Suffering "The Life of a Disciple"
Notes
Transcript
There’s a lot to be said about a life of following Christ. Sometimes i feel like we “pitch” the opportunity to follow Christ like we’re selling timeshares. “You will love it! It will change your life! These are the benefits, this is why it’s better than what you can anywhere else!”. While these things are true, we have to look at the life of following Christ in context of what Jesus said Himself. Sometimes, i think we come to the word and we feel like a passage is made up of random thoughts that we are to learn lessons from. But scripture always has context. We have to see it in context to dig out the gems.
21 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.
22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Let’s give some background context. (Explain the confession of Peter, the explanation of the Church and its foundation)
21 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.
Verse 21, “From that time”, indicating from the time that the confession of the Christ was first made, Jesus began to show His disciples how He must suffer.. It’s interesting; the moment the disciples realize who Christ is, they began to learn the nature of Christ’s mission.
Application: Once we come to Christ, we must be fully on board with His plans, His will, and His way. We do not add Jesus to our plans. And we will see this more plainly with the next verse. Too many times people make a confession of Christ, and in time fizzle out and show they never truly had root. The issue is, a lot of time these people want the benefits of Christ; not the following of Christ. Not the surrender, not Lordship.
This is big on the recovery scene. People want the benefits of freedom from addiction, but don’t want freedom from self. So they come, and they try, and they make an emotional decision; but when the testing comes they fall away. The want the end result without the journey. And that’s not how this works.
22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
So here we see Peter’s reaction. Peter has just made the confession that He is the Christ. Peter is firm in his conviction, but he is also misguided in his interpretation. Peter is sure that Jesus is to reign, in the here and now. That Jesus is to set up His Kingdom. That Jesus is to overthrow the Romans and rule with an iron fist. Jesus’ response gives us all of the application we need. But first, think about this. Jesus, the Man you just proclaimed to be the Christ. The man you confessed as Son of the Living God, has just told you what will happen to Him. And you tell Him no? You tell Him, far be it from You Lord? Imagine that.
Application: Jesus tells us the way it will be, not the other way around.
Too many times we come to God with our agendas. “Bless this Lord, make this work Lord. I know i disobeyed, but save me from the consequences Lord.” Listen, i’ve been there. But i think it’s extremely important that we often remind ourselves, I am a servant of the Lord, He is not a servant to me. He doesn’t take my orders, i take His. And when God says something, when it’s in His word, it is not up for negotiation. It is not up for loose interpretation. It’s authority from the Lips of the One who spoke the world into existence. WE CAN HAVE NO OPINIONS. Let’s look at how Jesus handles Peter’s statement.
23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Get behind me Satan.. Strong words. You are a hindrance to me, in the greek it may be a STUMBLING BLOCK to me. Why the comparison to Satan? It goes back to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, in the wilderness.
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”
Satan, like Peter, implied that our Lord could have Messiahship without the suffering, without the death. And in reality, He could. All things were created for Him, and through Him. But it was not Gods will. Messiah must see the cross, Messiah must suffer, and rise again, to truly save and justify the lost. Satan wanted Jesus to see that He could have the glory without the death.
Application: Don’t let anyone lie to you. You cannot have the glory of Christianity without the suffering. Without the death.
Just as Christ had to die for our salvation, to be raised again, never to die again; so must we die, to be raised to walk in newness of life, never to die again. Our bodies may cease to breathe and function, but our spirits will live forever with Him. But the call to salvation is synonomous with a call to death.
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
It can be no longer about I. For i no longer live. But CHRIST LIVING IN ME. How can i continue to gratify this flesh, when the life i live in the flesh is by faith in the Son of God? Who loved me and gave Himself for me? One cannot possibly think this life is about them anymore.
Getting back to verse 23. Jesus tells Peter that He is suggesting that the Christ go directly against the will of God. Just as Satan suggested. How could Peter be so blind? How could Peter on one hand be the first to confess the Christ, and in the next paragraph be so shortsighted as to be on the same wavelength as Satan?
Peter had his mind on the things of man. Peter wanted Jesus to set up His Kingdom now. Peter had on His mind power, and freedom, and ruling with Christ. Not God’s master plan.
Application: Our salvation can get selfish. It’s all about us. Our freedom, our plans, our desires. Jesus giving US what WE WANT.
