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And it came to be, in his praying alone in his being, the disciples were gathered to him. And he questioned them, stating, “Who are the crowds stating me to be?” But they, responding, said, “John the Baptist. But others, Elijah, and others, that a certain one, a prophet of old has risen up.” But he said to them, “But who are you stating me to be?” And Peter responding, said, “The Christ of God.” (Luke’s AD 60 research report re Jesus: Chapter 9: 18-27) |
Jesus must have been silently praying during which time the disciples “gathered to him.” Maybe anyone reading Luke’s research report today needs to ask herself, at this stage of the book, that same question. “Who are you stating me to be?” Not what you think - what you “are stating.”
But, rebuking, he ordered them to state this to no one, saying that, “It is necessary that the Son of Man suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and theologians, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
Why was it so very important to Jesus that the disciples must not state to anybody, “Jesus is the Christ of God”? Did he give them the reason? If they disclosed it, he would not have been allowed to go through with his suffering, rejection, death and resurrection. Was that his glorious purpose?
But he stated to all, “If anyone desires to come behind me, he must deny himself and must take up his cross throughout each day and must follow me."
Having helped his disciples to make a decision for themselves, Jesus now speaks “to all” in the huge crowd. The people were moving along behind him. Did he want to discourage them from doing that without thinking about the cost – to them. Or did he, really and truly, want them to become like him – and like his Father above? By also going towards suffering, rejection, and death through owning Jesus in a hostile world, would they be mirroring the nature of the Most High in loving even their enemies?
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“Because [1] whoever may desire to save his soul will lose it, but whoever loses his soul on account of me, this one will save it.”
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The first reason for “daily” taking up my “cross” and following Jesus concerns my own “soul.” If I don’t “follow” Jesus, will I really lose my soul? And, if so, how so? Maybe in two ways. My “soul” is me as a whole and, if I haven’t followed him, what comes after my death is, I’m told by him, awful. My “soul” down here is also problematic because it’s plainly not mine. If I appropriate it to myself, I’m stealing and there are consequences.
“Because [2] what benefits a person gaining the whole world but destroying or forfeiting his own self?”
The second reason for “daily” taking up my “cross” and following Jesus concerns my object in following only myself, my interests, my identity, my gifts. In many areas of my life, I may reach the top. I may even (from my perspective at least) gain “the whole world” that is, my "whole world.”
A little later in his ministry, Luke records that Jesus spoke about a man who had, as it were, gained his "whole world" and intended to retire. Jesus said, “God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
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“Because [3] whoever may be ashamed of me and of the words of mine, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he may come in the glory of him and of the Father and of the holy angels.”
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The third reason for “daily” taking up my “cross” and following Jesus concerns what awaits a person whom Jesus described as “ashamed of me and of the words of mine” when down here. Yes, there’s lots of “glory” down here for the winners. There seems to be a different, wonderful “glory” for some shortly. It’s “the glory of [Jesus] and of the Father and of the holy angels.” What exactly was (and is) the “glory” of Jesus? All he did was “suffer”, “be rejected”, and “be killed” aged 30, wasn’t it? Was that glorious – when he did that for his enemies?
“But I state to you truly, some of the ones standing here may not taste death until they may see the realm of God.”
Yes, some “standing” there around AD 30 did see it. It’s on the record. |
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