Live Your Faith

MEMORY SELECTION: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” —Matthew 16:24

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16:13-26

THE matter of living the life of a Christian is much more than mere profession. The circumstances surrounding the incident in our Lord’s life which is recounted in our text strongly emphasizes this fact. Because our Lord knew that he was soon to die and that his death was to be accomplished in Jerusalem, Jesus began “to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”—Matthew 16:21

Peter did not understand the Lord’s decision in this matter. He had just stated that Jesus was the Messiah (vs. 16), and to him and all the disciples it was a matter of prophecy that when Messiah came, he would establish his kingdom. The thought of Jesus deliberately exposing himself to death seemed to be a totally unwarranted action, and Peter didn’t waste any time telling Jesus so. “Be it far from thee, Lord; this shall not be unto thee.” (vs. 22) “But he [Jesus] turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou art an offense unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”—vs. 23

We do not believe that Jesus was really speaking to Peter, but rather directly to Satan who had taken advantage of Peter’s limited knowledge and was using him as a tool. Satan was trying to dissuade Jesus from fulfilling the prophecy that would result in his providing the ransom price for Adam. Jesus, in making the decision to go to Jerusalem, was fulfilling his consecration to the Heavenly Father to do his will in all things, even unto death on the cross.

In verse 24, Jesus applied the same principle of consecration that he had just demonstrated to those who would be his footstep followers. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Here Jesus is emphasizing three general principles that must be present in any acceptable consecration to the Heavenly Father. The principles were manifested by Jesus, and must likewise be manifested by those taking the name of Christ, professing to be Christians.

First, Jesus states that his followers must deny themselves. What does this mean? The Diaglott Translation uses the word “renounce” instead of “deny,” which seems to better describe what must take place in the hearts of the potential followers of Jesus. It is necessary that the individual recognize his undone, sinful condition, and be aware of the fact that the only hope that he has for life and a relationship with God is through the applied merit of Christ. He must recognize that through his own efforts, he can never be righteous in God’s sight. Associated with the life that he now lives, there are earthly aims, ambitions and desires which are self-serving, and these must be renounced also for the Lord God requires that those following in the footsteps of Jesus must serve him and his interests only. Jesus was once asked what was the greatest commandment, and he replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matt. 22:37) Any activity or thought not in harmony with this principle must be renounced.

Then Jesus stated that a potential follower must take up his cross. The cross in Jesus’ day had come to symbolize death and all the suffering and experiences associated with a sacrificial death. Jesus literally suffered and died on the cross. A literal fulfillment could also be required of his footstep followers, and in the early days of the church this was often so. But for now, followers at this end of the Gospel Age, the requirement seems to be that of complete submissiveness to God’s will in matters great and small, with particular emphasis on the experiences that result from actively serving the Lord. The Apostle Peter explains, “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ. happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you … yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”—I Peter 4:14,16

Finally, to follow Jesus means to use his life as a pattern in making decisions that affect the life of the Christian.

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