Jim Elliot was a missionary who was killed in 1956 while trying to share the good news about Jesus. He had a saying: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” You cannot keep your things forever. It is wise to be generous. But when you have the love of God, nothing can take it away from you—not even death. Jim died when he was 28 years old. To live that way, to have that kind of perspective, it certainly has something to do with love, sacrifice and faith. What does it mean to take up a cross? It’s an expression people use. Such-and-such is my “cross to bear.” By that people usually mean that they have to carry some sort of burden. They have to deal with chronic pain, or care for someone who is very needy and can’t take care of themselves, or even someone is famous and has to deal with constant interruption with people wanting photographs or pictures—in that case ‘fame’ seems to be, at least in their thinking, their ‘cross to bear.’ Richard Mouw describes a traveller to Japan. He was walking through a Tokyo department store in the Christmas season. He noticed something strange, even offensive. It was Santa nailed to a cross. (Mouw, Praying at Burger King, 80). I want to give the store owner the benefit of the doubt. In Japan many Christians symbols are being used, and perhaps he or she didn’t know the story— perhaps he or she saw a man on a cross and didn’t realize it had to be one specific man. Since Santa seems to be a part of Christmas why not exchange the two? Let’s hope it was an honest mistake. But in this there is a warning. Are we just using the cross? Or do we take it seriously? Not only because of what Jesus has done for us on it, but how we carry our own cross, as he instructed us to do. In today’s text, Jesus says: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” What does it mean for you and I to take up our cross, practically speaking, in a way that honours what Jesus was originally teaching us? “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Immediate context to today’s text:  Peter’s confession (today’s text is an extension of that same story).  When that happened they were in Caesarea Philippi. That was its Roman name. In Old Testament times this was the region called Bashan. As pointed out by scholar Michael Heiser, it was considered the gateway to the dead, or the “gates of hell.” It was the location many people said was where demons came to earth to desecrate God’s people and creation. “In a nutshell, in Old Testament times Bashan and Hermon were ground zero for the evil cosmic powers.” (Heiser, Supernatural, 112).  In response to Peter’s confession Jesus said (as per Matthew 16:16-17) that on this rock he will build his church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Especially in light of their location (ground zero for evil cosmic powers), his confession is out-loud allegiance to Jesus and a weapon against the powers of darkness). Mark 8:31 – 9:1 ESV 31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. Explanations:  “the Son of Man” is Jesus. This is an allusion to a cosmic judge and Saviour from Daniel 7. This is the title Jesus most frequently uses to refer to himself.  “must suffer... be killed, and after three days rise again.” Note the word “must” not “may.” This will happen. This is the first of three predictions. Each time the disciples will fail to respond well.  Think of how shocking this must have been. Jesus has done incredible feats of power; he seems invincible and unstoppable! Why in the world does he need to suffer?  “said this plainly”: i.e. not in parables. He gives it to them straight. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Explanations:  Peter may have rebuked Peter because Jesus was challenging and disrupting his preconceived notions about what the Messiah was supposed to be like. Many people thought that he was to be a warrior on a horse who would lead a political revolt to overthrow the ruling Romans.  Jesus turns the rebuke around with a statement which echoes what Jesus said to Satan himself in Matthew 4:10: “Get behind me, Satan!” Was Jesus simply being harsh, or was he commenting that Satan himself was influencing Peter’s response? Given their location at cosmic ground zero for evil powers, it may have been the latter. 34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. Explanations:  “calling the crowd to him with his disciples... If anyone...” This is a statement intended for all people, not just the disciples. His is offering a corrective to misplaced/uninformed ideas about the Messiah.  “deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”  The key idea is “denying oneself.” Our default setting is sin, pride and selfishness. That’s what we need to deny. The opposite of self-less-ness is self-ish-ness.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a theologian, professor and pastor in the time of World War Two. He wrote an entire book on these very verses called The Cost of Discipleship. In it he says that the meaning here is to be “oblivious of self” (88). We know what it is to be concerned with self, infatuated with self, worried with self, stressed with self... what about oblivious?  Carrying a cross: We’ve romanticized the cross; we wear it on jewellery, display it in churches. That’s why we need to intentionally recall its original force. A cross was an instrument of Roman torture and execution. We’re used to seeing pictures of Jesus carrying a whole cross to his death, but the actual custom was to carry the crossbeam. Victims carried the load on the way to their shame and death. A modern equivalent would be this: “Take up your electric chair.” Put your pride in the electric chair! Put your selfishness in the electric chair! Murder them and make way for the love of God!  The meaning is this: Carrying your cross is a serious commitment to Jesus-before-self even in the face of rejection, pain and death.  The next line provides more fulsome explanation: “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.” The word for “life” can also be translated as “soul.” The meaning is this: If you want to strive after a selfish life without Jesus, you will lose your soul. But if you lose that selfish default setting and put Jesus and his gospel at your centre, you will be saved. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? Explanations:  Good question! If you gain fame but lose your soul, was it worth it? If you gain attention, but lose your soul, was it worth it? What about power or money or the Stanley Cup or an Olympic Gold Medal or a record deal or a million YouTube subscribers or everyone on your block saying how great your home looks or that you’re the most beautiful or handsome creature they’ve ever laid eyes on? If you lose your soul, who cares. 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Explanations:  “whoever is ashamed of me”: Are you embarrassed to be associated with Jesus? If so, this is a serious warning. When Jesus returns he will be ashamed of you. In this specific instance, Jesus is speaking about his death on a cross. He may, therefore, be warning against be ashamed of his embarrassing mode of death.  