True Life (2)

Now before we get Peter’s incredible answer, please jump with me to verse 34 and listen to what Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? for what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Now, who could make such a demand as this? Who can demand of someone, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me?

Well, let me tell you! A king, a Prime Minister, a president, a world leader can. When Britain declared war on Germany in World War II, many people voluntarily joined the armed forces. They were compelled to deny themselves, their safe, quiet, comfortable life, and willingly took up the call to serve their king and country, knowing that it would put their life on the line.

The question we need to ask is this, “What compels people to do such a thing? Why would anyone sacrifice his or her life and go to war?”

Some would say, “Patriotism, honour and glory, propaganda.”

These are compelling reasons for going to war.

But what compelling reason do we have to take up our cross and follow Jesus? What was it about Jesus that caused Peter, James and John to walk away from their life as fishermen? What caused Matthew, a rich tax collector, to follow Jesus?

Why did they believe that their sacrifice was worth it? What compelled them, after Jesus died and rose again, to become preachers? What compelled them to continue life as servants of Christ? What compelled thousands to listen to what they were saying, and give up their religious acts they had lived with their whole life?

Now, let’s jump back up to the earlier part of the passage.

Who do people say Jesus is? John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets.

Okay, Jesus continued, in some sense, John’s ministry. He definitely had some stuff in common.

He called people to true repentance, just as Elijah did. He smashed the false teachers and cast out demons.

But then Jesus asked them, “Who do you say that I am?”

Peter says, “You are the Christ.” Peter says, “You are the anointed one, the messiah, the one who will redeem Israel.”

And then Jesus began to