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Tedd Pullano
Ogden 09-03-2017
In today’s passage, Jesus has begun the journey to Jerusalem, the Holy City, and all that awaits him there: suffering, the cross and death. As he begins that journey, spiritually and physically, he begins to focus on his disciples. Over the next set of chapters in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus will do some important teaching specifically for his disciples. And it’s not just teaching – simply instructing the disciples. This passage states in the first verse that Jesus is “showing” them. I believe that means his teaching them is as much about action and example as it is about instruction. Overall, this passage is critically important for Jesus’ teaching, as it sets the tone for what it means to be a true follower, a true disciple of him; and the issues which come as we try to do so.
Matthew 16:21-28
21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ 23But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? 27‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’
Stumbling Blocks
I have always loved sports – all of them. And since I was little, track and field has been one of my favorite sports. I love the variety of events and the challenges. In track, there are many difficult events – the mile, the 400 hurdles, the 5,000 meters. But the one I think is the most difficult is an event called the Steeplechase. In the steeplechase, you run 2 miles on a track, 8 laps – not so hard, right? – but in the course of those 2 miles and 8 laps you must encounter many stumbling blocks on the way to the finish line. You see, for each lap a runner makes, they jump over this barrier 5 times (slide#1) and this barrier 1 time (slides 2,3). So, that’s 40 times over the black and white barriers and 8 times over the water pit. And honestly, those barriers are designed to prevent the runner from reaching his or her goal: getting to the end of the race. They are difficult stumbling blocks which often cause a runner to stumble, and sometimes fall (slide 4). And sometimes the barriers wear you down so much that the journey to reach the end goal is stopped (slide 5).
Like a track event, I believe a lot of life is getting from one place to another. We are here and we need to get there. Often times I feel like we know where we want to go, but things get in our way. We are unhealthy, and we need to get healthy. We have financial issues, and we want to be financially secure. We have strained relationships and we want strong healthy rewarding relationships. Unfortunately, standing in the way of reaching those goals are barriers, or stumbling blocks, just like the Steeplechase.
And unfortunately, one of the biggest areas we run into these stumbling blocks is you faith life. Stumbling blocks also show up in our faith life as well, where I have always believed that the goal, really the true goal of our lives, is a strong, intimate relationship with God and Jesus. In my humble opinion, having that relationship, knowing Jesus deeply and intimately, connecting with him, being a follower is the single most important goal in our lives – because having that, a strong connection with God, a strong knowing of God’s presence in our everyday lives is the ultimate and highest goal. And yet too often building and having that connection is sabotaged by stumbling blocks that get in the way like: letting other things have greater priority in our lives than Jesus, or choosing not to spend time with God, or the daily stresses of our lives – or whatever – you can name it, you know that things in your life that stop you from fully entering into that rich relationship with God in Christ. Stumbling blocks are real and can be harmful.
Just ask Jesus. He ran into it. In our passage today, Jesus is attempting to stay connected to God and do what God has asked of him: namely go to Jerusalem and do what was necessary to bring God and humans back into relationship – even if that meant suffering and being killed. I’m sure that wasn’t easy for him to do – I believe it was a choice on his part and it was difficult. And as he was trying to stay true to his God, keep that relationship strong, one of his best friends gets in the way – one of his best friends, Peter, becomes a significant stumbling block by trying to discourage him from doing what he needed to do. That had to be frustrating. Jesus was trying to be with God, set his mind on divine things, do what God wanted him to do, and Peter became a stumbling block – preventing him from following God completely.
And what about Peter? He too faced a stumbling block in his relationship with Jesus. And Jesus called him on it. Peter was just like us, I believe. He, as Jesus tells us, also set his mind on human things, not divine things – not the things of God. And those human things became a stumbling block for him – they caused him to really hurt and distract Jesus. All because he lost sight of God and God’s will and sort of stepped out of that relationship.
And that's what we do. Stumbling blocks in our lives get in the way and we lose sight of who God is and what God wants and how to stay in relationship with God. It’s so easy and so real. The pressures and stresses of life, our own personal wants and needs, just get in the way of us fully experiencing God and Jesus and that love and comfort and peace in our lives. Again, that is the goal, that deep connection with God in Christ we can live our lives out of. And yet too often we get tripped up by the stumbling blocks. So, what’s the solution? A couple of things I believe. Stay in touch with Jesus – talk to him, read about him, go for a walk with him. Really anything that reminds you just how present he is to you. Another way is exactly what Jesus says in this passage: set your mind on divine things, like what Paul tells us today. Listen again: Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Those are the divine things you and I are called to set our minds on. Those are kingdom building principles. And you and I need to stay focused on them and on Jesus Christ, as a community, and as individuals. When we do, we can overcome any stumbling blocks in our lives.
Friends, I will continue to preach this until my last breath: it is in a close relationship with God that you will find your satisfaction. It is in focusing your heart and mind on the things of God that you will have that full relationship where you will find peace, comfort. God calls you into a life of abundance, a life full of his presence. But there are many thing that can pop up and hamper that. Do what Jesus suggests in our lesson this morning: set your mind on the things of God – and see how you can overcome any stumbling block to your relationship with God. As you do so, you will move closer to him, and you will find that peace and abundance that you are looking for. Thanks be to God. Amen.