Tough Teaching
Opening Prayer
Lord, help me to be open to the challenges and demands that You bring to Your followers.
Read Luke 9:18-27
[18] Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” [19] They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” [20] “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.” [21] Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. [22] And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” [23] Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. [24] For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. [25] What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? [26] Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. [27] “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What does Jesus require of a follower?It’s difficult to know what Peter might have meant when he proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah (20), but, whatever it was, Jesus quickly redefined it for him. It certainly wasn’t going to mean an easy life or a glorious future. Indeed it included rejection, suffering and death for Jesus (22). Peter and any other followers must similarly surrender the rights over their own lives (23-26). Crucifixion was the most humiliating form of execution at that time. Being a follower of the crucified Jesus might therefore bring shame and public disgrace (26). In a Middle Eastern culture that is especially serious. So being a disciple is actually very demanding. Whether Peter just saw the fringe benefits or not, we shall never know, but Jesus certainly made it clear that what was about to happen to him in terms of rejection, humiliation and a violent death was what his followers might also expect. Even the arrival of the kingdom of God (27) might really be about judgment as well as about resurrection and glory.
Apply
How seriously do you take the challenge of being a follower of Jesus? Pray about these things.
Closing prayer
Jesus, You gave all and it cost Your very life. Keep me from speaking empty words and help me truly to follow You.
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