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Printer Friendly VersionDo you know anybody who won’t let you finish a sentence
before they’ve already decided what they’re going to say? You’re
halfway through your thought … and they jump in to tell you what they
think.
They finish your sentence for you. Or, they assume what you’re
going to say. Or, they just imagine what your conclusion is going to be …
and they launch into what they want to say!
Do you know anybody like that?
I think Peter was kind of like that. I get the impression that
Peter was impetuous or impulsive. He would just do things when the urge struck
him.
Remember? Peter stood up from his boat … left his net in
the water … when Jesus called him to follow him.
Remember the story when Jesus was walking on the water? The
disciples were in the boat … the storm was raging. Jesus was on the water.
Who was it that said? “Hey, that looks like a good idea. I think I’ll
try that.” It was Peter.
Do you remember the story when the glory of Jesus is revealed
to the three closest of Jesus disciples? The story is often called the transfiguration.
Jesus, Moses, and Elijah appear to them. Who was it that said? “This
is great. Why don’t we pitch some tents up here on this mountain and
just stay here for a while?” It was Peter.
Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus had betrayed him.
The mob had come to arrest him. Roman soldiers … religious leaders. Somebody
drew a sword and swung it at the high priest … missed him … but,
lopped off his servant’s ear. The gospel of John tells us that it was
Peter. He had obviously swung many fishing nets, but never a sword.
Peter.
Impulsive. Impetuous. Dramatic. Boisterous. Vocal.
Peter, so many times, is the one who speaks up when all the
other disciples are silent.
Just prior to the passage of Scripture that we have just read, Jesus conducts
his own Gallup poll. He asks his disciples. “What are people saying about
me? Who are they saying that I am?”
And, the disciples had heard people talking.
“Get this, Jesus. Some people think that you’re John
the Baptist raised from the dead … Can you believe that? I mean …
we know you all are cousins … about the same age … and look a little
alike. Anyway, that’s what some people think.”
“Some think that you’re Elijah. You know, the scribes
say that Elijah must appear before the Messiah comes … so some people
think that you might be Elijah … You know, he died a long time ago …
and nobody knows what he looked like. So, I guess some people think you’re
him.”
“Others have heard you preach and teach. They know that
you’ve been sent from God. Some think you’re a prophet.”
I get the sense that even though Jesus asked the question, he
was tired by their answers. I get the sense that Jesus asked his first question:
“Who do people say that I am?” so that he could get to the question
he really wanted answered: “Who do you say that I am?”
You see, because the answer to that question will determine
the answers to so many other questions.
“Who do you say that I am?”
Because if Jesus is just a teacher, then he’s just one
among many. You can listen to him or tune him out. It’s up to you.
If Jesus is just a great charismatic leader, then he’s
just one among many. There have been lots of those.
If Jesus is just a moral example, then you can admire him…
but you don’t necessarily have to pattern your life after his. If that’s
all he is.
If Jesus is just a good preacher with interesting stories, then
you can enjoy listening to him but you don’t have to really do anything.
Jesus asked them: “Who do you say that I am?” and,
of course, the first one to speak up with an answer for all of them was Peter.
“You are the Christ!”
“You are the Messiah!”
“You are the Savior sent from God that we’ve been
looking for!”
And, immediately … our text for this morning tells us …
that Jesus began to teach them that he must suffer … be rejected …
and killed.
Peter was dumbfounded. He reached out the big, strong hand that
had thrown fishing nets all his life … grabbed a handful of Jesus’
clothes … pulled him aside and … the Scripture says … he rebuked
him!
One minute Peter is calling Jesus the Savior of the world …
and the next minute he’s rebuking him … the next minute he’s
telling Jesus that he’s not going to let anybody hurt or kill him!
I mean, doesn’t Jesus understand that if these men are
going to fight for him … if these men are going to be the nucleus of
his army to overthrow the government … doesn’t he understand that
telling them that he’s going to be rejected and killed is not the way
to motivate them. Doesn’t he understand that?
Doesn’t he understand that we’re prepared to stand beside him and fight with him?
Doesn’t he understand that we’re prepared to stand
in front of him and shield him and protect him?
“Satan! Get behind me!”
“You’re not following God’s plan. You’re
following your own agenda.”
“You don’t want what God wants. You want what Peter
wants.”
“Who’s in charge here? God’s will, or Peter’s?”
“Whose plan are we following? God the Father’s or
Peter the fisherman’s?”
