Matthew 16:21-28 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 16:21-28 on biblegateway.com
Verse 21From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. Verse 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." Verse 23But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
Verse 24Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Verse 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. Verse 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? Verse 27"For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Verse 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Devotion
It is intriguing, this call of Jesus to “take up (one’s) cross.” Certainly no one can add to or enhance the cross of Christ. That is a gift that is one and done. Perhaps the two verbs that accompany this call offer a clue for us: “deny” and “follow.”
To “deny” oneself is not to denigrate oneself. But embraced by Christ’s love there is the call and the freedom to live beyond oneself and to see the neighbor.
Perhaps then to “follow” is to be lost but totally found in the love of Christ, and thus to find oneself where Jesus is: proclaiming the good news of God’s near presence and reign, curing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing lepers, casting out demons. Those places of need abound yet today, and Jesus often chooses to be there through our hearts and hands!
Take up your cross…again today. Lose yourself—find yourself—in the love of Jesus and your neighbor.
Prayer
Today I seek to offer you all that I am and all that I possess to be used by you, Infinite Creator and Gracious Redeemer, in whatever way you choose. May your life-giving, healing grace abound…also through me. Amen
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