Finding Life in Jesus' Steps

When a long weekend comes along like this one, I can't help but think of golf. That's right, golf. Over the Labor Day break there will be a lot of people picnicking, camping, fishing, and relaxing. Much attention will be focused on the new college football season, but give people a three-day weekend, and you can expect a whole lot of them will be hitting the links. Now, listen, I like to swing the clubs once in a while too, but what I like even better is relaxing on a Sunday afternoon and watching one of the classic golf tournaments. Give me an exciting finish at the Masters or like the British Open this year, or watch some of the best golfers in the world as they compete at the U.S. Open or the PGA Championship, and I'm a happy man.

Now, as I've watched golf this year, one aspect of the game that caught my attention is the caddies. Have you ever watched the caddies closely? The Masters this year was almost miraculous. While Sergio Garcia of Spain was doing his all to win his very first major, I saw how the caddy followed his every step, scouted out every shot, and was right next to him with the right club and an encouraging word. If Sergio went right, the caddy went right. If Sergio hiked a hill to get a better view of the green, the caddy went with him. When Sergio ended up in the rough, the caddy carried the bag into the rough right there with him. It was amazing to see the intensity and the devotion of the caddy.

Well, Jesus wasn't talking about golf in Matthew chapter 16, but He was talking about following. Peter was getting ahead of His Master. When Jesus began to talk about His suffering, death, and resurrection, Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him. You can almost picture Peter shaking his finger in Jesus' face and saying, "Far be it from You, Lord. This shall never happen to You." But Jesus replied, "Get behind Me." Jesus didn't say this to give Peter the brush off. Jesus wasn't spurning Peter or casting him aside. This was not a scolding. Jesus was repositioning Peter. He was literally putting Peter in his place. Peter didn't belong in front of Jesus, creating the plan, and calling the shots. Peter belonged behind Jesus, following in His steps, going where the Master was leading. Peter wasn't the pro. He was the caddy.

Jesus said to him and to all disciples, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." The way to get behind Jesus is to deny yourself. Take up your cross. Then you can follow. What did Jesus mean by that? What does it mean to take up your cross? This is one of the most important pieces of wisdom you will ever hear from Jesus. It is a central principle for living a fulfilled and blessed life in this world. Many people miss the key point of guidance from Jesus. The result is a life of frustrating striving, and a persistent lack of satisfaction and contentment. Let's not miss this today.

Jesus said, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." To understand this, let's start with the cross. What is our cross to bear? When we hear Jesus' words, we might think that annoying coworker is our cross to bear, or "I guess I'll suffer with my worn-out carpeting for a few more years." Clearly, those comparisons minimize the gravity of the cross. If you're enduring genuine suffering today, you may consider the very real pain and fear that you feel to be a cross to bear. While there may be some truth in that, at its core, it is not about our suffering. As a matter of fact, the cross is about Jesus' immense sacrifice for us.

Nailed to the torturous Roman execution apparatus, Jesus not only suffered unjust punishment for our imperfection, He was abandoned by God the Father and inflicted with eternal spiritual torment in our place. He took all of your shame, all of your failures, all of your reasons for regret, all of the hurt you've received, and all of the hurt you've inflicted. He took all of it upon Himself and paid the price for it. He silenced it. He put it to death once and for all so that you could be made a new creation, so that you could receive a new life, so you could be blessed with a new beginning. Why did Jesus do this? Why did He suffer the cross? Because God loves and treasures you. He doesn't want to lose you. He wants you to live a full life that leads to eternity with Him. He wants you behind Him every step of the way.

You see, the cross isn't about you. It's all about Jesus' sacrifice and work of forgiveness for you. You and I can't offer anything that would achieve contentment and peace-now or in the life that lasts forever-but Jesus replaces your baggage, your pain, your shame, and your faults with the cross: the tool, the instrument that brings life. Instead of carrying your heavy burdens, your worries and troubles, anger and pain, you get to carry the cross, and follow in Jesus' steps. By the grace of God, through faith in Him, you carry the tool for life's greatest prize. Once again, you're the caddy. Jesus is the pro.

You see that carrying the cross doesn't mean putting up with life's inconveniences or even enduring life's greatest struggles. Carrying your cross means that life is not about you. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me." The real cross you bear is living life in Christ for others, living a life that is not about you, your comfort level, your preferences, your desires, your happiness, or your feelings. You've already been taken care of in ways beyond anything you can imagine or think by Jesus' complete sacrifice for you. You've got the greatest gift: forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Jesus. You have the greatest blessing to share with others.

Bearing the cross is living with the cross' benefits through faith in Christ, while being willing to live it for others in His Name. Carrying the cross means walking in a new life of unselfish love and sacrifice in Christ for you, living that way for the people God places in your life because that's the life you've been given by the grace of God. That's what the apostle Paul meant when he said in Romans, "We were buried, therefore, with Him, by Baptism, into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Are you tired of being miserable and restless? Are you weary of trying to find fulfillment in life? Are you sick of discord in your relationships? Then walk in the steps of Jesus for the fullness of life. Deny yourself and take up your cross. In other words, think about others. Be generous. Listen, serve, help. You want life? You want the prize? Be the caddy. Follow Jesus. Instead of charting your own course and running life your way, carry what Jesus has given you: the cross of self-sacrificial love.