You see, Peter had used the right word. He had called Jesus
the Christ … the Messiah … the long-awaited Savior sent from God
… but his understanding of what that meant was fatally flawed.
For Peter, the Savior was to be a warrior.
For Peter, the Savior was to be an earthly, power-hungry …
kingdom-establishing military messiah.
Peter had used the right word … but provided his own definition.
So immediately, Jesus begins teaching his disciples and the
crowds what it means to follow him. Jesus begins defining what being a disciple
of “the Christ” means.
In verse 34, Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me
…” “If anyone will follow me … or come behind me.”
You see, Peter had wanted to get “in front” of Jesus. Peter had
wanted to shield Jesus. Peter had wanted to follow his agenda … his plan
… his dream … rather than following Jesus … and by getting
in front of Jesus, Peter was, in fact, trying to stand between Jesus and the
will of God!
Have you ever tried to stall the will of God?
Have you ever tried to thwart … delay … go around
… ignore … block … the will of God?
Sure you have.
“All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.”
“All have chosen to follow their own plan … and ignored
the will of God.”
And, Jesus, in verse 34, puts his finger on three basic ways
that human beings then and now try to blockade God’s will for our lives
… which is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Jesus says: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself …”
Listen. One of the … if not the … biggest barrier
between people who claim to want to follow Christ and actually follow him
is a preoccupation with self!
Did you get that?
A preoccupation with self.
What do I want? What will please me? What will be of most benefit
to me? Will it help me? Will it prosper me? Will it satisfy me? Will it meet
my needs? Will I feel better?
These are not the questions of the wholly committed … single-minded …
Christ-focusing follower of Jesus!
Jesus says that the disciple denies self. Others and their needs
take precedence. The gospel and the work of God have higher priority. Ministry
to those in need in every way comes before my needs are met on my time in
my way.
As you see from the story, Jesus taught this lesson to the disciples
and to the crowd … but when the “moment of truth” arrived …
Jesus was all alone. Because of that, it’s no wonder to me that multitudes
of people are not lining up to be the disciples of Christ. Self-denial is
contrary to human nature … but it is the will of God for the followers
of Jesus.
A second thing Jesus says is that his disciples will “take
up a cross.” And, that, frankly, often stands between us and God’s
plan for our lives … the refusal to sacrifice … to serve …
and to suffer.
Sometimes you’ll hear folks refer to the cross that they
have to bear. And, many times it’s something like an alcoholic spouse
… or a wayward child … or even something like an ingrown toenail.
Let’s be clear.
This is not what Jesus is talking about.
Those things are undoubtedly troublesome … they’re
problems … they’re painful things that Jesus wants to help you to
overcome by his grace. But, they are not your cross.
Jesus is talking about something you choose to take up. It’s
your choice. It’s because of your commitment to him and to the gospel.
You choose to live with less … fewer cars … less in
your bank account … and do without … so that you can generously
contribute to the proclamation of the gospel. That’s a cross!
You choose to function on the job with honesty and integrity
and because you won’t “fudge the numbers to make the company look
good” you get passed over for a promotion. That’s a cross!
At school, you take a stand for “right and wrong”
… you refuse to participate in something that would compromise your faith
in Christ … and you risk being shunned by the “in” crowd. That’s
a cross!
You choose to serve in some ministry that doesn’t receive
a lot of credit … and you don’t get patted on the back … and
it seems like nobody notices, but you keep on being faithful. That’s
a cross!
Jesus knew then as he does now that these are the things that
stand between us and being fully devoted disciples.
Finally, Jesus says: “If anyone would come after me, he
must … follow me.”
That makes sense.
But, here was Peter … who had left his boat to follow Jesus
when Jesus said: “Come, follow me.” Here he was … now …
stepping in front of Jesus. And, again, Jesus has to say: “Behind me.”
We want to lead.
We want to be in control.
We want to be out in front.
And, Jesus says: “That’s not the path of discipleship.”
Listen. Believe it or not Jesus may tell you to go somewhere
that you really don’t feel like going. Jesus may ask you to do something
that logically may not make sense to you. Jesus may place you in a position
and ministry that you don’t think you’re cut out for. I don’t
know. All I know is that … with disciples … Jesus is supposed to
lead … and followers are supposed to follow.
So, where do you stand? Behind? Or, in front?
Where’s your cross? On the ground? Or, on your shoulder?
What’s happening with your “self?” Is it in “first place”? Or, is it being denied for the cause of Christ?