No Easy Way

Matthew 16: 24-28

Jesus is moving from Caesarea Philippi to Jerusalem, from a pagan city (where he surprised us by asking the tough question about his identity in our life) to the tougher place (the way of the cross).

Peter resisted him. There should be an easier way out. "We are ready to call you the Son of God, Savior, but going to Jerusalem, to the cross? Too much!"

It bothered me some days ago when they were discussing abortion on the 5:30 news of ABC. Abortion is not an easy issue. People are trying to find the easy way out. The topic was: Does the embryo feel pain before or after 20 weeks of pregnancy? They were arguing about this.

One of them suggested: "Define pain."

Another person said: "Yes, there is pain after 20 weeks."

Another person argued that only 2% of abortions happens after 20 weeks of pregnancy, anyway.

Another person thought that if the embryo feels the pain, then it should be anesthesized along with the mother.

Does the fact that the embryo feels pain or does not feel pain justify killing an embryo?

You see how temptation is. Talking about life or death issue in a twisted way.

Jesus, you do not need to go to Jerusalem. Satan promised that Jerusalem will come to you worshiping you. How? ONLY IF Jesus would worship Satan.

1. There is no EASY WAY OUT to go to Jerusalem.

You know about the Famous Marshmallow Experiment. The scientists were watching 4-year-olds. They gave a choice : "You can choose to have the marshmallow now or you can wait. If you wait, I will do some work, and then you can have two marshmallows." Some ate immediately, others waited and had two later.

After some years the two groups grew up. The second group became better adjusted to the life, dependable and confident teenagers. The first group became more easily frustrated and stubborn teenagers.

Waiting was a discipline. Hard way, not easy way.

We can also see the easy way in the church. One fellow said to another,

"Say, I heard that you bought a new car. How did you ever afford it?"

The other fellow replied, "I just cancelled my church pledge."

The first one said, "Gee, I wish that I could buy a new car for that little."

2. The second way to have a successful journey to Jerusalem is SELF DENIAL.

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (vs.24)

Deny yourself means examine your life and see if anything is stopping you from following Christ. Work on it. If it is hindering you from following Christ, throw it away. What hinders you from carrying His cross?

Pride?

Indifference?

Too much attachment to material or anything else?

Not enough material resources?

I do not know what stops you. You need to answer the question.

* I read about successful married life the following:

"A sound marriage requires that each partner goes into understanding that marriage is not a 50/50 proposition but a 70/30 one in which both parties give the 70." (King Duncan).

I would say, maybe 80 or even 90. You want to love someone. It hurts, it is painful, it is not easy. It is sacrifice. It is self denial.

* I was watching that day the Sou Beorag project in our church kitchen. There were many ladies. By the way "Thank you" to all. You did a wonderful project. I was observing ... Some ladies are ready to take instructions, others were saying this is my way and only my way. SELF DENIAL, starts also from kitchen ladies, even if you know that your way is better, we need to listen to each other and why not obey each other. It is not easy, but once you start doing it, IT WORKS.

3. Our Journey to Jerusalem is not just for ourselves, it is an invitation to the WORLD.

I did not know that Tom Hanks is doing a movie based on the Da Vinci Code.

Excellent! Another twisted story of Jesus. The world will be entertained by false stories about Jesus. Who is going to say the truth?

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" (Matt. 16:26) This is an important message that should be told.

Richard Leaky, the famous archeologist says in his book People of the Lake-What separates humans from apes?:

"Only human beings have the ability to share. Only human beings are capable of genuine companionship. Only human beings capable of laying down their lives for a friend".

I have read somewhere else that the mother rabbit has compassion for her newborn. When they are cold, the mother rabbit pulls out her hair and covers her newborn. Question: Does she care if they were not her children?

The love and the dedication that Jesus is talking about is more than motherly compassion and instinct. Our self denial and carrying the cross will spread the Good News to our neighbor, to our work place, to the ends of the world.

Paul talks about taking the old clothes and wearing new ones, the new clothes given by Jesus.

In "Fiddler on the Roof" musical,

Tevye learns from his daughters about love. He suddenly realizes that his marriage was arranged. So now he starts wondering if his wife Golde loves him.

Question: “ Golde, Do you love me?”

Golde says: “ Do I what?”

Again, with emotion, “ Do you Love ME?”

His wife thinks that Tevye has worked too much under the sun.

The husband asks the same question again and again, "Do you love me?

Golde says” I am your wife.”

“I know, but do you love me?”

She explains: "I have been your dedicated wife for more than 25 years. I washed your clothes, I cooked, I did everything for the family. If this is not love, what is LOVE?"

Now Christ is going to Jerusalem for one reason: he is ready to be crucified and be resurrected for our salvation. It is not an easy road. Christ is inviting us today to be ready to love him with dedication and commitment.

There is no easy way, and Satan will try to tempt you and stop you from follwing Jesus.

"Go away, Satan," must be our firm response .

Be ready for self denial, for the sake of being the disciple of Christ.

May God lead us in this direction. Let us be ready to obey.

Amen