not there at this moment, and those who would take this important message to the world were the ones who needed to hear it. The invitation to make the approach is for anyone. It does not care what the past looks like; it does not matter what the stains and weight look like. All I am asked to do is to follow Jesus. He is the One who welcomes all who sincerely seek Him.
Like Jesus, I must set aside selfish interests, and take on my cross, whatever the personal sacrifice may be, and follow Jesus. At this point, I am not seeking that which makes me comfortable, but that which glorifies the One I follow. As it has always been made clear, God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. It must be willing surrender, but laced with a dose of compulsory conscription once you have stepped in. The example is Jesus, and not anyone or anything else. It is a stand with Jesus to the end, wherever He leads, even to death. Does this describe my current pursuits and priorities? God's time of favour is here.
No comments:
Post a Comment