8-30-26. Matthew 16:21-28

21 From that time on, [after Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah,] 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. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me, for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
  24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For 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?
  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. 28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Receive the mercy and grace of Christ, so you too may overcome evil with good.

Those disciples now had a new name for Jesus. He is the Messiah, promised for so long. Messiah is the anointed one who has been given his role from God Almighty. Yet, it becomes clear that they have not grasped the scope of what that title will entail. Messiah is a singular responsibility, a one-time only appearance, bearing the authority of God. Jesus begins to spell it out in specific and graphic terms: he will experience great suffering, be killed, and then be raised. Peter could not tolerate such a definition; it seemed wrong, backward. They would have been familiar with the role of the prophet. So that aspect of God’s messengers’ suffering because of their task would have been known to them. It was like Jeremiah had expressed in the first reading: 

In your forbearance do not take me away;
know that on your account I suffer insult.
16 Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart, … 18 Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? (Jer 15)

Jeremiah had been on the receiving end of rudeness and abuse, but he had continued to speak according to God’s will. He discovered the words of God were to him a joy, and vey tasty too! as he described it - so he ate them. In other words, they nourished and filled him with their wonder. Despite the pleasure he found in God’s word however, the reaction of his listeners caused him pain; one that would not heal. It caused him anguish that the people did not appreciate what God offered and refused to change their ways. They were heading for disaster, but Jeremiah would continue with his task regardless.

When Jesus spoke of suffering and death, Peter could not consent to Jesus’ acceptance of such a fate. We may stand with Peter, thinking that Jesus should have fought that ending. But as Jesus made note, that is a human viewpoint and not a divine one. Peter is ordered to “Get behind me, Satan!” We are not meant to envision Peter with horns and a pointy tail. This satanic image is to convey an adversary who opposes God’s plan and will. The purpose for which Jesus came was coming to fruition and Peter wants to interfere with that, even though he was the very one who had seemed to most fully grasp who Jesus was. He is sternly reminded that he must get behind Jesus, for it is only from that position that Peter can follow Jesus. Jesus is the way, and to be his followers we too must take our position behind him.

Within that role of Messiah, there was the idea of self-denial, a putting aside one’s personal desires for life to serve the will of God. As Jesus told his disciples: If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? This is why Christians constantly utilize our most prevalent symbol - the cross. We are to always remember, not only that Jesus suffered and met his death on it, but also that we will need to take up a cross to follow Him. Jesus demonstrates on the cross the challenge that is obedience and true discipleship. The Messiah, who is our Lord, is not a John Wayne Christ who shoots his way to leadership or an oligarchy that takes over, claiming ownership that is not theirs. Rather his is an offer of self-sacrifice.

We have reflected often in Matthew of how to understand and recognize the kingdom of heaven. Jesus came among us to bring that kingdom near, by demonstrating its characteristics. This story may help you see how the prayer petition is answered as we pray: ‘Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.’ 

Theologian and storyteller Megan McKenna shares the tale of a blacksmith who was respected in his village for his hard work, skill and generosity. The day came for him to die, and God sent his angel to accompany the man’s soul to the place prepared for him in heaven. The man said to the angel, “Please, let me stay for a little longer. It is time for the year’s planting, and my neighbors need me.” The angel agreed with his request.

A few months later, the angel returned to bring the humble blacksmith to God’s dwelling place. The blacksmith said, “I don’t mean to be ungrateful, but could I stay a little longer? A neighbor of mine is seriously ill, and it’s time for the harvest. We are trying to save his crop so his family won’t be destitute.” The angel agreed to ask God for more time. And so it went: the angel would come to take the blacksmith to God, but the blacksmith would ask for more time, for he was still needed in his village. The angel agreed.

After many years, the blacksmith grew old and weary. It was time, he realized, so he prayed: “God, if you’d like to send that angel again, I’d be glad to come home now.” When the angel appeared, the blacksmith said, “If you still want to take me home, I’m ready to go to God’s kingdom. The angel laughed with delight and surprise, saying to him, “Where do you think you’ve been all these years?” The blacksmith was already home.  (From Parables: The Arrows of God by Megan McKenna)

Deny yourself and take up the cross and follow Jesus, yes, it won’t be easy, there will be suffering.  Still, that is the instruction we are given and believe it or not, your life will be full and joy will come.