You know, that's what a man named Walter did. Walter was born in the early 1900s and developed a love for golf in the days of Walter Hagan, Gene Sarazen, and Bobby Jones. Walter's parents wanted him to go into business, so he could make money right away and have a stable life. But Walter loved golf. He had a powerful and straight drive. Some people encouraged him to become a pro, but Walter discovered another joy in the game of golf. He loved being a caddy. He started the task as a young man, working at a local golf club. He cleaned the clubs and the golf balls. He replaced the divots. He carried golf bags around the course, and he gave advice. Walter learned the course. He watched the patrons to see their strengths and their areas of need. He listened to them and developed rapport. Then he gently advised them. He guided them around the course, made suggestions, and worked to give them a real great experience. He tried to make their golf games better, and it worked. Everyone loved Walter. They wanted him as their caddy.

Pretty soon, some professionals took notice, and Walter was on the big stage, carrying the bags of pros at prestigious tournaments. He followed, worked, served, and cared. He ended up sharing in some of the biggest prizes in golf. Walter never got tired of taking an interest in others and helping people do better. Even after Walter retired, he went back to a local golf club to caddy for everyday golfers. At 80 years of age, he could still hit a beautiful and straight drive, and he still reminisced fondly about his life as a caddy.

You see, carrying your cross, putting yourself aside to serve others in Jesus' Name, it doesn't kill you. You don't lose out. Life as Jesus' caddy, life in His steps, brings life to others. That's why Jesus said, "Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." The grace and new life Jesus has given you through His death and resurrection is your tool to bless the world. And the world-the people in your life-desperately need this blessing. That's why Jesus asked, "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" You know, too many people are living aimless lives trying to find fulfillment in pleasing themselves and making life all about them. People need caddies who carry the cross of Jesus' redeeming and renewing love. People need caddies who guide and direct, who listen, who help, who care, who love, and who bless.

Let's be honest. Have you ever heard of a person reaching their ultimate happiness by becoming a hoarding, self-indulging, self-centered, egocentric, narcissistic human being? No. I've heard of people walking that pathway and becoming joyless and alone. How about people who have demonstrated generosity and self-sacrifice? What has that pathway brought? Those are our heroes today, aren't they? Those are the people who make a difference. Those are the people who, even through pain and challenge, display the goodness of God and the glory of the cross of Jesus Christ. They are people who experience fulfillment, contentment, and peace.

Are you trying to gain the whole world, but are forfeiting your soul? Are you trying to preserve your pride while you alienate your wife or husband? Are you grasping after a sense of identity in your career while you neglect your family? Are you masking your insecurity by lashing out at people around you? Are you trying to be right by demeaning and alienating others? Are you joining the frenzied chorus of divisiveness in order to prove your point and assure your position? Are you trying to feel good and mask internal pain by losing yourself in drinking or drugs? Are you trying to find love and affirmation by sinking into sexual unfaithfulness? Is the pursuit of yourself turning you into a miserable human being?

Jesus calls you, invites you, to let it go. Put yourself aside. Put all of your striving and straining on a shelf. Deny yourself, and carry the gift that gives you and everyone around you life. Take up your cross, and follow Jesus. Walk in His steps of grace and redemption. Receive life and give life.

A year ago in July, a man by the name of Mark Johnson asked professional golfer Sergio Garcia a question through the social media site Twitter. Johnson was a huge fan of Sergio, so he decided to take the risk and ask if he could be Sergio Garcia's caddy sometime. He said to Garcia, "You're my number-one golfer. Please, can I caddy for you when your caddy can't make it?" Johnson didn't think Sergio Garcia would even pay attention to his direct messages, but he decided to keep it going for 206 days straight. At times, Johnson felt like giving up, but once in a while Sergio Garcia would like one of his tweets, so Mark Johnson persisted. He updated Sergio Garcia on family events. He told him about golf trips. He offered pep talks, advice, and encouraging words. He said he would waive the typical 10 percent share of the prize money and would carry Garcia's bag for the cost of travel expenses. He even tweeted Garcia in his native Spanish language. He shared stories about his kids, and even complimented Garcia's wardrobe. The tweets went on for over six months.

Then earlier this year, Garcia responded to Mark Johnson. It was 5:30 in the morning on a Saturday when Johnson received this tweet from Garcia. "Okay. I think I've found the perfect day for you to get a taste of carrying my bag and making your dream come true. Are you ready?" Johnson was ecstatic. He had to contain his joy, so he wouldn't wake up his wife and kids. Sergio Garcia had invited Johnson to be his caddy at the Pro Am day of the British Masters Tournament. That tournament will take place later this month. Mark Johnson will enjoy the gift of being a caddy. Wow! What a dream come true.

Oh, that you and I might take joy in the gift of being a caddy for our Savior Jesus Christ. A follower of Christ is willing to take His lead and be ordered by His steps. He invites you to that grand life today, and not through Twitter, but through His Word of life. He calls you to that remarkable and surprising walk in His steps of grace, forgiveness, and eternal hope. Life will heap a lot on your shoulders, but only Jesus gives you the cross of salvation and restoration to carry it. This world will pile on the pain and the perplexity, but only the cross of Jesus Christ will provide blessing for all.

Jesus said, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me." Today can be that day of new dreams, a fulfilling life for you. In repentance, surrender your pride, your stubbornness, your grudges, your sins, your fears to Jesus Christ, and look to the Savior of all humanity, and your Savior, too-One who promises that He will not let you go, that He will give you life and salvation, and take up the cross that gives you life-the cross that atoned for your sins, the cross that opened the door to life forever-and carry that gift so that people around you will be blessed with the unconditional love and new life that only Jesus can give. You'll be blessed, and others will be blessed that you do. In His Name. Amen.