Priceless Crosses
Matthew 16:21-28
Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Consider this statement: “Christianity teaches that salvation from sin, death, and hell is a gift of God which comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone, without any good works or effort on our part.” Is that statement true or false? Of course it is true! This is the fundamental teaching of the Christian faith; this is the Gospel, the doctrine that separates the Christian faith from all others. And yet, a number of recent surveys have indicated that less than 50% of those who identify as Lutherans answer this question correctly. Why is this clear teaching apparently not getting through? Is it poor teaching and preaching by pastors? No doubt, that is part of the problem. Is it careless listening on the part of those sitting in the pews and in the classrooms? That is also an important factor. But the overarching problem the Church faces is a “culture war.”
This battle is especially difficult because it seems the culture of the world is crowding out the culture of the Church. In a world that is oriented toward business and political matters, the Church has become enamored with programs and growth statistics; doctrine is no longer of primary importance. In a culture absolutely saturated with entertainment, most of which is ungodly, the Church has come to believe that, to be found appealing, she must entertain rather than worship; she must “schmooze” people rather than teach them; she must coddle them rather than call sinners to repentance. Some will think this judgment of the Church too harsh. But the evidence is out there if you are willing to see it.
So ask yourself: how important is the teaching of the Church to you? What is your Christian faith worth to you? These have always been important questions; that hasn’t changed. But we as the Body of Christ have to admit to priorities than have become confused. The Church is always only a generation away from losing everything. And so the education of her people, especially her children, is one of her greatest responsibilities.
Consider this matter then, in light of our Gospel for this morning, where our Lord Jesus Christ speaks to His disciples about those values that are priceless. Jesus tells you here that it will cost you to follow Him. But you need to understand rightly what that means. You cannot buy discipleship like clothes or groceries. The fact of the matter is, there are consequences to faithfully following Jesus. There are things you will give up, things you will suffer, things you will do because you are His disciples.
To follow faithfully after Jesus means to bear the cross. And that cross is painful; even as it brought crucifixion and death to our Lord, so it brings pain and affliction to you. So be sure you know and understand what this cross is. It is what you suffer and endure for the sake of Christ. It is not the heartache you bring on yourself because of your sin. For children, it is enduring the ridicule and cruelty of school mates without doing the same to them, because you belong to Christ. For adults, it is being patient with the difficult husband, the nagging wife, the obstinate child because you love them for the sake of Christ, and you want them to rejoice in the salvation He gives. It is understanding that, because the world hates Jesus, it will also hate those who are His.
And to follow faithfully after Christ means obedience to His Word. Obedience is not the most popular concept in our day, to be sure, but it is crucial to the life of faith. No learning takes place without discipline. Christians are disciplined, and their discipline is according to the Word of God. We don’t revise the Christian faith to suit ourselves or the demands of the moment. But rather, we are conformed in all ways to the Word of God.
Now, our sinful flesh might conclude that this is too high a price to pay: too much self-denial, too much pain to bear, too much obedience to endure. And so we need to learn why we can be happy to pay this price. You see, the life of faith offers an equation that, according to human thinking, does not and cannot add up. By gaining all the things you may think are important, you may lose everything. But when you lose everything for the sake of Christ and the Gospel, you actually gain everything that matters. You can be happy to pay this price because it really is the only way to live.
The great self-deception that many live with is that real life is lived for one’s self. But to really live, Jesus says, means to forget about self and personal advantage. It is to spend yourself—your energies, time, and talents—for the sake of Christ and the Gospel. And lest you think that is merely an appeal to work in the Church, what is in view here are those vocations to which all you have been called: to serve your wives and husbands, your children and family members, your friends and neighbors, your employers and employees, with the self-giving love of Christ—not because there is anything to be gained by you, but because that is how the Lord has loved and served you. He spared nothing in redeeming your lives from destruction and your souls from damnation.
These things are beyond price. The wonderful gift of this creation and the life God gives us to live here is something for which we will never be sufficiently grateful. The grace and salvation that come to us through Jesus Christ and His gifts of Word, Baptism, Absolution, and Holy Supper are such that we can never repay the goodness of God. But in faith we receive these gifts, and in faith we strive to live, day by day, according to these priceless values. In these things, God is surely glorified, and we, His Church, are blessed forever and ever. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.
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