This is such a dangerous place for us to be. Selfish ambition dressed up as a righteous mission, has been the downfall of many men of God much greater than me. That’s why it is so important to always be aware of our motives. You can be doing a good thing, for the wrong reasons, and be deceiving yourself and not even feel it. So what’s the answer? Jesus makes it clear, it’s setting our minds on the things of God.
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
If you have been raised with Christ, if you are a born again, spirit filled, believing, child of God, then SEEK THE THINGS ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST IT! Not things on this earth, not sensual desires, but also not on our physical needs, on material gain, on what will keep us comfortable. Keeping our minds on seeking the things above, will keep us from being so focused on our desires that we neglect to ponder God’s bigger picture. That’s what Peter did. He could only see HIS WAY, HIS FEELINGS, HIS OPINIONS on how things should go, that he blatantly ignored the words that Jesus had just spoken. That’s what focusing on the flesh does for us. It enables you to ignore the word of God, and find yourself in a state of self serving.
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
First i want us to notice the context of this verse. Take this passage as a whole and it helps us to define the words that Jesus spoke more accurately. Jesus is telling His disciples that He MUST SUFFER and be killed and be raised. Peter rebukes the Lord, and the Lord in turn rebukes Peter and tells Him that He is thinking like Satan. And next comes this verse.. This is all in the context of SUFFERING. Of surrendering to Gods plan, and keeping our minds focused on His plan, not our own.
As Christians, we must be willing to suffer. We must be willing to accept the things of God, and to deny ourselves. That word “deny” in the greek is the word Arneomai and here means “to refuse to give thought to or express concern for—‘to disregard, to pay no attention to, to say No to.’ That’s strong. Jesus said, if we are to come after Him, we are to disregard ourselves, pay no attention to ourselves. To refuse to give thought to or express concern for ourselves.
What does this mean? Is Jesus telling us not to take care of ourselves? To starve ourselves and abuse ourselves? Of course not. Jesus is saying, in context; refuse to give thought to what our flesh wants. Refuse to give thought to the things of man, “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life.” Disregard your plans, give no concern to fleshly pleasures or desires, refuse them, say no to them, and keep all of your attention on Jesus.
So it begins with self denial, and taking up your cross. Taking up your cross is significant in many ways. First, we must be willing to die. As we read earlier in Galatians 2:20, we must be willing to surrender as crucified with Christ.
14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Here Paul takes it a step further. Part of taking up our cross is knowing that the world has been crucified to us, and us to the world. THE WORLD IS DEAD TO US, and the world should consider us dead. The people who used to know me don’t know me anymore. They don’t want to spend time anymore. They don’t seek me out anymore. I’m dead to them. That old me is dead and gone. That’s how the world should see us.
Application: Are you dead to the world?
It’s okay to enjoy things in this world. But does the world still has that pull on you? Are you going in the same direction? Are the things of the world foreign to you, and your new nature? Or does the tide pull you in, surrounding you? Sinking you in the latest sin? Do the things of this world drive you? Or is it the things of God? Our love for the world should be fleeting. We cannot have love for the world and the love of the Father in us.
But taking up our cross has more significance. It’s a statement of grace. As we surrender to identifying with His death and resurrection, we are surrendering to the free gift of salvation. It is a daily reminder that God came in the guise of sinful flesh, and took our place. And salvation today is given freely, and not earned. It is a reminder to always identify with the grace of God. Not the sins of the world, not the works of the flesh. But we identify with Christ the risen, as the propitiation for our sins.
So once we begin with self denial, the taking up of our cross, then and only then can we follow Him. Why? Because we must be willing to die as well follow Him. Willing to die daily to the flesh, and even perhaps in martyrdom. Why is that? Where are we following Him? Well, where was the cross of Christ carried to? To the point of His death. We follow Jesus til death. Dying on the way, but truly coming alive at the same time. Just as He died, but truly lives.
He tells us to deny ourselves and follow Him, because before we were following Christ, we were following the world. Following satan. And as Christians, there is still the temptation to follow our flesh, but if we sow to our flesh we will reap death.
