SUNDAY 30 AUGUST, 2020

Reflection:

A True Christian

Exodus 3:1-15

Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b

Matthew 16:21-28

Romans 12:9-21

"From that time on..." are the words that begin this week’s gospel lesson and it is closely tied to verses 13-20 of
Matthew 16 from last week’s lesson, where Peter confessed his faith that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God.
Now Jesus shows him (and us) what messiahship and discipleship entail.

Prior to Chapter 16, Jesus had spent much of his time addressing crowds, working miracles, and verbally jousting with the Jewish religious leaders, before turning his focus to instructing his disciples - preparing them for what will happen in Jerusalem - his personal cross - where he will be put to death.

He tells us that the reward of cross-bearing is life – but what does he mean by life?
The Christian life, with its costs and rewards, begins when we first begin to take up our own cross and follow Jesus.
Some attributes of such a person and resulting reward could be:

• someone who is willing to lose their life in Christ’s service, is freed from fear of death
• someone for whom Christ is more important than possessions, is freed from slavery to materialism
• someone who resists temptation, finds themself stronger when the next temptation rolls around
• an employee who maintains integrity in the face of temptation, can face a mirror without feeling shame
• someone who sacrifices their leisure time to help a person in need, gains a sense of self-worth

With a few powerful words at the beginning of Chapter 16, Jesus reveals the whole purpose of his earthly ministry - the Father’s divine plan for the salvation of all humankind and the good news (Gospel) that he, the Christ, was sent to suffer, die and be raised again for the forgiveness of our sins and the sins of the whole world.

Sadly, Peter couldn’t comprehend all that Jesus was revealing to them and he responded,
“Never, Lord! This shall never happen to You!”
He, like the other disciples, was probably looking for a different kind of Messiah, one who would come like a shining knight on a white horse – an earthly saviour, sent to free them from the tyranny of their Roman overlords.
But Jesus knew exactly who he was and exactly why he had come.
Looking “through” Peter, Jesus said to the devil, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Jesus knew that he had come to “take up his cross” and follow the will of his heavenly Father.
It was absolutely necessary that he must go to Jerusalem;
suffer unjustly at the hands of wicked, hateful men;
die a cruel death on the cross and, three days later, be raised again to life by the power of Almighty God.

By doing so, he took on the shame of our sins, and through this forgiveness restored our relationship with God.
Just as he did on our behalf, so he calls us to “take up our cross” and follow him.

So often, however, it seems that we misunderstand just what a cross is.
Our type of “cross” is not something that’s common to all people – Christian and non-Christian alike.
Difficulties at work, illnesses and disease, struggles in relationships are not necessarily “crosses”, because they’re
common to all human beings.

Rather, our cross is something Jesus places before us to willingly endure (and even suffer)
because we are his followers,
because we are believers and
because we are his disciples.

Giving up your comfort, loving the unlovable;
sharing a hug with the untouchables;
giving up your time volunteering to help those in need;
caring for the lonely and forgotten;
providing a ride to church for a newcomer in our community;
giving to the Lord “over-and-above the tithe” to help meet unusual
ministry challenges of the church at this time;
and in many other ways.

The true Christian tries to rise above these challenges, because we have the love of God in us and we aim to pass that on to those we meet.

Finally, Jesus said, “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”

We know that Jesus doesn’t promise us eternal life because of what we do, but rather by how willingly we take up our cross to follow him, demonstrating the faith in our hearts and our loving response for all that he’s done for us.

It’s by this faith which he promises to reward with the gift of eternal life.
So, how is the Holy Spirit working in you at this time?
What cross is Jesus placing before you today?
How will you respond in joyful service to your Saviour?
How will you, today, “Take Up Your Cross” to follow Jesus?

The answers to these questions, which you can quietly answer in your heart, will give you some idea of the steps
required to know if you are moving down the path of becoming a true Christian.

Prayer of Intercession for our Church Community
God of new life, be with us as we journey through our faith.
Let the signs of your goodness be upon us, that others may be invited into your way.
May we genuinely love others.
May we be enthusiastic and spirited in our acts of service.
May we rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer, contribute to those in need and extend
hospitality to strangers.
May we bless those who persecute us, rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep, and not claim to be wiser than we are.
Help us to not seek retribution or choose evil ways but seek to live peaceably with all and to overcome evil with good.
If our enemies are hungry, strengthen us and fill us with your love, following the ways of Jesus as we feed the hungry and, if they’re thirsty, give them something to drink.
Let kindness and generosity be your marks on us as we take on and live into your grace.
In the name of Christ. Amen.

Pastor Rick