Jesus’ manner of death was quite controversial and considered shameful in the early days. Today the cross is the central symbol, but that didn’t happen for a few centuries. It was the subject of anti-Christian ridicule. One of the earliest depictions of Jesus (possibly) was some graffiti in Rome (show picture). Scholars date it to the late first to early third centuries. It is a man on a cross, but the man has a donkey head. There is another person below the cross worshiping. The graffiti reads “Alexamanos worships [his] god.” It’s an act of mockery. Then and now are we willing to be associated with this man? 9 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” Explanations:  “there are some standing here...” Some wonder if this is a reference to his return. But it is more likely a reference to the power of God’s kingdom being shown in his transfiguration (which is the very next story). Pastor: This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Our central question: What does it mean to take up a cross? To answer this we need to remind ourselves of a few things. First, our inspiration. Jesus is our model. He does this himself, physically. He is not asking us to do something that he himself would not do. We’ve come across the issue of hypocrisy already. This is the opposite of that: sincerity. He’s not only talking the talk he’s walking the walk. Second, the meaning of the metaphor. When Jesus speaks about taking up a cross he is talking about a serious commitment to Jesus- before-self even in the face of rejection, pain and death. Third, the reason we do it. Why did Jesus carry a cross? Was it because he loved pain? Was it because he wanted to show off, ‘Hey look at how devoted to God I am that I’ll even go through this.’ No. He did it for you and me. “The most staggering commission the Father gives to the Son is that he go to the cross to redeem a race of rebels.” (Don Carson, Basics for Believers, 47). He carried the cross to pay the price for our sin, so that he could achieve for us forgiveness, peace and reconciliation with God forever— something we could not do on our own! He did it out of sacrificial love! Last year we talked about sacrifice and I offered this definition. Sacrifice is giving up something good for something great. Think of fasting. Perhaps you give up food for one day a week (food is a good thing) to get something even better (closeness with God and better discernment as you make a big decision). Or perhaps you give up watching your favourite show on Tuesday nights to help your friend who is going through something desperate. In a small way, it’s giving up something good (a relaxing hour in front of the TV) for something great (helping your friend). We are invited to make a serious commitment to Jesus-before-self even in the face of rejection, pain and death because that is what is needed if we are to be a part of sharing and showing his kingdom in the world. Otherwise we’re too focused on ourselves to make it happen. You cannot bless others with the kingdom of God if you are only committed to blessing yourself in the kingdom of Me. Let me offer a reminder about this kingdom of God. Jesus said it was “good news” back in chapter 1, and he explicitly mentions it again today in verse 35. “Good news” (or “gospel”) is a word that referred to the enthronement of a new king or to a royal military victory. In a biblical context, this refers to the arrival of Jesus as King and to his victory over sin, death, darkness and Satan himself. His kingdom of God included various components, tracing back through the Old Testament prophecies: -The King will re-establish his throne in Jerusalem -The King will triumph over the powers of darkness (not just political but demonic) -The King will proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour -The King will proclaim the day of God’s vengeance -The King will proclaim liberty to the captives -The King will open the prison to those who are bound -The King will bring good news to the poor -The King will bind up the broken-hearted -The King will offer forgiveness from sin -The King will bring peace with God -The King will reward his people -The King will tend his flock like a shepherd -The King will make all things new in his dominion We don’t have to be a part of God’s kingdom; we get to be a part of God’s kingdom. If and when we function according to our default settings, we contribute not to the kingdom Jesus brings, but to the problems that are already here. To quote Bonhoeffer again: “To go one’s way under the sign of the cross is not misery and desperation, but peace and refreshment for the soul, it is the highest joy.” (Cost of Discipleship, 93). In the movie Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury needs to give away all his possessions. He invites in the poor. As he engages in an act which many people would consider difficult and sacrificial he looks to the cross and says, “You! You! You are the only one who knows how easy this is!” How could he have such a perspective? Because he was in love with the kingdom of God. I’ll be honest. I’m not there yet. I like comfort. I like convenience. I’m a sinner—and more so than you probably think. It’s a testament to the grace of God that every time I get up here to teach from the Word of God I don’t get struck down with lightning. But as I grow, and as I learn, what I’ve discovered is that certain sacrifices become more joyful when we focus more on what the world is gaining instead of just what we’re giving up. Application: As you put Jesus-before-self deliberately think about what the world is gaining, not just what you’re giving up. As you make and set priorities, as you live your life, as you deny yourself, as you fix your eyes on sharing and showing the kingdom of God, think more about what the world is gaining than what you’re giving up—for yourself, for your family, for your friends, for people at work, for people at school, for people in your church, for people in the community, for people in our nation, and for people to the ends of the earth. I began by telling you about Jim Elliot, the 26-year old who died in his attempts to share and show Jesus and his kingdom. Another is A.W. Milne. He and some others became known as the one-way missionaries. They bought one-way tickets because they realized they might never come back. But before they left they did something strange. They packed all of their belongings to take with them into a coffin. Have you ever heard the expression “Pack your bags?” Well, they packed a coffin. It was a symbolic gesture—of dying to their former self, and seriously committing to the kingdom of God no matter what. We may not be missionaries in that sense. But we are disciples of Jesus who are similarly called to share and show his good news about the kingdom with the people around us and with the wider world. Pack your coffin. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Amen.