Is Your Mind Set On Those Things Of Heaven Or Of Hell?
Good Morning Friends,
Ok, Jesus’ comments to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!” must have really burned. Jesus had enticed Peter to follow, but not yet to lead. The stakes were getting higher and Peter needed to know that the conquering King of Creation’s rule was not to be born out of a violent revolution. Sure, Peter had answered correctly when Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” but Peter did not yet grasp the full meaning of the Messiah Jesus just yet. Peter’s path, in the context of today’s lectionary text, would have gained the world and lost souls, it would have been as Jeremiah wrote about. But there was another path, not expected, and it was to change the whole dynamic of our faith. It is about living sacrifices that transform us in the will of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. It is about the hard work of facing hatred and anger with love. So, we too need to renew our thinking. We need to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. We need to consider what we would sacrifice to have peace and then realize that Jesus has already provided the way of peace. Is Your Mind Set On Those Things Of Heaven Or Of Hell?
Scripture: 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. 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.”
Matthew 16: 21-28 (NRSV)
O Lord, you have enticed me, and I was enticed; you have overpowered me, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me. For whenever I speak, I must cry out, I must shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” then within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.
Jeremiah 20:7-9 (NRSV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2 (NRSV)
Message: Today’s scripture reminds me of the story of Faust and this debate on the human condition and people gaining the world and losing their souls. It is about our choices and what we are willing to give up for what we want, but it moreover about wanting the right things achieved in the right ways. It is so very relevant for the times in which we live. You see, sacrifice can be a foreign and strange thing to us. When looking at sacrifice, it is helpful to keep in mind that there is purpose and truth in the richness of its imagery.Top of FormBottom of Form Sacrifices were important and instrumental to the worship life of believers in the Old Testament. At the time of the patriarchs, the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, people offered sacrifices to thank God for blessings or to participate in a fellowship meal with God and a covenant people. Sacrifices also focused on atonement and were offered to cover up for the sins of the people. Animals would have to die, and their blood would need to be shed. Imagine having to kill and sacrifice an animal for something that you did against God’s Commandments. That would certainly make you look at things differently, and even your actions, and their consequences. Sacrifices were often done at the tabernacle and later were done in the temple. Picture the combination of a church, slaughterhouse, and open air kitchen all put together, and that is what it would have been like. Picture the sight and smell of animals in God’s house, the bleating of animals, the smell of bread and cooking meat, and the commotion of people coming in and going out, buying and selling. Picture the sight of blood, and lots of blood. Furthermore, the sacrifices that were given to God were supposed to be animals that were pure and without blemish. They had to be healthy and strong, not the runts of the liter or the ones that would die from poor health. God wanted the best and deserved the best. Sacrifices were to be offered to God alone, and the Israelites got into deep trouble when they offered them to other gods besides the Lord. Now Paul uses the term living sacrifice, in today’s text from Romans, which seems to be an oxymoron, but in fact is really about grace and mercy and love. You see, Jesus died to cover and atone for our sin though an act of love. It is because of the mercies of God, which stem from Jesus’ once and for all sacrifice for us, that we are to present ourselves as living sacrifices. It is through this lens we are to love. This is not done for God’s mercy but rather in response to God’s mercy. So, it is not about how much we will sacrifice but how much we will love that is the real issue. It is not so much about our leadership but more so our willingness to surrender to God and to be of service to the King walking in Jesus’ footsteps.
Pray we always allow the Spirit of Jesus to lead us. Pray we admit that we are sinners in need of forgiveness. Pray we have accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as payment for our own personal sins. Pray we have received forgiveness too. Pray we realize that for that to happen requires some sacrifices on our part too. Pray we guard our thoughts and think on things that honor God. Pray we give up the idea that our way is the best way. Pray we give up control of our life and follow God’s plan not our own. Pray we are living examples of a sacrifice for sin. Pray we realize that Jesus sacrificed everything for us in order that we might have life. Pray that we are willing to sacrifice for Him in order that others might accept that sacrifice as well and experience a peace that passes understanding. Pray we get a glimpse of the celestial light of Christ and believe. Pray we be servants of goodness and glory. Pray we love in a way that pleases God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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