25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
The Christian life is a bit of a paradox. If you would save your life you will lose it. But if you lose your life FOR HIS SAKE you will find it. Listen to what Jesus is saying. If you will save your life, and not lose it FOR HIM, if you would rather spend your life serving you, seeking out your desires, your will, your plans; if this is you, you will lose your life. But if you’re willing to surrender the temporary pleasures, if you’re willing to live your life a living sacrifice, for HIS SAKE, devoted to HIS PLANS AND HIS PURPOSE, then you will find TRUE LIFE, ABUNDANT LIFE, ETERNAL LIFE. We must take the same road of service and sacrifice as Jesus did. Following Him is a day by day, a moment by moment decision.
But if you’re willing to make that decision, if you’re willing to suffer with Christ, willing to say no to the flesh and die for Jesus sake, then you will walk into eternity, into paradise, with our Lord forever.
27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
There are many verses, that reference the end times, Christ’ return and judgment. Let’s quickly look at a few..
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
We will be rewarded and repayed for what we have done. This isn’t to scare anyone. This is to point toward the reward of suffering. The glory of what awaits the faithful servant who suffers the denial of the flesh, is so great, it shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same sentence of the light affliction we have of putting to death the deeds of the flesh. This is really highlighted in the story of Lazarus the beggar.
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried,
23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
This is not highlighting rich and poor. This is highlighting a life of suffering vs a life of sensual pleasures.
Application: Suffer now, or suffer later. The choice is yours. But suffering is promised.
Listen i know it’s hard. I know it can be difficult to lay down that lifestyle, to say no to your desires and yes to Jesus. But i also know, that we are not saved by our works. The same grace that saved us, enables us to live a life serving Christ. To live a life saying no to the flesh, and YES TO HIM. If we deny Christ and live for ourselves, we will suffer for eternity. But if we will suffer for a short time in this life, we can live forever in the reward of paradise.
JESUS WAS WILLING TO SUFFER TO OBEY HIS FATHER. ARE WE?
Listen, IF YOU’RE WILLING TO SUFFER YOUR ADDICTION WHICH TRIES TO KILL YOU AND STEALS EVERYTHING FROM YOU, WHY WOULD’T YOU SUFFER FOR CHRIST AND DENY YOUR FLESH WHEN IT BRINGS YOU LIFE ABUNDANT AND LIFE ETERNAL?
This is not doom and gloom preaching. (Brad’s conversation) This suffering is so much greater. This sort of suffering is glorious, because it brings with it peace. It brings with it hope. There is no hope in the suffering of sin. Only loathing, only death.
We must understand why it was God’s will for Jesus to suffer.
10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
It was God’s will for Jesus to suffer because of His great love for us. That we may be accounted righteous. That He would bear our iniquities. Jesus suffering served a purpose, and so does ours.
3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
Listen, God is fully pleased with us because we are fully accepted in the beloved. But as good soldiers of Christ, we must share in His suffering, aiming to live in a way that is pleasing to God. And as we have this in mind, God molds us and shapes us and sanctifies us. To where today, it’s not as difficult to suffer the flesh. It’s a way of life. But the suffering i had in the depths of my addiction was much greater than the suffering of today. The suffering of today is sustained by a Holy God who loves me and gave Himself for me. I had nothing, i was dead inside, and He chose me. So today, i must choose to live for Him. Going back to Matthew 16 as i bring this to a close, there are two application we must see..
27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
When He comes back to repay each of us, it’s with the measure that we esteemed Him, that He will esteem us. Will He be ashamed of you at His coming?
How much respect, reverence, admiration, love and worship do we put on Jesus Name with not only our words, but our thoughts and deeds? It has eternal ramifications. And as Christians, although our sins are judged and paid for, our works will be judged, and we will suffer loss.
Finally, i believe v28 is referencing the transfiguration; it could also be Jesus’ appearance to the disciples after His death and resurrection, or perhaps the day of pentecost, or even a culmination of them all. But there’s an application for us today.
There is some of us here today that may not taste death before we see Jesus coming in His Kingdom..
Are we living our lives every single day like Jesus could return today?
Jesus is surely coming. We cannot delay our obedience, our faith, or play with salvation any longer. I’ll close with this passage.
33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.
34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.
35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—
36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.
37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
Stay awake. Rise sleeper, believe in Christ. Our salvation is nearer today than when we first believed.