What does it profit?

 

Matthew 16:21-28

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. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But 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.”

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For 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?

“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. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

 

Self-denial takes humility.  In the face of empire and its sick addiction to wealth, power and status, Jesus demands that those who would follow Him not give into these worldly/empire values.  The arrogant hubris of empire is intoxicating, but to follow Jesus, we must not make it about self.

 Indeed, the definition of agaph is SELFLESS, even SELF-SACRIFICING, unconditional committed action on behalf of the OTHER, even Stranger, Enemy and especially the most vulnerable among us.  Empire with its sights always on Quid Pro Quo could never sign on for that.  Only those who follow one who teaches Kingdom values would do so.

 agaph is the central COMMAND of Jesus.  So, when Peter gets a little selfish and would deny Jesus’ mission to bring this agaph to fruition for the sake of the world, Jesus must point out that empire’s way, the world’s way is Satan’s way.  The way of selfishness, abuse, hubris is against agaph and therefore against God.

 If we want to be followers of Jesus, we must deny ourselves.  We must deny ourselves as folk who believe that we are the center of the universe, as ones who ruthlessly take what we want at the expense of others, as people who gain power to exploit and abuse others with it.  We must deny ourselves, humble ourselves and serve.

 If we gain the life of empire on the backs of others around us, we lose our life with Christ Jesus.  If we lose the life of selfishness, greed, egomania and the exploitation and abuse of others, then we gain Christ Jesus.

 I believe we as a nation, we in business, we in politics, we in the church are in some very deep trouble here with Jesus.  We have been trying to serve two masters for way too long.  We have twisted the Good News of Jesus to accommodate our greed, lust for power over others and desire for status above others.  We have re-created Jesus in an image that celebrates our false sense of entitlement because we claim His name.  We have ignored the Gospel of agaph and Grace to embrace cherry-picked passages that justify our adherence to empire values.

 There are folk calling themselves “Christians,” who believe that they are at liberty to insult, oppress and judge others.  There are folk called by Jesus’ name who believe that they are being persecuted if they are not allowed to persecute other human beings.  There are some who claim the name and have re-created an image of Jesus that in no way resembles the Jesus of the Gospels.  There are preachers, teachers and leaders who have twisted the Good News so much that Jesus would puke to hear what they claim as truth.  There are many who are leaving the church or never coming, because they hear what the Gospel says and see what the church and its leaders do in the world.  There are many folk who believe themselves to be the sheep, who more resemble goats.

 What will it profit us in the end?

We have lost our souls.

We will lose our life with God.

 I do not believe that we will see real justice in my lifetime in America or across the world.  Our descent into the abomination which is empire has rendered real justice a pipe dream. 

 My only hope is that when Jesus returns, there will be justice, equity, equality and Shalom for all, because the world is so corrupt with its own passions that I very much doubt we will see it turn around by our efforts.

 I believe we must strive to resist empire and its evils by how we live.  I believe that we must deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Jesus, living agaph to provide whatever little compassion, comfort and encouragement that we can to those who have had their lives dismantled by empire’s evils.  I believe that we are commanded to actively live the opposite of empire values in this part of God’s Kingdom here and now.  THAT is the REAL FAITH of Jesus, in Jesus, with Jesus. That is REAL faithfulness to God.