I believe that a major purpose of the first part of the ministry of Jesus was aimed at building faith in his disciples. By a multitude of miracles of healing, turning water to wine, stilling the storm, walking on water, even raising persons dead, and feeding the 5,000 and then again the 4,000, Jesus validated his message and claims. But Jesus is now in the last ½ of his ministry with a marked change in tone and intent. For the first time he raises the trial that awaits him.
“Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. ‘Get away from me, Satan!’ he said. ‘You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.’”
I can only believe that this interchange was chilling for the disciples. Their world was being shaken. Some of their number had deserted when the teaching of Jesus became too ‘hard’ for them. Then Peter’s confession of Jesus as God’s anointed, the holy one. Now the warning of a future to come sounding not at all like what they signed up for, followed up by a severe reprimand of Peter. This is the first of what is to be many warnings of what was to come. Its effect was to either drive the disciples away or make them rely on Jesus even more.
Then, this interesting expansion of his audience: “Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.”
It is clear…Jesus is not content with part time followers. Jesus says, “Give me all. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.”
Perhaps that is why so many Christians today are so lacking in power. As Americans we have been taught to take what we want, while setting aside the things that do not appeal to us…maintaining control at all times. But if Christ is to be our sovereign then we must be his entirely. A part-time faith is worse than none at all, and will never give us the rest Jesus promised, as we resist both the call of the world and the sovereignty of God. His promise is that he will give us Himself, and that without reservation. When we accept him as wholly as he gives himself for us, then his life, his kingdom, and his promise mark and define us. He calls us to greatness.
Prayer: “Great Father, I am tired today. In this long life I have often resisted your claim on my life, even while wanting to abandon myself to you completely and wholly. It has been a terrible civil war. I have fought this back and forth battle as you watched, waiting for me to finally and fully decide. All I can say in each day is that today—for this day—I am yours. I tire of the battle and wish to abandon my fears, pride, and independence to you. I would instead take your will to be mine, and in this day to rest. Amen.”