Spectator to Player - Matthew 16:21-28

Matthew 16:21-28

Follow the leader

The reading from the Gospel according to Matthew this evening follows on from the confession of Peter – He has been told that he is the ’Rock upon which the Church will be founded’, and he replies that Jesus is ‘The Christ, the Son of the living God’.

All is well, and Peter was a hero, he understood who Jesus really was, he understood that Jesus was no mere man, but as one with the God of creation, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jesus - the Son of God who came to this earth to show people about God, and to tell the people of God, in a very real and personal way. Peter had put it all together. For that moment at least, he knew who Jesus was.

He could see who Christ was – and the mission – but unwilling to let him pay the price.

But in today’s lesson, Peter quickly changes from the hero to the zero, from one who is expounding some great truths, to one who is babbling and carrying on about things that he doesn’t understand, or even want to understand.

Peter changes so quickly in fact, that Jesus is extremely harsh when he says, "Get behind me Satan". He is saying… You are tempting me, you are hindering me you are trying to make me change my mind about the course that I am suppose to take. What did Peter do so wrong to change so quickly in just a short time?

After Peter’s confession, Jesus began to tell the disciples about what was ahead for him. Jesus told the disciples that he would suffer at the hands of the religious rulers, he would be put to death by them, but God would raise him on the third day.

Jesus was explaining the suffering servant, the suffering Messiah to the disciples, and Peter out of love and respect, out of his own ideas about the Messiah, out of his own sense of glory and righteousness said, "God forbid, Lord. This shall never happen to you."

Peter could not let Jesus suffer because he loved him so much, he believed in a Messiah that was nothing less than a conquering Messiah. Suffering wasn’t part of his dreams and the expectations for Jesus.

Jesus then goes to tell Peter (especially) but the disciples also that everyone must take up his cross to follow him. Jesus is saying that being a follower of Jesus is no easy matter there is sacrifice, there will be giving up things, there will be suffering, there will be setting priorities in life, so that those things which really do count have the priority.

Jesus is telling the disciple and us this evening that whoever looses their life for him, will find it. Whoever forgets about the demands, the values, the standards of this world, whoever is willing to live totally for Jesus, that person will find life.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote the book"Cost of Discipleship" in which he says that Christians are living by cheap grace. He says, "Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace with out Jesus Christ, living and incarnate."

Why have a Tesco Value faith, when you can have one from Waitrose?

"Bonhoeffer describes costly grace as seeking God daily – looking to God for all we need to live a full life. He says “Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ…. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his son… It grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us, Costly grace is the Incarnation of God. Costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and a contrite heart. Grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him."

Bonhoeffer is describing a life which is fulfilling the charge of Jesus when he says "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" Bonhoeffer is saying that we have lost sight of the grace which is so costly. We have turned the grace of God into some thing so simple, so watered down, something without meaning that we don’t comprehend, or fathom what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

I was thinking about how we make that decision to accept God’s grace for what it is, and get on with the work. I was thinking about how I can ‘nail down’ this ‘grace’ thing and not worry. I was wondering how I could engage with the great cost of my freedom, paid once for all by Christ – and I realised that it is really a daily task.

· Living through those times when we feel our faith is running on empty

· When people are rude and intolerant – keeping the peace that we might eventually help them change

· Searching for that bit of God in all people – grace – even though some keep it well hidden

· Praying when God seems distant, and celebrating as a church family even though we don’t feel welcome all the time

· Always feeling that our efforts come to nothing, even though we are assured they do

· Finally, living within a suffering world – where the rules of right and wrong seem so topsy-turvy

None of this is new – indeed it has been part of the journey with God for millions upon millions down the ages. For the Prophet Jeremiah – he says to God: “ Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail.” Strong language indeed for those days - His indignation with God cannot be contained, and he speaks his mind.

God then tells him that he will speak his words to the people, and be protected from his persecutors – but not until after JEREMIAH has hit rock bottom – desolate and desperate.

So, in the end, Peter only really expressed concerns that were normal and natural – we want all things to be resolved – and a brighter day to dawn for all people – however sometimes it seems like a lonely road.

On those days – remember that God is always with you, encouraging and empowering you to speak his words and follow without note of the cost – inviting you to upgrade your faith from third class to first –from fatty mince to fillet steak – from bicycle to racing car - from fish paste to caviar – can you think of any more?

But really – the best one I could think of….

God is inviting us to upgrade our faith from spectator to player.

May God be with us on all our journeys.