“Losing One’s Self” – Mark 8:27-38 – September 13, 2009
My grandson, Nathan, has an unusual way of responding when is parents are telling him something he doesn’t want to hear. He covers his ears with his hands and says, “Don’t say words to me!”
When Jesus told his disciples that he would suffer, be rejected, killed and rise again, Peter “rebuked” Jesus. He may very well have acted just like my grandson. These were words he refused to listen to. They described a role of discipleship that was extreme and difficult.
What Jesus said was that we are to “deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him.” In order to truly hear those words we have to uncover our ears and listen.
What does it mean to deny ourselves? People who are out of work are learning to do without. They are eating out less, watching movies at home and traveling places closer to home. For our society, self-denial means to cut corners and cut back on life’s pleasures. For Jesus, however to deny ourselves meant something quite different.
To deny ourselves means to make sacrifices. A sacrifice is something we make in order to help someone else. When we deny ourselves of something, we give it to someone else. We usually think of self-denial as a negative thing; having less stuff, sacrificing what we want so others can have what they want. But self-denial can also be a positive thing. It means we are “giving.” We are generous people, who enjoy distributing our resources wherever there is a need. Therefore, our lives have purpose because through our giving we are making a difference.
My parents lived in a small apartment in a retirement home the last four years of their lives. They sold their home while they still had their health. They were looking to the future should one or both of them had needed medical care. They were a depression era, middle class couple who scrimped and saved all of their lives. They could have afforded a much larger place to live, but they chose to live economically. My dad drove a 1995 Buick which was just fine with him. He couldn’t see any merit in buying a new car since they only drove short distances. My brothers and I wanted them to spend their money on themselves but they wanted to leave something for their four sons. They died this past July never needing medical assistance at the retirement home. Because of their personal sacrifice and their love for their family, they left a small legacy.
Jesus denied himself by rejecting power, wealth and privilege. He also “suffered,” meaning he substituted himself for our shortcomings, our mistakes, our lack of generosity, our failure to accept others who are different and our anxious self-protection. I believe Jesus was saying, “Take your hands away from your ears. It’s not about our selves, it’s about others.”
Jesus also said for us to “take up our cross.” When we hear that expression we have an image of a criminal, carrying a cross, trudging to his death. We envision pain, bleeding, shortness of breath, cruelty, punishment and anxiety. Taking up our cross is not something we want to do.
We have to remember that the church in Jesus’ day was not comfortably integrated in society like the church is today. Today, the church is interwoven throughout society, complimenting local government, providing programs, resources and facilities for individual communities. We have mission programs that extend around the globe. Today we have an infrastructure, systems, buildings and resources. Unlike the Roman government in Jesus’ day, our government does not persecute us. On the contrary, we are free to worship and do ministry as we see need.
It is therefore quite different for us to “take up the cross” in the way that the early church did. Times have changed. We have far more freedom and we are not rejected by society in the way that Jesus was. I am not suggesting that the call to “take up our cross” should be watered down, or that it no longer has any significance. Instead, I think we need to bring the expression up to date, yet being passionate about our faith in a way that is relative to today’s world.
In the gospel the cross is synonymous with forgiveness. To take up our cross means to be a person who is committed to forgiving others. That means we are not afraid to “let go.” Unfortunately our lives are cluttered with stuff; like resentment, anger, hostility, revenge, stubbornness and malice. It is impossible for us to move forward until we are able to let go of our negative feelings toward others and forgive.
Dwight Moody’s father died when Dwight was only four. A month later, Mrs. Moody gave birth to twins. With nine mouths to feed and no income, the widow Mood was dogged with creditors. In response to such a dire and impoverished situation, the eldest son ran away from home. Few would have criticized Mrs. Moody at that point for seeking institutional assistance or for letting others help raise her children. She was determined, however, to keep her family together.
On a nightly basis, Mrs. Moody placed a light in the window, certain her son would return. Moody wrote of those days, “When the wind was very high and the house would tremble at every gust, the voice of my mother was raised in prayer.” In time, her prayers were answered. Moody recalls that no one recognized his older brother when he came to the door, a great beard flowing down his chest. It was only as he began to cry that Mrs. Moody recognized her son and invited him in. He said, “No mother, I will not come in until I hear first that you have forgiven me.” She was only too willing to forgive, of course, and threw her arms around her son in a warm embrace. (from God’s Little Devotional Book for Men, Honor Books, Tulsa, OK)
To be a disciple is to make sacrifices for others and to forgive, just as we are forgiven. Jesus also wants us to be his followers. Following is not something we do very well. We would rather go our own way. We cherish our independence. To be a follower one has to “serve rather than be served.” As our gospel reads, “For those who want to save their life will lose it.”
What does it mean to follow Jesus? Earlier in the gospel of Mark, (Mk 2:14) Jesus told Levi to follow him. Levi, a tax collector followed Jesus. They ended up at Levi’s house. Gathered were the disciples, tax collectors and sinners. They were all broken people whose lives needed healing. In Matthew Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee and saw Peter and his brother Andrew. “Follow me and I will make you fish for people,” (Matt. 4:19), he said. Also, in Matthew (19:21) Jesus told the man who wanted a perfect life to let go of his possessions and follow him. And, in John, (Jn 21:19) Jesus was challenging Peter to follow him by feeding his sheep and his lambs.
We have multiple images of what it means to follow Jesus. Following means to recognize our flaws and self absorption. Following Jesus means to shift one’s priorities and commit our lives to discipleship. It also means caring for the lost and the vulnerable and living sacrificially.
I recently ran across this illustration which clearly defines a follower. Are you a thermometer or a thermostat? When we are like a thermometer we know whether it’s too hot or too cold. We sense who is unfriendly or different. We make criticisms about those who don’t meet our standards. We complain, but do nothing to change the situation.
On the other hand, if you are a thermostat, you sense that a room is too cold and you turn up the heat. If the room is too hot, you turn the thermostat down to cool things off. When we are like a thermostat we work to change a situation where there is disharmony or conflict. In other words, you commit yourself to making the world you live in a better place. When we follow Jesus we are like a thermostat, sensing situations where there is unlove and giving our love. Sensing relationships where there is need for forgiveness and turning up God’s grace. Or, raising the standard of living for others by making sacrifices.
Dr. Keith Wagner