Matthew 16:13-28
The disciples confess Jesus as the Christ. They admit that He is the anointed, promised one; the one all Jews had been waiting for to bring deliverance. Jesus was the one, it seemed to them, who was striking up the right alliances and challenging the right authorities and garnering the right support to lead the rebellion. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." The disciples were pretty lucky; with such a close relationship with the soon-to-be king, surely they would have a high-ranking cabinet post when the dust settles.
Starting right then, however, and continuing throughout the rest of His earthly ministry, Jesus began trying to teach them the necessity of His death and resurrection. That just didn't fit in their plans for hostile takeover. How could their General die and they still gain the political peace they so longed for? Jesus even called Peter "Satan" for questioning His death, saying that he only had in mind "the things of man." And now we begin to see a difference in The Kingdom and our kingdoms. They are two separate lists of priorities. They are two separate lists of life-purposes, "the things of God" and "the things of man". They are two separate agendas. They are two polar opposites that cannot both be pursued at the same time. They are diametrically opposed.
And the alternative to "setting your mind...on the things of man?" That's what Jesus speaks of in vs. 24-28. "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me..."
You see, there is no Lordship (v. 16) without a cross (v. 24).
"Whoever loses their life for [Christ's] sake will find it" (v. 25).
The real, abundant, Kingdom life only comes in exchange for our kingdom.
It seems that taking up our crosses is a daily thing. Each day must be rededicated to the Lordship of Christ. Each day must be a fresh start, a new effort, another striving after Christ and His Kingdom. Today, let's set our minds on the things of God and not ourselves; right now, let's take up our crosses, crucifiying the things of man and losing our lives in exchange for abundant life.
